The rich culture and beauty of Siena will serve as the backdrop in which students will explore and develop their artistic skills and thinking through experimentation, discussion, and readings in this intensive studio art course. Designed to build on your previous experience and skills, and augmented by the wealth of materials from the Italian Renaissance, this course is open to students at all levels of drawing and painting. In addition to the studio component of this course, we will make visits to some of the most important cultural sites in Tuscany and Italy in general, such as the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and the city of Bologna.
Combined Painting and Drawing in Siena
Language Requirement: None
Academic Standing by Program Start: Sophomore or Above
Location: Europe, Italy
GPA: 2.5
Program Overview
Dates and Deadlines
| Term | Year | Deadline | Arrival Date | Departure Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | 2025 | 3/15/2025 | 07/21/2025 | 08/30/2025 |
Acceptance is based on a holistic review of your application. This includes a review of your GPA, transcripts (including courses taken and in-progress), and the short statement.
This program is less than 90 days. Students with a US passport will be traveling to Italy under the Schengen Visa waiver program and do not require a travel visa for this program, and GEO is unable to assist U.S. citizens in obtaining a visa. If you are not a U.S. Citizen: Notify your GEO Advisor. Students who are not U.S. citizens should contact the Italian consulate in their country of residence about visa requirements, no matter the duration of the program of study.
Academic Details
Designed for beginners to advanced students, half of this course will be devoted to drawing, half to painting. We will emphasize an exploration of two-dimensional space, the development of technical and material experience, as well as questions key to a critical understanding of artistic production. Siena, considered one of the most beautiful expressions of the Italian Renaissance will provide a backdrop for the course; which will be supplemented with visits to some of the most significant cultural heritage sites of Florence, Arezzo, and Bologna.
This course is open to beginning, intermediate, and advanced drawing and painting students, and may be recognized as studio art credit for art majors and minors by your home university. Check with your departmental advisor for more information.
Course Equivalencies
UO students: please refer to the UO Course Equivalency Process and the UO Office of the Registrar Course Equivalency Database.
Non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.
Faculty and Staff
Sylvan Lionni in an associate professor in the Department of Art at the University of Oregon. He received his MFA from Bard College, NY and BFA from the School of Visual Arts, NY. His work has been exhibited in museums and galleries in the United States, Europe, and Australia, including The Brooklyn Museum of Art, MoMA P.S. 1, and mumok in Vienna, Austria. His work is held in many private and public collections and has appeared, or been reviewed in ArtForum, Svenska Dagbladet, and Art in America among many others.
Housing Description
Experience life as part of an authentic Italian neighborhood, living in student residences (small dorms) with other American, Italian or international students throughout the town of Siena. You will share a bedroom with one or two other students, and share common spaces (bathroom, kitchen, etc.) with the students living in your hall. Your room will have a fridge, desk, safe, and either a sink or a private bathroom. The kitchens are equipped with utensils, plates, glasses, cookware, an electronic oven and a gas stove. You will also receive towels and linens and each apartment has access to a washing machine and drying rack.
Close by you can find small local grocers, restaurants, and cafés unique to your neighborhood.