DRAWING ROME

About the workshopS

Drawing Rome 2025 offers drawing courses in Rome, Siena, Florence, Syracuse and Venice.

During a workshop you will learn to see by drawing. Days will include drawing instruction and sketching walks around the city, following an itinerary organised historically and thematically. You will discover the light, colour, art and architecture of the city through drawing.

WheN ARE the workshopS?

Each workshop is 3 full days, beginning at 14.00 on Wednesdays and finishing at 16.00 on Saturdays

Florence: 15-18th January & 18th - 21st June

Rome: 19th - 22nd February & 24th - 27th September

Syracuse: 19th - 22nd March

Siena: 23rd - 26th April & 22nd - 25th October

Venice: 21st - 24th May & 26th - 29th November

Is it for me?

The workshops are open to people of all backgrounds and drawing abilities - no previous drawing experience is necessary. Group sizes are small and we work closely together, helping individuals find their personal connection to the process of drawing. You will be provided with drawing materials and equipment.

Each workshop will have a teaching base in the city where accommodation can also be arranged.

Who teaches it?

The workshop is organised by Montefanna Studio and will be led by David Dernie, an academic, architect, and painter whose work explores materials, space, experience, and memory. A former Rome Scholar at the British School at Rome, David has published and lectured widely on drawing, materials and architectural history. Italy has informed his academic work and his studio practice throughout his career. His studio is in Montefanna (Fiesole, Italy) and Cambridge (UK).

WhAT DID THEY SAY ABOUT DRAWING ROME 2024?

“Words cannot do justice to the wonderful, challenging, and rewarding experience that was your drawing course. That I was terrified to put pencil to paper is an understatement. Still, your kindness, encouragement, and patience helped me step out of my comfort zone and understand the beauty and importance of drawing as part of learning and understanding. Your technical and historical knowledge is expansive, like an ocean, and you generously share it with us. .”

“During the course we rediscovered a whole different Rome drawing its monuments using various drawing techniques and practices. David is an enthusiastic and experienced teacher, who took us around providing not only information on the whole city and its sights from all centuries, but following each of us patiently led us to have more confidence in our own personal ‘line”

“David’s course taught me to look at objects and buildings in and around Rome for a much longer time than I would normally do. David got everyone (also those not used to draw) to put lines, and shades, frames and even colours onto their notebook pages. It has been a fantastic experience to see Rome through the ages in a different light and to start to put my observations, thoughts and twitches onto the paper. The course goes quickly from basic drawing techniques to drawing perspectives and using colour. I feel like I can build on this experience for a long time to make drawing part of my paper practices”

"The course has given me a greater understanding of what really inspires me and how I address my drawing according to the subject, sense of place, and position…..I gained confidence in the group very quickly as well as an ability to completely focus without being distracted or conscious of being watched. I loved the thematic schedule and you aligned the themes so perfectly to the specific locations and from a personal perspective”

“I found it a memorable week and a fantastic first introduction to Rome…..the most valuable take-away for me was the development I felt in my drawing. Your individual tuition in particular challenged me to work out of my comfort zone and to think about the process of drawing in a different way.”

“I very much enjoyed the course and the course structure really encouraged me to look at drawing differently. All the information about the history of Rome and the architecture and art was great too, it gave a good picture for someone who’s never been to Rome before….. I also really enjoyed having all the choice of materials, and I am still enjoying using them all!”

“express my deep appreciation for the days I participated in your workshop. It still ecoes with insights and memories from our strolls and talks. In the 4.5 days I participated, I've learnt more about Rome, art and history and all in between, then what I did while studying a full course of art history. It has to do with the 'learning through experiencing' style the workshop is built on. Your endless, deep knowledge of history and art from many different angles, completes a multidimensional experience, one can understand and relate to, which allowed me to expand and deepen my knowledge and understanding and influenced my approach to city sketching”

How much does it cost?

Workshop Fee: 625 Euros, including drawing materials and entry tickets.

Transport, meals and individual insurance is not included.

Accommodation may be arranged on request.