Leonardian Drawings & art workshop in Florence

Florence gives you plenty of chances to look at great art behind glass. This three-hour workshop lets you make something yourself, using Florentine methods and the studio’s choice of seven hands-on classes. You might copy a Leonardo sketch in sanguine, sepia, or charcoal, shape a small clay relief, or paint with a palette knife instead of brushes.

I like the private format, since your group gets the teacher’s attention rather than competing with a crowd. I also like the choice of projects: a beginner can start with watercolor or drawing, while a returning artist can try gold leaf, plaster casting, or Van Gogh’s thick, expressive style.

The main consideration is that you choose one class, not all seven, during the roughly three-hour visit. The workshop is also outside Florence’s main historic core at Geko Art Studio, so you need to allow time to reach Via Coluccio Salutati, 3r.

Key points at a glance

• Seven art paths: Choose from Leonardian drawing, low clay relief, botanical plaster casting, palette-knife oil painting, watercolor, watercolor with gold leaf, or a Van Gogh-style class.
• Private instruction: Only your group takes part, which suits beginners who want patient help.
• Named teachers: Octavio leads some drawing lessons, while Rosanna helps with check-in and scheduling. Katherina has also taught classes.
• Materials included: Drawing paper and pencils, clay and a support, or canvas and colors are supplied according to your chosen class.
• A practical Florence souvenir: You make your own artwork and can take home the finished piece, with one exception: sculpture casts are not included.
• Flexible cancellation: You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.

Choosing an art class at Geko Art Studio

The first decision shapes your whole afternoon. You are not signing up for a general demonstration where an instructor does the work while you watch. You choose one technique and spend the session making a piece with guidance from a specialized teacher.

The Leonardian drawing class is the clearest match for someone interested in Florence’s artistic tradition. You follow a traditional process on paper and reproduce one of the famous sketches connected with Leonardo da Vinci, using sanguine, sepia, or charcoal.

These materials give the drawing a softer, older look than a standard pencil sketch. Sanguine produces a warm reddish tone, sepia brings a brown finish, and charcoal gives you strong dark marks and broad shading. The class can be a good choice if you want to understand how a drawing is built from lines, tone, and careful observation.

The clay relief class offers a different kind of work. Instead of drawing a flat image, you model a small figurative sculpture in low relief. You receive clay and a support, so this option suits you if you like working with your hands and want to feel form taking shape under your fingers.

For botanical plaster casting, you use plants, flowers, and sculptures to create reliefs and drawings on clay. A plaster mold is made from the design and you take it with you. The supplied details note that sculpture casts are excluded from the package, so check exactly what you will receive before booking this option.

What happens during the three hours

The workshop begins at Geko Art Studio, at Via Coluccio Salutati, 3r, in Florence. The activity finishes at the same place, which keeps the plan simple and avoids a second meeting point across town.

The studio is described as quaint and easy to find, but you should still allow time for the journey. It is near public transportation, and one participant received transit instructions from the studio before the class. If you are not familiar with this part of Florence, that advance help can make the start of your day less hurried.

Once you arrive, the team checks you in and sets up the selected materials. Rosanna has handled arrival and time confirmation, while Octavio has led drawing instruction. Katherina has also taught a class and is noted for giving clear, patient guidance.

The exact lesson plan depends on your chosen medium. The common thread is direct instruction followed by hands-on practice. You work through the process rather than simply hearing a talk about Renaissance art.

That format matters for beginners. You can ask for help as the image or object develops, and the private setting gives the teacher room to adjust the guidance to your pace. If you already draw or paint, you can use the time to correct habits and try a method outside your usual routine.

Snacks are included. They are a small detail, but useful during a three-hour creative session, especially when you are fitting the workshop between other sightseeing plans.

Leonardian drawing, Florence on paper

The Leonardian option is likely to be the most distinctive choice. You reproduce one of the Tuscan genius’s famous sketches while learning a traditional drawing process with paper and selected dry media.

