Amazing & very professional Fresco painting class! - I had a one day private Fresco painting lesson in Geko Art Studio and I have to say that it was one of the best experiences I’ve had in Italy! I booked the lesson from Geko Art Studio, because I immediatly felt that their studio had a professional & passioned approach to teaching art. Not like many other places, where the lessons seem very touristy and shallow. Geko Art Studio, in other hand, offers lessons to people with different study backgrounds, from beginners to professionals. The fresco painting class was taught by a lovely and very professional teacher Claudia (who btw had studied f.e in Italy’s most distinguished art restoration instititute - Opificio delle Pietre Dure). The lesson started with learning about the history of fresco painting: Claudia had made herself few very comprehensive slideshows that she showed on her computer as she talked about the history and chemistry of frescoes. This was all very educational and intresting ! Claudia even offered to send me the slideshow files and answers to few questions that I had asked her about different materials. After the small introduction, we starterd making the limestone & sand layers for the fresco. As an artist myself, Geko Art Studios studio space felt just like an art studio should feel like - bohemian and inspirational. Mixing the sand and limestone made me feel like a was a student of rennaisance master ! We started the painting by analysing an old fresco painting and then mixing the colors according to the picture. This step, AGAIN, was very educational and I learned so much new about transferring the scetch, the colors and how the fresco’s surface changes as it dries. I would definetly recommend Geko Art Studio Florence di Octavio Palomino to everyone who’s intrested in art history and/or painting! It’s a perfect place to learn in a safe environment with no pressure at all. Everything else was also perfect: the location is great and the prices are very affordable (especially when you think about the quality of teaching)! 10/10! Thank you so much Geko Art and Claudia ! I’ll be back :) -Kristo Saarikoski

If you love art, MAKE art! - Fantastic experience! Our instructor Claudia was patient, talented and really made for an unforgettable class. We gained a whole new appreciation for the challenges and complexity of creating frescoes - the process is fascinating! We enjoyed snacks and drinks at the end of the class - our host was warm and welcoming. Don’t miss this experience!

Perfect experience! Everybody who visits Florence should do or! - Claudia is an excellent teacher, well prepared, patient, helpful The experience to be her student was fantastic and I enjoyed very much

A painting experience of a life time for any pianter who works in any medium - the fresco lab was a great experience, Eleanora was knowledgeable, her informative, historical knowledge was very helpful, and she is very easy to work with, through her efforts I now have a better understanding of the creativity and craftsmanship of the Renaissance artist. I would recommend and have recommended this lab to anyone who paints in any medium, especially traditional representational painters it will greatly improve your knowledge and ability. I'm planning another visit to Florence and would like to experience another more involved fresco lab . Once again it was a great experience and fun. Thank you Rosanna, Eleanora and the Gecko Studio

Great experience! - What a great workshop! Every minute was a fun, creative learning experience and not at all intimidating. You learn so much in a “hands on” way! The studio is owned by Octavio Palomino (great sculpture artist) and his wonderful wife, Rosanna. Rosanna runs the studio and is with whom all communication was accomplished. Eleonora is the fresco expert and teacher. Eleonora also works in restoring frescos in Italy. She is excellent! Friendly and helpful, she patiently guided us through the entire process. My husband and I took this class together (he claims no artistic ability but did well) and were able to have our finished frescoes mailed to us in the States. We used the same techniques used in the Renaissance. From mixing the lime/sand plaster recipe to outlining and painting in our chosen design, we experienced, in a way, what is was like to be novice Renaissance fresco painters. This gave us greater appreciation for the fresco works we later saw in Florence and Rome and an affinity with artists of another age. Florence is an elegant city with some of the most beautiful art, architecture, delicious food, and talented artists in the world. Even the sky looks more beautiful there! This workshop allows you to be a part of it in a most tangible, memorable way.

Great way to spend an afternoon. - Excellent instructor. We went through the entire fresco process using the exact materials that were used 500 years ago. For anyone who has an interest in Fresco painting I would say that this activity is a must.