Course Description
This immersive course integrates traditional fine art practices with sustainability principles, blending studio work with outdoor creative exploration in the heart of Florence. Students engage in painting, sculpture, and mixed media techniques while learning how to adopt environmentally responsible materials and processes. Through guided on-site sketching sessions of Florence's monuments and architecture, participants will capture the city's historic essence using pencil drawing, that later evolve into watercolor paintings made from handcrafted natural pigments. Students will also design a mixed media collage poster focused on raising awareness of one of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), merging art and activism to explore how visual storytelling can inspire change. By merging the heritage of Florentine art with sustainable innovation, students will develop original works that express ecological awareness, cultural appreciation, and social responsibility.
Art as advocacy for the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals
As a culminating project, every student designs a mixed-media collage poster interpreting one of the 17 SDGs — turning visual storytelling into a tool for awareness and change. Across the course, eco-friendly studio practice, natural pigments, and onsite sketching of Florence connect creative expression to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land), while the SDG poster project opens space for any of the 17.
Open to all 17 SDGs
Key Topics
Painting, sculpture, and mixed-media fundamentals
Historical vs. contemporary approaches to artistic creation
Eco-friendly and non-toxic materials in art
Studio sustainability and waste reduction practices
Art as activism: visual storytelling for sustainability
Developing a personal artistic voice rooted in care and responsibility
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1
Demonstrate proficiency in traditional and experimental fine art techniques.
2
Identify sustainable materials and evaluate their environmental impact.
3
Analyze historical and contemporary artworks with ecological or social themes.
4
Create original artworks using environmentally conscious methods, including natural pigments and handmade watercolors.
5
Apply onsite observational drawing techniques to depict Florentine architecture and urban spaces.
6
Translate outdoor sketches into sustainable watercolor paintings.
7
Design and execute a mixed-media collage poster addressing one of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
8
Communicate sustainability concepts effectively through artistic expression.
9
Exhibit and reflect on their creative process and environmental message.
Course Format and Assessment Methods
20%
Participation and Engagement
Active attendance and thoughtful contribution to studio sessions, field sketching outings, group critiques, and class discussions.
All LOs
25%
Studio Exercises and Experimentation
Ongoing studio practice across painting, sculpture, and mixed media — including experimentation with eco-friendly materials such as natural pigments, plant-based binders, recycled supports, and biodegradable media.
All LOs
15%
Research and Reflection Journal
A working journal documenting techniques explored, materials tested, references researched, and reflections on the relationship between artistic practice and sustainability.
LO 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8
40%
Final Project
Original artwork and accompanying artist statement, including the SDG mixed-media collage poster. Presented at the end-of-term Creating With Care exhibition.
All LOs
Course Outline
The course interweaves studio sessions, lectures, gallery and museum visits, outdoor sketching in Florence, and a culminating SDG-themed exhibition.
1
Introduction to Art and Sustainability 6 hoursLectures and discussions on art's role in shaping sustainable futures and the artist as environmental advocate; case studies of artists addressing climate change and social ecology; workshop on eco-literacy through visual storytelling.
2
Traditional Techniques Reimagined 9 hoursStudio sessions in painting with natural pigments, plant-based binders, and recycled supports; sculpture using clay, reclaimed wood, and found-object assemblage; mixed media combining analog and digital methods; workshop on making homemade watercolor paints; reflection on materials and consumption in art practice.
3
Materials and Environmental Impact 6 hoursLecture on the life cycle of art materials; demonstrations of eco-friendly gesso, natural dyes, and bioplastics; hands-on experimentation with biodegradable and upcycled materials; discussion of waste reduction strategies in studio practice.
4
Art History and Contemporary Practices 6 hoursFrom the Renaissance to Eco-Art — evolving perspectives on nature; gallery and museum visits observing environmental motifs in Florentine art; case studies of contemporary international and local artists integrating sustainability; group discussion on art as a tool for social and ecological awareness.
5
Outdoor Sketching and Watercolor Practice 9 hoursField sessions across Florence — Piazza della Signoria, Santa Maria del Fiore, Ponte Vecchio and Lungarno, and Boboli Gardens; observational pencil drawing of monuments and architectural details; transforming sketches into watercolor paintings using natural pigments; capturing light, atmosphere, and texture through sustainable methods.
6
Creative Studio Project and SDG Collage Poster 6 hoursIndividual project proposal with a concept and sustainability plan; studio development of original artwork or installation; mixed-media collage poster workshop where students select one of the 17 UN SDGs to interpret visually using recycled paper, found objects, plant-based adhesives, and sustainable printing techniques; ongoing mentorship and a midpoint peer critique.
7
Communicating Environmental Messages Through Art 3 hoursWorkshop on visual communication and storytelling for sustainability; presentation skills covering artist statements, audience engagement, and exhibit design; preparation for the final project.
8
Final Exhibition and Reflection 3 hoursStudent exhibition — the Creating With Care showcase; artist talks presenting creative process, watercolor and collage work, and sustainability narrative; group reflection on art's potential to influence sustainable futures.
Field Visits and Guest Speakers
Temporary museum exhibits
Guest speakers / visits to artist studios or workspaces
Using the city as a classroom is an integral element of education abroad, and this course will include several field visits, as well as assignments that prompt students to engage actively with their host context. Field visits vary across terms, but examples include those listed above.
Readings & Resources
Demos, T. J. Decolonizing Nature: Contemporary Art and the Politics of Ecology.
Weintraub, Linda. To Life! Eco Art in Pursuit of a Sustainable Planet.
Lippard, Lucy. Undermining: A Wild Ride Through Land Use, Politics and Art in the Changing West.
Florence Art Museums and Galleries.