Do not choose it only because you think you need to be a skilled artist. The class is designed for different levels, and a complete beginner was able to choose a more intricate image and work through it with Octavio’s patient help.

That does not mean the drawing will be effortless. An intricate sketch takes concentration, and copying a master drawing can expose weaknesses in proportion or shading. The reward is that you see how an image develops in stages, rather than treating the finished work as something mysterious.

A parent and child also used the lesson to learn new drawing tips together. That makes this a strong pick for a shared activity, particularly if one person has more experience than the other.

You receive the paper and pencils needed for drawing. The choice of sanguine, sepia, or charcoal also gives the finished work more character than a basic souvenir sketch made with an ordinary ballpoint pen.

Seven ways to make art, not just one

The other classes give you a useful range of styles:

Low artistic relief: You model clay into a small figurative sculpture. This suits you if you want a tactile project and prefer volume to line. Clay can be forgiving, but small sculptural work still calls for patience.

Botanical plaster casting: You use natural elements such as plants and flowers to create impressions and reliefs on clay. The result is more about texture and shape than a traditional portrait or still life. You bring the plaster mold with you, but the package excludes sculpture casts, so confirm the final take-home item.

Palette-knife painting: You create a small oil painting with a palette knife instead of brushes. This changes the feel of the work, since the knife spreads and layers paint in a more physical way. It is a good option if you want to try oil paint without following the usual brush-based approach.

Watercolor: You paint naturalistic details such as flowers or fruit. Watercolor rewards a light touch, and this class may suit you if you want a calm subject with clear forms and color.

Watercolor with gold leaf: You add gold leaf to a watercolor. This gives the traditional medium a decorative finish and creates a project that feels especially connected to historic European art.

Van Gogh style: You create a painting using the technique and style of Vincent van Gogh. This is the boldest choice of the group, at least in spirit, and may appeal to you if you prefer expressive brushwork and strong visual movement.

The descriptions do not specify the exact subject, size, or finished dimensions for every class. If those details matter to you, ask the studio before you arrive.

Why the private format changes the experience

Only your group participates in the activity. That is more than a marketing detail. Art lessons can become awkward when a teacher has to divide attention among a large room of different skill levels.

Here, you can ask for a correction as soon as you need one. You can also take more time with a difficult section without feeling that everyone else is waiting. A one-on-one class was especially welcoming to a person with no previous experience.

Families and mixed-skill groups benefit from this setup. A child who needs simple instructions and an adult who wants more technical advice can work in the same session. The parent and child drawing experience also suggests that the class works well as a shared project rather than a solitary hobby lesson.

The private format has one tradeoff: you do not get the energy of a larger art group or the chance to compare your work with many other participants. If you enjoy meeting strangers through a class, this may feel quiet. If you want personal attention, the quiet is an advantage.

The teachers and the tone of the lesson

The available teacher names help you know who may be involved. Octavio Palomino, identified as the experience provider, has led drawing instruction. Rosanna has managed communication and arrival, and Katherina has taught with a patient, clear style.

The strongest pattern is supportive teaching for beginners. One person arrived with no previous experience and still completed a piece they felt proud of. Another participant, already comfortable with abstract painting, used the class to work toward more realistic results.

That tells you something useful about the level. You should not expect an academic art-school course with a long theory lecture or formal grading. You can expect a practical lesson where the teacher helps you make progress on one project.

The setting is also part of the appeal. A small, quaint studio feels more personal than a large attraction with a fixed display route. You are there to work, ask questions, and leave with a direct connection to the process.

What the $114.02 price includes

At $114.02 per person, this is not the cheapest creative activity in Florence. The value depends on how much you care about personal instruction and the chance to produce a finished work during a private three-hour session.

Your price includes the class, the required basic materials for the selected medium, and snacks. For drawing, that means paper and pencils. For sculpture, clay and a support are provided. For painting, you receive canvas and colors.

