Atelier Appprenticeship

Premier Level Training

We advocate one of the oldest and best forms of learning. One on one in- person tutelage with a master.

Experience Our Unique Path to
Old Master Craftsmanship

  • Rooted in Tradition

    We champion apprenticeship training, the oldest form of learning that has produced history’s greatest master artists and YOU'RE NEXT!

  • Real World Learning

    Learn through hands-on experience with world-class mentors, bridging studio theory & real-world practice through reflection, analysis & synthesis.

  • Mastery and Beyond

    Deepen your artistic life and broaden your perspective, through direct guidance and a supportive collaborative community.

  • Our Goal

    Help you develop skills to achieve your creative dreams through studio learning, measurable outcomes, and consistent practice for growth.

  • Signature Curriculum

    Progressive 4-level curriculum by ARC Associate Living Master Charles Miano for artists seeking professional excellence in drawing and painting.

Unleash Your Potential with Our Two-Fold Curriculum

Practice

Projects

Indirect Method 

  • Building artwork from start to finish enhances craftsmanship and elevates finishing skills to higher competence levels.

  • Techniques like comparative or sight size measurement are employed to achieve accuracy, even with developing eyes.

  • The goal of projects is to master elements such as design, visual order, light effects, color, modeling, morphology, surface quality, and finish.

  • Artists complete master copies, cast drawings, and long pose figure and portrait assignments with diligence each month.

  • Our curriculum balances logic and expression, intelligence and emotion, embodying the potential for spontaneity combined with structure.

  • Assignments are designed with the Old Masters in mind, focusing on long-term drawings and paintings.

  • Students learn to communicate through visual language, mirroring the techniques of masters like Michelangelo, da Vinci, Caravaggio, and Rembrandt.

  • Lessons emphasize the science and technical aspects of drawing and painting.

Direct Method 

  • Our Apprenticeship curriculum teaches students to see through live model work, enhancing their skills beyond long projects and finished works.

  • Our unique direct method fosters confidence, boldness, and precision, improving eye/hand coordination and proportion accuracy.

  • Students complete hundreds of weekly exercises, mastering principles like line, shape, proportion, anatomy, and form.

  • Each principle is tackled individually, helping artists build confidence and refine their coordination over time.

  • Quick sketches help artists capture energy and express freely, bringing life to their work.

  • The course develops an artist's ability to capture gesture and movement with accuracy.

  • Short to intermediate poses enhance brush skills, improving craftsmanship and calligraphy.

  • Artists see significant improvement in capturing life with style and precision.

Testimonials from Our Creative Community
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

  • I looked for a long time for a learning opportunity such as Miano Academy provides. I have attended other institutes of art education. In my experience, the Miano Academy is on par with Ateliers in Major American and European metropolitan citys. The academy provides instruction in a way that most life circumstances can incorporate. I have benefited greatly from the solid foundation taught at The Miano Academy of Art.

    Elizabeth Jenness Burge
    Alumni

  • Charlie Miano is a visionary. He is building a school for his community with a passion that is rare, and a generosity for his students that is even more scarce. With his skills, Charlie is tapping into a vitality within the community of students.
He is building a comprehensive program with expertise, practice, and deep understanding. Charlie is helping to reawaken interest in the fundamental visual arts, the appreciation of aesthetic beauty, and the quality of vision by transcending craftsmanship.
The Miano Academy is emerging as a premier institution for higher learning, atelier training, and the reestablishment of legitimacy in studying from direct observation, working from life. It is the kind of school that we all should embrace.

    Dan Thompson
    ARC Living Master

  • I have been astounded at the number of people who are moving to Florida and specifically looking for a professional classical art program… there is no doubt that the Miano Academyhas become a major school for the arts

    Kerry Vosler
    Ambassador, Portrait Society of America

Who Is This Program For?


The Atelier Apprenticeship is a rigorous, 4-level (Certificate) drawing and painting program, under the guidance of ARC Associate Living Master Charles Miano, designed for artists seeking a professional standard in their work. A 5th-level Narrative Painting course is also offered for post certificate independent study.

  • You are an aspiring Artist Seeking Direct Mentorship
    You seek hands-on guidance from Italian Master Charles Miano in an in-person setting, where personalized feedback boosts your skill development quickly and effectively

  • You Prefer an Immersive Learning Environment
    You thrive in a true atelier studio atmosphere, finding an immersive, in-person experience inspiring through a collaboration with your peers.

  • You Value Physical Studio Resources
    You seek a real, hands-on experience with physical materials in a working studio, accessing professional resources to enhance your artistic practice.

The skills acquired during this program have helped many artists achieve a professional skill level applied  to fine art, conceptual art, illustration, animation and other visual art fields.

Students who join the Miano Apprenticeship come from all walks of life and travel from all over the world to study in the classical atelier tradition.

