Workshops / Classes / Groups

 This workshop focuses on the distinctive drawing techniques used by the Italian Masters to create drawings that embody life, movement, and naturalism. 

They built from the “inside out” especially when it came to the human form. Their use of perspective and foreshortening enhances the illusion of depth and three dimensionality. Close attention was paid to how light hits form and the combined application of Sfumato (softening edges), Chiaroscuro (contrast of light and shade) and Tratteggio Incrociato (cross hatching) contribute to the aesthetic characteristics of Italian Master Drawings. 

The workshop will place particular focus on developing Tratteggio Incrociato skills—an essential tool the Masters used to guide the viewer’s eye around the form. Students will gain an understanding of and an ability to apply these techniques to their own drawings.

ABOUT PATRIZIA

Patrizia Vignola is a native New Yorker now living, teaching, and creating in Minnesota. Her work, often described as contemporary surrealism, is deeply rooted in the techniques and traditions of the Italian and Northern Renaissance Masters—a lifelong influence that continues to shape her artistic language.

From an early age, Patrizia was drawn to the challenge of mastering realism in drawing and painting. In high school, her focus was firmly on the arts, leading her to pursue a BFA, which included a formative period of study in Florence, Italy. There, she immersed herself in the classical methods of the Renaissance, honing the skills that would become the foundation of her practice.

She later earned her MFA from the New York Academy of Art – Graduate School of Figurative Art, where the curriculum emphasized classical training and anatomical study. Notably, she completed three cadaver dissections—far beyond the single required course—demonstrating her deep commitment to understanding the human form. 

During graduate school, Patrizia also produced copies of Italian Master drawings for a New York City dealer who specialized in serving a discerning clientele.

Though her current work often ventures beyond tradition, Patrizia never strays far from her classical roots. The foundational techniques she studied so rigorously remain a constant touchstone in her process. Equally passionate about teaching, she finds great fulfillment in sharing her knowledge and nurturing the skills of others.