The Work
Rita's paintings, where structure meets intuition.
Expressive animal subjects, framed and composed with deliberate intention. This is the language you'll be learning to design with.
A focused three-day workshop on the one element that quietly decides whether a painting holds together: composition.
Only 15 seats / July 31 to August 2, 2026
As artists grow technically, there's often a point where the work still feels unresolved. Something about it doesn't quite land, and it's hard to name why. More often than not, the answer isn't more skill. It's composition: the underlying structure that holds a painting together, guides the eye, creates movement, and gives the work a sense of presence.
Over three days, Rita Vicari guides you through a range of compositional approaches that bring clarity, intention, and strength to your work. You'll learn to design your paintings from the very first marks, make confident visual decisions, and recognize the patterns that quietly support or weaken a composition.
Through demonstration and hands-on exercises, you'll explore different compositional structures and begin to notice which ones naturally align with the way you see and create. This is the shift from guesswork into a more intentional way of working, where your compositions feel both strong and personal.
Build compositions from the ground up using your own ideas and visual language, instead of leaning on fully developed references.
Recognize the structures that create movement and balance, and the common patterns that quietly weaken a piece.
Discover which compositional approaches align with the way you see, so your work feels both intentional and personal.
Take home a reference designed for ongoing use, showing how different structures shape mood, meaning, and voice.
Leave with pieces you've actually moved forward, and the judgment to know when to stop and when to push.
We focus on animal subjects as a grounded way in, but the principles carry into any subject or style you paint.
Expressive animal subjects, framed and composed with deliberate intention. This is the language you'll be learning to design with.
RV
Headshot to add
Rita Vicari is a contemporary artist known for her expressive animal paintings and a thoughtful approach to composition, color, and visual storytelling. Her work explores the relationship between structure and intuition, creating pieces that feel both dynamic and deeply intentional.
She brings a clear, grounded teaching style that makes complex ideas feel accessible and immediately usable, and she's especially passionate about helping artists move beyond guesswork into real clarity and confidence.
✦ Expressive Animal Painter & Composition MentorEach day runs 10am to 4pm, with a midday break. A natural arc from studies, to building the painting, to refinement.
From first-time oil painters to seasoned artists refining their voice, these are workshop artists in their own words.
“It’s the best art lessons I’ve had in thirty years.”
After 30 years of intermittent painting, Kimberly decided to make art her primary focus, and her skills skyrocketed. Life transitions pushed Kimberly to follow her passion for art full-time. The Mastery Program’s structured approach rapidly improved her skills, and in-person workshops brought major breakthroughs in each session. In Sarasota, she mastered skin tones, figures, and mystical backgrounds, areas she’d struggled with before. Kimberly now sees every painting as a step forward and proof that dedication beats “natural talent” every time.
“I have a BFA and a master’s degree, but I’ve learned more here than anywhere else.”
After 20 years in abstract, Kit wanted to master realism, and fill the gaps in her formal training. Kit’s journey took her from avoiding portraits to confidently painting them. The Mastery Program gave her the foundational skills to translate anything she sees onto canvas. At the Sarasota workshop, she pushed herself to create glowing, translucent effects she’d never achieved before. She left knowing exactly how to elevate her work, and the confidence to keep pushing.
“This is my very first oil painting… and now I know I can do it.”
Emily had been a practicing artist since 2012, but she had never touched oils. The Sarasota intensive became her “sink-or-swim” moment, and she discovered she could swim beautifully. Emily came to the workshop with years of acrylic experience but zero in oils. Apprehension melted into excitement as she learned the layered, step-by-step process of creating light-filled work. Her goldfinch painting, made for her husband, became a personal milestone. With the encouragement and guidance she received, Emily left ready to dive back into the Mastery Program and embrace oils without fear.
“I thought painting had to be agony… now I’m in a flow where I’ll always have ideas.”
Eight years into painting, Mary still felt something was missing, until she found her flow. A landscape architect by trade, Mary entered the Mastery Program seeking the art school education she never had. Through the process, she not only found her voice but also learned to work with lighter, more intentional strokes, a game-changer for her style. Inspired by her home in Baja, Mexico, her workshop piece captured the glow of jackrabbits and cacti at sunrise. She left with renewed energy and the tools to sustain her professional art career.
“Even if you’ve been painting for years, this program is transformative.”
Gillian found freedom and magic in her art by embracing mixed media and her “magician” archetype. A casual online workshop with Elli and Dimitra was Gillian’s gateway to the Mastery Program. Discovering alcohol inks with oil paints lit up her work, literally and figuratively. At the Sarasota in-person workshop, she created a glowing jar with a curious cat, bringing the “painting light” lesson to life. For Gillian, the program’s magic is matched only by the deep support from the Milan Art team.
“I was hesitant because of my age… but I just plugged in and kept going.”
Carole almost didn’t join because she feared the time commitment. Now she paints 30 hours a week. Carole had painted a little before joining the Mastery Program but wanted to take her skills seriously. A mentor’s accountability kept her consistent, and her love for mixed media flourished. The workshop challenged her to blend her whimsical style with realistic light, and she succeeded, creating a glowing floral piece that marked another milestone in her growth.
An intimate studio setting with direct, individual guidance across all three days.
July 31 to August 2, 2026 / 10am to 4pm daily / In person at the Milan Art Studio
Extend the experience July 30 to August 3 with the Milan Art House add-on. Details and availability shared on request.
Open to all levels. A supportive space for Mastery Program students and anyone ready to go deeper on composition.
You'll leave with stronger pieces in progress and a clear framework for designing work that holds together, in everything you paint next.
Reserve Your EaselOnly 15 seats / July 31 to August 2, 2026
No. This workshop is open to all levels. It's especially supportive for artists who have developed technical skill but feel their compositions could be stronger, and equally welcoming to those earlier in their journey who want to build good habits from the start.
We focus primarily on animal subjects as a grounded, recognizable way to explore composition. The principles you'll learn apply to any subject or style you work in.
Collage materials, acrylics, mark-making tools, and oils, along with one canvas and 3 to 5 sheets of taped paper for studies. Bring your own ideas and inspiration too.
In person at the Milan Art Studio. Full location and arrival details are sent to registered artists ahead of the workshop.
All sales for in-person events, including workshops, retreats, intensives, and other experiences, are final. We do not offer refunds or credit for cancellations or no-shows. Funds can not be transferred to another event.
By registering for any in-person event, you are agreeing to this policy and helping us maintain a smooth and well-prepared event experience for all.