Join us for an inspiring workshop — refine your wildlife and landscape sketching skills and translate them into studio paintings.
Course description
This workshop is designed for artists who want to deepen their connection to nature through both observation and creation. Across two weeks, you’ll move between outdoor sketching and indoor studio work — developing not just a final painting, but a deeper, more personal approach to your process.
In the first week, you’ll work outdoors each day. You'll sketch directly from nature — including live animals, natural landscapes, and museum specimens; building confidence in drawing from life with both precision and spontaneity. Your instructor, Toby Wright, will guide you in observing and capturing light, color, and form in dynamic environments.
In the second week, you’ll return to the studio to transform your fieldwork into a finished composition. You’ll develop sketches, tonal studies, and color experiments, all leading toward a larger piece. Emphasis is placed on each step of the process — not just the result — and on refining your ability to tell a story through paint.
Course Structure and Class Size
Each day begins at 9:00 with a short group gathering. Classes run from 9:00–16:00 with a lunch break from 12:00–13:00. Instruction is primarily one-on-one, supported by group discussions, demonstrations, and informal lectures on the intersection of art, nature, and scientific illustration.
Expect an environment that’s both challenging and inclusive — a space where creative risk-taking and technical refinement go hand in hand.
We limit enrollment to ensure personal attention and a focused working atmosphere: maximum 8 students
Materials Included
All materials are provided: sketching supplies, paints, brushes, canvas and panels — everything you need for both outdoor and studio work is ready for you here. Read more about what’s included on our materials page.
Open to All Levels
This workshop is open to artists of all backgrounds. Whether you're new to outdoor work or looking to take your practice further, the course is designed to meet you where you are.
About the Instructor
Toby Wright is a painter known for combining rigorous studio technique with a deep engagement with the natural world. He has worked on expeditions from the Arctic to the Sea of Cortez and is an experienced teacher at FAA. Read more about Toby’s work.
The courses at The Florence Academy of Art / Sweden are designed for students with a strong desire to develop their artistic skills. Most of the instruction is on an individual basis and our instructors adapt the exercises to your level of experience. This means that the courses are suitable for both beginners and professional artists. In addition to the individual feedback there will also be group lessons and in-class demos. The skills you acquire during your course can be applied directly to your continued artistic endeavours.
Full payment for each course is required to secure your spot in the class.
Please review our policy on admission and refunds in our Terms of Service.
The Florence Academy of Art reserves the right to substitute instructors of any course at the last minute or during the session.