Life as a Full-Time Artist in Florence, Italy

Video from Carly Renée

Life as a Full-Time Artist in Florence, Italy

"In this video, I take you through my final week studying at the Florence Classical Arts Academy — long days, late nights, last portraits, new techniques, the highs, the lows, and everything this journey has taught me.

I’m Carly Renée — an Australian visual artist who moved to Italy for four months to deepen my skills in drawing and painting. This series documents the real behind-the-scenes life of a full-time artist: the challenges, the breakthroughs, and what really happens when you take a leap and invest in your craft.

This week, I:

Started the final portrait of my program (and it unexpectedly became my strongest work)

Learned new colour-mixing approaches that completely changed the way I mix skin tones

Broke down the shading and cross-hatching techniques my professors taught us

Found the most beautiful hand-bound leather journal to bring home

Reflected on my self-portrait and the honesty painting forces you to confront

Watched the city from above and realised how much this experience changed me

Whether you’re considering studying art in Florence, dreaming about Italy, or just love watching the artistic process unfold, I hope this video inspires you to follow your own creative path." from the video introduction

#extraordinarygod