The materials matter because you do not have to shop for supplies before arriving or carry them around Florence afterward. You are paying for instruction and a ready-to-use workspace, not just admission to a studio.

The largest limitation is sculpture. Casts are excluded, so the take-home value differs between a clay or plaster option and the drawing or painting classes. Ask about this before choosing sculpture if you want a finished cast to bring home.

I see the price as fair for a private activity, especially for two people or a family that wants an indoor break from sightseeing. It is harder to justify if you only want a quick craft activity or if you already have a fully equipped studio at home.

Getting there and planning your day

The meeting point is Geko Art Studio Florence, Via Coluccio Salutati, 3r, 50126 Firenze FI, Italy. The workshop ends back at the studio, so you can plan the next part of your day from the same area.

Public transportation is nearby. The studio can provide transit instructions, and advance confirmation helps settle the start time. Still, I would not cut your arrival close. Creative work begins more pleasantly when you have time to find the door and put away your belongings.

The activity lasts about three hours. That is long enough to make real progress, but short enough to fit into a day built around Florence’s museums and churches. I would place it beside other plans that do not require you to hurry away at an exact minute.

The experience is offered in English. Confirmation arrives when you book, and the studio may contact you to confirm the time. The activity is private, and most people can participate. Service animals are allowed.

The experience is often booked well ahead, with an average booking time of 58 days before the date. If you are planning a Florence trip around fixed museum reservations, booking early makes sense.

Who should book this workshop

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Beginners who want friendly, direct help rather than a formal lecture
• Parents and children who want to make something together
• Couples or friends looking for a private indoor activity
• Art lovers who want to try a traditional Florentine method
• People who prefer a personal souvenir to a shop-bought object
• Returning Florence visitors who have already seen the major sights

The class also suits an artist who wants to try a new medium. The abstract painter seeking more realistic work is a good example of how the workshop can serve someone beyond the beginner level.

You may want to skip it if your main goal is to visit a famous museum, see many artworks, or cover several techniques in one sitting. You choose one class, and the value comes from spending time with that process.

Booking, cancellation, and small practical details

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund, and cut-off times follow Florence’s local time.

The activity requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not met and the class is canceled, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

The activity is available by mobile ticket. Since it is near public transportation and ends at the meeting point, it is fairly easy to add to a Florence schedule. The main task is choosing your medium in advance and checking the details of any sculpture take-home item.

Should you book the Leonardian art workshop?

Book it if you want to do more than look at Florence’s art. The Leonardian drawing class is the best match for a traditional connection to the city, while watercolor, clay, gold leaf, palette-knife painting, and Van Gogh-style work give you room to follow your own taste.

I especially like the private teaching, the range of skill levels welcomed, and the fact that materials are ready when you arrive. The price is a little high for a casual craft session, and sculpture casts cost extra, but the three-hour format and personal instruction make it a sensible choice for a meaningful Florence souvenir.

Choose your class carefully, allow time to reach Via Coluccio Salutati, and book ahead if your dates are fixed. For a creative afternoon with a finished piece in hand, this is a practical change from the usual museum circuit.

FAQ

Where does the art workshop take place?

The workshop starts and ends at Geko Art Studio Florence, Via Coluccio Salutati, 3r, 50126 Firenze FI, Italy.

How long does the workshop last?

The experience lasts approximately three hours.

Is the workshop offered in English?

Yes. The activity is offered in English.

Is this a private activity?

Yes. Only your group participates.

Which art classes can I choose from?

You can choose Leonardian drawing, low artistic relief using clay, botanical plaster casting, palette-knife painting, watercolor, watercolor with gold leaf, or a Van Gogh-style painting class.

Are art materials included?

Yes. Drawing includes paper and pencils, sculpture includes clay and a support, and painting includes canvas and colors.

Are snacks included?

Yes. Snacks are included in the experience.

Are sculpture casts included?

No. Sculpture casts are excluded.

Is the studio near public transportation?

Yes. The meeting point is near public transportation.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refundable.