Kimberly Brayman Expands Her Portrait Practice in Florence

In June 2026, contemporary figurative artist Kimberly Brayman completed a four-week portrait painting intensive at the Angel Academy of Art in Florence, Italy. The experience gave her an opportunity to study traditional realism in depth while considering how greater precision might become part of her own layered, expressive approach to portraiture.

Kimberly’s work moves between figurative realism and abstraction. Rather than replacing that visual language, she approached the course as a way to strengthen the technical foundation beneath it.

“My desire is to always reach for the next level of development, to stay curious, and to explore the possibilities with creativity.”

Studying the Precision of the Old Masters

The Angel Academy teaches realism through methods informed by the Old Masters. With only five artists participating in the four-week portrait course, the class allowed for detailed observation, close instruction, and an unusually exacting focus on form.

Corrections were sometimes measured to within a millimeter—a degree of precision Kimberly had not previously emphasized in her painting practice.

The training challenged her to look more carefully at proportion, structure, value, and the subtle relationships that create a convincing human presence. How those lessons will enter her future paintings remains open. They may appear in the eyes, in the movement of a figure, or more gradually as the techniques become integrated into her established style.

A Broader Immersion in Art and Observation

The program extended beyond daily portrait work. Kimberly attended a composition lecture with Valerio, studied art history with John Michael Angel, and participated in life sketching at another atelier across Florence.

Living within a city shaped by centuries of painting, architecture, and visual culture also became part of the education. Florence offered the opportunity to encounter historic works directly and to consider how artists across generations have approached the human figure.

Creativity Beyond the Studio

Kimberly’s time in Italy also included experiences that encouraged a different kind of attention and curiosity.

She took a full-day cooking class, learning to make ravioli and gnocchi while discussing art with a fellow artist from the portrait program. During a weekend road trip south to Assisi, she participated in a separate watercolor course and attended a service in one of the city’s historic cathedrals—an experience she describes as deeply moving.

These moments broadened the trip beyond technical training. They became part of a larger immersion in creativity, history, hospitality, and shared experience.

Bringing the Experience into Future Work

Kimberly returned from Florence with expanded technical knowledge and a renewed commitment to continued development.

The influence of the intensive may not appear as an immediate or dramatic change. Instead, it will likely emerge through observation, decision-making, and the gradual integration of greater realism into her contemporary figurative paintings.

The experience reflects an essential part of Kimberly’s practice: remaining curious, challenging familiar methods, and allowing new knowledge to deepen the work without diminishing the individuality of her voice.