YOUR QUESTIONS TO LAO

In this section you can find the answers to the most frequent questions asked by our students.

After enrolment in your chosen course, students can request a list of names for lodgings by sending an email to a info@artiorafe.it. Each student can contact the owner to plan visits and agree any renting conditions. Generally the lodgings available are very near the school. This service is free of charge.

Those who have studied at other schools and wish to enter the second year or advanced level of our cpurses, should send a curriculum and a portfolio of works created, a list of the exams passed or of the subjects covered in previous studies. The application will be assessed by the Administration, who will advise the student regarding the best course options. If necessary, the student may be asked to attend an interview or a practical test, to be agreed.

Enrolment in the course is only considered to be complete after pYMWNT of the amount due on enrolment (the first instalment of the total fees), as follows:
• For three month, six-month and annual courses: 1.500,00 Euro.
• For two- and three-year courses: 2.000,00 Euro.
• For short courses and seminars: 50% of the total fee.

Following deposit of the enrolment fee, the school secretaries’ office will send the student written confirmation of the enrolment and the deadlines for payment of the instalments.
Those who prefer to pay the whole course at once will have a 5% discount.

The right to withdraw from the course is valid until 30 days before the start of lessons, on payment of a sum equal to that of the enrolment fee. Notice of withdrawal must be sent to the school by registered letter.

After the above deadline students cannot withdraw from a course.

Students from outside Europe who, following enrolment, cannot obtain permission to enter Italy can either ask to maintain their enrolment with pre-emption for attendance in the two following years or request the immediate refund of 50% of the instalment paid.

Private lessons can be arranged by agreeing a timetable. Send a request by email to info@artiorafe.it. Online lessons are available for CAD-Rhinoceros courses.

For those wishing to stay in Italy for less than 3 months, we recommend obtaining a tourist visa. For longer stays, non-EU citizens must have an entry VISA valid for a maximum of 365 days (one year) for study.
To obtain the visa you need:

  • The documents the school sends you after enrolment
  • A valid passport
  • A form to be compiled directly at the Italian Embassy or Consulatein your own country
  • Proof that you can support yourself during studies in Italy (Bank document or credit card)
  • Health insurance


N.B. The visa cannot be issued in Italy, only at the Italian Embassy or Consulate near your city of residence.
Within 8 days of arrival in Italy, non-EU citizens must request a temporary residence permit, for which you will need the following documents:

  • Request form, to be bought at Italian post offices
  • Current valid passport or other equivalent document, with related entry visa if required
  • A photocopy of the passport itself
  • 4 identical and recent passport-size photographs
  • Documentation needed for the type of residence permit requested (school enrolment certificates for students)
  • Health insurance which covers repatriation costs and health care in the Schengen Area

The cost of the course includes lessons, teaching visits, use of the equipment in the workshops, the hours of self-learning at school, consumable materials for courses of goldsmithery, stone-setting and engraving (limited quantities of silver: see the school rules), distributions, school services (access to the school library, Internet…)

Students in the courses of goldsmithery, stone-setting and engraving should buy their own tools for personal use. Students on the design courses should buy the material for their exercises (pencils,compass, squares, colours etc.). The secretaries’ office sends a list of materials the student has to buy personally with the confirmation of enrolment.

First of all, we need a certificate from your school/university, detailing your course of study, with content, subjects, and grades achieved.

We also accept statements from artists or craftsmen where you have undergone training.

It is also very important to send a book of your work: drawings, models, jewellery, with an explanation of the techniques and materials used. You can enter as many works as you like, but be careful to choose the ones you need for the course you want to access. For example, if you want to attend the second year of goldsmithing, it is important to show that you have studied for that specialisation, and to include all the work you have done in the workshop, and of course preparatory drawings. It would not be useful to send work from another specialisation, even if it is of a good standard.

It is essential to look at what subjects are studied in our school for the first year, and to see if the subjects you studied in your school correspond to ours, or if the path is very different.

We ask these questions not to put you in difficulty, but to help you and give you advice, so that when you arrive in Florence you can fit into your group naturally and achieve the best possible results.

If you haven’t found the answers to your questions, please don’t hesitate to ask using the contacts form.

Flash Courses

These are ultra-short courses, ranging from 1 to 5 days in duration. The content is technical and practical, involving a demonstration phase by the instructor followed by hands-on exercises for students. 

All flash courses are taught by LAO’s faculty and instructors.

