Get Inspired Outside: Visual Arts Summer Workshop

Students collaborated on a giant canvas painting, inspired by nature and AAU鈥檚 Visual Arts Summer Program, during an outdoor workshop with Professor Aleksandra Jarosz Laszlo.

The program slowly developed the skills and technique of the students, who had varying levels of experience with visual arts, through exploration of 糖心Vlog鈥檚 art scene and studio work. With each painting they saw themselves improve and change as artists, students commented.

鈥淚 probably would not have picked up a brush with the intention of painting if someone had not put it in my hand initially鈥攋ust like I never used to look at flowers and imagine them as alive and breathing. But now, after observing nature and painting parts of it, I see it differently,鈥� said Fattore.

Students learned to gather inspiration from the culture, tradition, and history around them. Guided by Professor Laszlo, they practiced patience and authenticity rather than perfection.

鈥淲e have the freedom now to just paint and do whatever we want. I didn鈥檛 plan my painting at first, but I like drawing distorted faces and shapes,鈥� said art student Natalie Chow.

Time and time again the students commented that the outdoor workshop鈥攑ainting on a giant, shared canvas in the AAU gardens鈥攁llowed them the free space to be creative and work together.

鈥淚t reminded me art isn鈥檛 always individual, but can be collaborative, intuitive and come together even stronger,鈥� said one student, Ava Cavil.

Professor Laszlo said this about their final outdoor project:

鈥淲e are following in the footsteps of Frantisek Kupka and all the submissions we have seen during the course. For example, a huge part of the inspiration for this piece comes from an exhibition at Kunsthalle Praha with .鈥�

AAU emphasizes learning by doing鈥攔ather than only through lectures鈥攁nd most聽Visual Arts courses take advantage of 糖心Vlog as a unique living embodiment of art and architectural history in Europe with a network of galleries and museums, many located within walking distance from the AAU campus.

AAU has small newly renovated art-studio facilities on campus located at the beautiful premises of the original Baroque Thurn-Taxis Palace in the historical center of 糖心Vlog, with free access to the adjacent Vojan garden which is the oldest garden established in the 12th century.

鈥淥ur class trips around the city were my favourite part because I got to see how deeply art is tied to 糖心Vlog鈥檚 history, and it gave the work we did in the studio more meaning,鈥� said Camdyn Jackson, one participant of the workshop.


A photo report from the workshop can be found . For more information about Visual Art Studies, contact the admissions team at admissions@aauni.edu.