Leonardo da Vinci

“Where the spirit does not work with thehand, there is no art”

Michelangelo

“There is no greater harm than that of time wasted.”

Why Walk the Path of Mastery
at Miano Academy?

  • The Atelier Apprenticeship is designed for those who desire to devote necessary time to develop their skills thoroughly with persistence and patience.

    Supportive Learning Environment

    Miano Academy maintains a limited number of full-time Apprentices to ensure concentrated one-on-one instruction. These Apprentices also benefit from personal studio space, gallery representation, commission opportunities through The Guild, discounts on visiting master artist workshops and teaching opportunities.

    Flexible Enrollment & Intensive Focus

    Although our program is broken into trimesters, an Apprentice can join at any time although we recommend joining on the closest opening trimester. Miano Academy’s Apprentices share in this unique Renaissance-guild style experience – working in the studio for approximately 35-40 hours each week.

    Transformative Artistic Journey

    By engaging in this hyper-focused twofold approach, apprentices of the academy are finding their internal resources aligning with powerful long-lasting effects. We find that some personalities gravitate toward a more expressive style, while others gravitate toward a more finished result, however both are learned and one compliments the other. Many are building confidence, exploring their deepest passions and finding out a lot about themselves in this transformative process.

  • Exhibition and Teaching: Showcase your work in exhibitions and engage in teaching to build confidence and communication skills.

    Dedicated Studio Access: Benefit from a fully equipped studio with high-quality resources for professional artistic creation.

    Networking and Collaboration: Connect with artists, collectors, and industry professionals, collaborate and expand your network

  • One-on-One Instruction: Get tailored guidance from experienced instructors focused on your artistic goals.

    Hands-On Learning: Participate in practical experiences with immediate feedback for continuous improvement.

    Customized Learning Path: Enjoy a personalized learning experience that aligns with your unique strengths and challenges.

  • Supportive Artistic Community: Join a vibrant community that fosters collaboration, idea sharing, and mutual support.

    Diverse Learning: Engage in workshops, masterclasses, and guest lectures from renowned artists to enhance your skills.

    Structured Curriculum: Follow a comprehensive program with diverse projects and techniques for a well-rounded art education.

Student Spotlight:
Shining Bright at
Miano Academy

We’re proud of our stellar students, on winning the ARC Scholarship! Hear what they have to say about us.

“In our family-like community at Miano Academy, the profound connections and support among our artists elevate the work we create. Advanced apprentices are encouraged to guide newcomers, nurturing a warm environment that inspires us all to flourish on our artistic journeys.”

- Charles Miano

APPLY NOW!

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Pay Application Fee

Start Your Journey Towards Mastery

Click the button below to submit your application.

FAQs

    • Complete Your Application: Please submit this completed application form.

    • Upload Work Samples: Upload 5-10 examples of your current work
      (JPEG recommended size is 2400x1600px)

    • Upload Your Essay: Attach a 300-500 word letter of intent as a PDF file.

    • Letters of Recommendation: You may also upload up to 2 letters of recommendation.

    • Application Timeline: Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed on a rolling basis.

    • Pay Application Fees: Application fee of $100 (check payable to Miano Academy of Art) or $110 via credit card

    • Please send a check for the $100 application fee to the following address:
      Miano Academy of Art
      1915 Northgate Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34234

    • If Paying by credit card, use this link, note that $10 payment processing fees will be added

    • In-person Ateleir Apprenticeship Tuition for each trimester is $3,900.

    • A non-refundable payment of $975 (¼ of the first trimester) is required upon acceptance to secure your spot in the Atelier Apprenticeship.

    • Currently, Miano Academy does not offer loans or scholarships for the Atelier Apprenticeship program.

    • However our students qualify for ARC scorlarships, contact us for more details.

  • Apprentices can begin the trimester at any month throughout the year.

    • Checks: Preferred payment method. Please make checks payable to Miano Academy of Art and mail to the address below:
      Miano Academy of Art
      1915 Northgate Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34234

    • Credit Card: For international students or others who prefer credit card payments, there is a 3% processing fee added to the tuition when using this method.

  • Yes, a late fee of $50 per week will be applied for any overdue payments. Additionally, a $50 fee will be charged for returned checks.

  • If you wish to withdraw from the program, you must submit written notice at least 31 days before leaving. No refunds will be issued for early withdrawal, and any paid fees will be forfeited.

  • 1915 Northgate Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34234

  • Housing is not provided by Miano Academy, nor is it included in tuition. However, the Academy is located near Sarasota and Bradenton, where students can find various housing options such as apartments or rental homes. A list of local housing options is available upon request.

  • Email: info@mianoacademy.org
    Phone: 941.753.7755

    1915 Northgate Blvd,
    Sarasota, FL 34234

    Hours
    Monday–Friday
    10 AM –4 PM

    OR Use this contact form to submit your questions and we will get back to you soon!