CAD Flash courses. Teacher Jasmina Carbone
Title/ContentsCourse codeDurationScheduleDeadlineTuition FeesRequirements of admissionEnrolment
Introduction to Rhino3D for Goldsmithing - Online coursesCAD.WE112 hours - 2 days18 - 19 SeptemberSeptember, 10th€ 300Enroll
JEWELLERY DESIGN Flash courses. Teachers Jasmina Carbone* – Giulio Vinci
Title/ContentsCourse codeDurationScheduleDeadlineTuition FeesRequirements of admissionEnrolment
Ink pen sketches and renderingsRE.215 hours 4 days6 - 9 July20 June€ 450Enroll
Rendering with markers and watercolor pencilsRE.315 hours 4 days13 - 16 July30 June€ 450Enroll
Digital renderingRE.415 hours 4 days20 - 23 July30 June€ 450Enroll
Rendering surfaces*RE.112 hours 2 days24 - 25 September10 September€ 300Enroll
STONE SETTING Flash courses. Instructor Francesco Pinzauti
Title/ContentsCourse codeDurationScheduleDeadlineTuition FeesRequirements of admissionEnrolment
Stone Setting Flash
(INPR1.F, INSB.F, INSG.F, INBI.F, INSGR.F)
INC.FLASH48 Hours 7 Days14 - 22 September31 August€ 1.000Enroll
Stone setting with griffe (Solitaire or trilogy)INPR1.F12 Hours 2 Days14 and 15
September
31 August€ 300Enroll
Stone setting on bezelINBS.F12 Hours 2 Days16 and 17 September31 August€ 300Enroll
Flush settingINSG.F8 Hours 1 Day18 September31 August€ 200Basic competences of stone setting techniquesEnroll
Channel settingINBI.F8 Hours 1 Day21 September31 August€ 200Basic competences of stone setting techniquesEnroll
Fishtail settingINSGR.F8 Hours 1 Day22 September31 August€ 200Basic competences of stone setting techniquesEnroll
Stone setting with griffe and stone setting on bezel
(INPR1.F, INSB.F)
INC1.F24 Hours 4 Days14 and 17
September
31 August€ 550Enroll
Stone setting with griffe, stone setting on bezel and Flush setting
(INPR1.F, INSB.F, INSG.F)
INC2.F32 Hours 5 Days14 and 18
September
31 August€ 750Enroll
Channel setting and Fishtail setting
(INBI.F, INSGR.F)
INC3.F16 Hours 2 DayS21-22 September31 August€ 350Basic competences of stone setting techniquesEnroll
HAND ENGRAVING ON JEWELLERY Flash courses.
Instructors Victoria Efremova* - Filippo Vinattieri
Title/ContentsCourse codeDurationScheduleDeadlineTuition FeesRequirements of admissionEnrolment
Hand-engraving full courses
(EN.1, EN.2, ENJF.1, ENJF.2, ENJF.3)
EN.FLASH72 Hours 16 Days2 - 24 September31 August€ 1.600Enroll
Segnatura*EN.112 Hours 3 Days2 - 4 September31 August€ 300Enroll
Engraved texture*EN.216 Hours 4 Days7 - 10 September31 August€ 400Enroll
Introduction to engraving on jew- elleryENJF.112 Hours 2 Days14 e 15 September10 September€ 300Enroll
Background, granite, and silk on jewelleryENJF.28 Hours 1 Days16 September10 September€ 200ENJF.1 or equivalentEnroll
Cursive writing on metal plate *ENJF.324 Hours 6 Days17 - 24 September10 September€ 600ENJF.1 or equivalentEnroll
Hand-engraving on plate flash
(EN.1, EN.2)
ENP.F28 Hours 7 Days
2 - 10 September31 August€ 650Enroll
Hand-engraving on jewels flash
(ENJF.1, ENJF.2)
ENG.F20 Hours 3 Days14 - 16 September10 September€ 450Enroll
ENAMELING Flash courses. Instructors Jennifer Wells** - Sachiko Chino
Title/ContentsCourse codeDurationScheduleDeadlineTuition FeesEnrolment
Fire enamels, wet enamel, dry enamel, champlevéSMA.WE8 Hours 2 Days6 and 7 July30 June€ 250Enroll
Liquid enamels**SMAF.215 Hours 3 Days8 - 7 July30 June€ 450Enroll
STRINGING PEARLS Flash course. Teacher Maria Laura La Mantia
Title/ContentsCourse codeDurationScheduleDeadlineTuition FeesRequirements of admissionEnrolment
Stringing pearlsPEARL16 Hours 2 Days23 and 24 September10 September€ 400Enroll
Notes FLASH Courses***

CAD.WE1 Introduction to Rhino3D for Goldsmithing. Online Course 

This course focuses on creating rings and pendants from non-complex shapes using a range of commands, including creating and  modifying curves, moving, rotating, scaling, copying, and subdividing shapes, using the 1-track sweep technique and utilizing  control points. 


RE.1 Diamond colouring 

Watercolour rendering of brilliant diamond cut. 

RE.2 Ink pen sketches and renderings 

In this workshop fast representation techniques are applied with the use of ink pens. Starting from different representation techniques  for flat surfaces, curved, cylindrical and conical surfaces, we move on to representation of cabochons and faceted gemstones, pave,  pearls and other materials. The aim of the workshop is to give the student the tools and methods to realize monochromatic jewellery  drawings through fast chiaroscuro” ink pen techniques that will give an immediate visual impact. 

RE.3 Rendering with markers and watercolor pencils. 

In this workshop representation techniques using alcohol and water-based markers and watercolor pencils are covered and  employed. Starting from different representation techniques of flat, curved, cylindrical and conical surfaces, both polished and satin finished, of precious metals. Then we move on to drawing of precious stones: cabochons and faceted stones,  

semi-precious stones, pearls, corals and other materials. The aim of the workshop is to provide the student with the tools and  methods to realize jewellery renderings through the use of fast but visually striking representation  

RE.4 Digital rendering with photoshop, illustrator and procreate.  

In this workshop, digital representation techniques using Photoshop and Illustrator software, and the Procreate application are illus trated and employed. As usual, we start with representation techniques of flat, curved, cylindrical and conical surfaces, both polished  and satin-finished, of precious metals. Then we move on to digital representation of precious stones: cabochons and faceted stones,  semiprecious stones, pearls, corals, pavés of diamonds. The advantages of digital rendering and the possibility of modifying the design  and adapting it to different requirements in a very short time are high lighted. The aim of the workshop is to train the student with the  tools to realize renderings through the use of digital jewels illustrations and painting, which is highly fast, dynamic and expressive.  

EN.1 Segnatura  

Exercises on metal sheet and introduction to the art of segnatura. Drawing, writing with marks, and delineating geomet ric shapes on a metal sheet. 

EN.2 Engraved texture 

The course aims to teach drawing and engraving with a burin to create different textures and patterns. Starting with basic graphic ele ments like simple lines, participants will learn how to create more complex motifs, up to ornaments and abstract compositions. They will  also learn how to imitate natural surfaces, studying the structures to create effects such as bark or wood, animal skin patterns, or stone  surfaces. 

ENJF.1 Introduction to engraving on jewellery 

After learning the burin preparation technique and becoming familiar with the tools, participants will start engraving on  copper sheets and silver rings. 

ENJF.2 Background, granite, and silk on jewellery 

Engravings on a silver leaf, using backgrounds, granite, silk, and engraving veins to enhance the natural effect. Granite is used to create a  homogeneous background that contrasts with subsequent shiny engravings, enhancing them. 

ENJF.3 Cursive writing on metal plate  

The objective of the course is to teach the engraving of names in English cursive on flat plates. This course is beneficial for both goldsmiths  and engravers. It can be used to sign one’s own work by using a metal plate, ‘write’ names, initials, and dates with a graver, etc.  

INPR1.F Setting with prongs (solitaire or trilogy)  

The prong setting is the most commonly used for solitaire and trilogy rings, and it enhances the beauty of the stone. Participants will learn  how to set brilliant-cut round stones on silver rings and other semi-finished products. 

INBS.F Setting with different-shaped settings 

The stone is set in the previously prepared seat (setting). The metal collar is fixed on the stone with a chisel or a hammer. For the exercis es, semi-finished products with settings of various shapes will be used, and participants will learn how to set faceted stones of different  cuts (round, square or princess) and round cabochon-cut stones. 

INSG.F Flush setting 

The technique of flush setting, in which the stones are not covered by the metal at all, makes the stones appear larger than they actually  are. This type of setting is particularly suitable for small round stones, and is often used for “light points” and in tennis bracelets. During  the course, exercises will be carried out on silver or bronze plates and semi-finished products. 

INBI.F Channel setting 

Channel setting is one of the most common types of setting: this type of mounting gives beauty to stones arranged in a row next to each  other. It is a type of setting suitable for not large stones, usually all of the same size. The most used cuts for this type of setting are square  and baguette, but excellent results are also obtained with round stones. 

INSGR.F Bead setting 

This technique partly recalls the prong setting, but the use of special mills and gravers makes it very different in realization and suitable  for objects to be produced in series or simple on unique objects. The setter obtains small prongs by cutting the base metal and shaping the  metal blocks according to their own taste. 

SMAF.2 Liquid enamel  

Students will be guided through exercises that teach them how to understand the material and how it will respond to certain situations.  The students will then be asked to begin layering techniques and application methods associated with liquid enamels, pushing the bound aries of what they are learning. Alternative materials will be incorporated into the enamel and firing process. The enamels will be kiln and  also torch fired ( this depends if we may bring one torch into the studio), offering more variation to the surface of the enamel. Exploring the  possibilities students will be expected to present a collection of their research as demonstration through several pieces with appropriate  documentation of their processes. Advanced students will also be asked to develop one process into a completed piece that may be wear 

able or sculptural. 

SMA.WE Fire enamels, wet enamel, dry enamel, champlevé. 

The course aims to provide the student with the knowledge of the main techniques of fire enamel applied to metal and in particular on jew ellery objects. Practical lessons and exercises. Dry enamel, wet enamel and champlevè.

PEARL Stringing pearls 

The course involves the creation of a pearl necklace from start to finish. Participants will learn the fundamental basics of threading and  how to use the necessary materials for this art. The course is aimed at those who, for creative, commercial, and hobbyist purposes, want  to learn this technique