Excellent technical instruction, among the best in the country. You can take classes on-line or in the studio. For serious artists, join the apprenticeship program. Regardless of where you are on your journey, the instruction will help your technique. These studies are from my first still life class.

When I discovered the Southern Atelier website, and began to browse through it, I was immediately blown away by the quality of the work, that I was seeing. The depth and breadth of the various disciplines is truly astounding.Mr. Miano has created a training center for young artists and those like me who are “young at heart”, and have a great appreciation of the old masters.The many “In Person Programs”and “On LineCourses” make it easy and affordable for anyone who has the passion for art to get superior training that until now has been hard to find and rarely affordable.Please spend some time browsing through thevarious programs available…. From the “Open Studio”, to the “In Person Courses”, to the “On Line Courses”, and the “Master Workshops” and the “Miano Apprenticeship”.This remarkable young Master has much to offer the aspiring young and old artists in us all!

My experience at Southern Atelier has been nothing short of exceptional! As a practicing artist, I am always on the lookout for opportunities to further my education—Southern Atelier has provided me with fundamental drawing/painting knowledge that I was missing, despite years of attending art school. It is the most positive learning environment that I have been a part of. Owner Charles Miano provides unparalleled instruction and is patient, encouraging and deliberate with his method of teaching. It is a joy to attend classes at Southern Atelier and will benefit any artist interested in improving, whether or not their focus is in traditional realism.

Every time I visit Southern Atelier I am amazed at the beauty of the space itself. Everywhere I look I see a potential painting waiting to be discovered, fabric draped on the walls around a models stage, light hitting a steel bucket filled with artist brushes in all sizes, the owner Charles Mianos own painters palette in beautiful array of oil dabs of colors, alizarin, ochre, cobalt etc. as a still life study itself if need be. There are stories everywhere to be told on canvas. I feel like I am walking into another period of time and I dont want to leave.

Every successful plan or procedure starts with a sound, reliable method.The Miano Method insures me that I am learning each element, in the correct order, and serves as my base for the next.Charles Miano provides the platform in this nurturing, confidence building atmosphere at Southern Atelier. With only a limited number of Ateliers in the world, we are very fortunate to have one in our beautiful, culture filled community!

Charlie Miano is a skilled instructor and an excellent communicator. If you are a beginner, he gives you an excellent understanding of the structure one needs to implement in order to begin the painting journey. His demos give more advanced artists different approaches to painting.

This is a true gem in Sarasota. The quality of training students receive is unparalleled. Charles is so knowledgeable, his communication is descriptive and you can tell his passion for his craft.

I give Southern Atelier 5 stars for the following reasons:1- Charles Miano lives to bring out the full potential in each artist that he teaches. I have seen the results!2- This school has a culture of inclusion to all people living in this community. This is a great recipe in developing your individual art, and making a difference in your part of the world.3-Art brings healing to anxiety, and gives us space to create our voice on canvas.4- During these challenging COVID times, it has been imperative for our mental health, to stay engaged with an art form that brings us peace. This school has done just that, by adjusting to the times we a currently living.5- I have found the team here supportive, full of passion, kindness and dedication. If you are looking to thrive/for these qualities in an art school, look no further!

At first I was intimidated by the quality of the work done by the students at Southern Atelier and work that I saw at their exhibition. When I started learning more about their process, I realized that most of them had only been studying for 2 or 3 years, so I decided to just start taking classes casually. This studio and staff is refreshing and really down to earth. I felt at home right away. I am very grateful for the knowledge this place is preserving. Now I’m thinking about joining the apprenticeship program instead of going to art school. I can’t believe how affordable it is.

I feel like I have found a new creative home. The front informal gallery alone is filled with Charles Miano paintings and those by other international artists. The atelier, with its high ceilings and figure drawings lining the walls, reminded me of a French garret and seems a perfect setting for Miano to encourage and gently impart his rich expertise.

Beyond an unimposing, nondescript facade, lies a refuge from the crazy-making, cluttered world of distraction. Here, one enters the dedicated world of living the artists’s life with classical artist and instructor Charles Miano. I have spent the past three months as a part-time student in Charles’ portrait and figure studio classes; developing skills along with his full-time apprentices. Charles provides robust guidance with gentle Mianoisms that encourage the importance of practice, experimentation, and hundreds of starts. One finds oneself eased into being present and focused. I am encouraged to move closer to the Southern Atelier in Sarasota to further enrich my art experience. During my two-hour trek back to Naples, I am satisfied that I have spent optimal time on my journey.Ed Schiffer - Naples, FL

Amazing! I attended a recent show at the Manatee Preforming Arts Center and was able to get an inside look at what goes on at the Southern Atelier -- every piece of art displayed was breathtaking and every student expressed their love for the classes theyd been attending. Definitely worth a try!

Charles Miano is one of the best instructors in drawing and painting I have ever taken from. I have only had the opportunity to take his Miano Method Live Online Classes and have been impressed with his patience, clear direction and his methodology. Not only is he a very talented artist himself, but he has the very unique ability to communicate the process in a very clear and concise manner - that is logical and intuitive no less! I have attended art school, LCAD, and been working as a professional sculptor for over 20 years but have never encountered a more clear instructor in drawing and painting who has taken the way I understand the world (3-D) and helped me to translate that onto a 2D surface. If you ever have the opportunity to take any of his classes, Online or in person, be ready to learn a lot and work hard because I guarantee you will grow as an artist beyond what you expect. It is rare to find an Art Instructor that can teach effectively and cares about your progress as an artist.

World class program! Amazing teaching!

Firstly, the artwork they told me was done by first and second year students when I first toured the school, was actually ALL work done by the owner. I was told that when I become a full time student, Id have my own personal space for supplies and work, a key to the facility to work on my art after hours, etc. I never got any of these perks. In fact, I remember the owner moving my art out of what was supposedly my space, into a crowded shelf space, to display more of his own work.I showed up for my classes, sometimes waiting up to hours before he arrived. There were several times where I gave up waiting for my class to begin and would head to my car to go home. When I brought up this concern, as with most flaws in this school, the blame was put on me. You should be able to work on your own the instructor would say...Im not paying to draw on my own for hours, Im paying for YOUR guidance.I felt like the owner was too focused on numbers than the classes themselves. For instance, he canceled several classes when not enough students showed up to his liking, despite me and others paying for that time.Another thing I disliked, was that I was always separated from any of the schools staff. He removed the one other instructor I had (who I really loved working with) after complaining that she was not teaching me right and that his way was better.So now, ALL my classes were run by him. I was really uncomfortable with this, not only because I felt like I wasnt allowed to engage in any of the other classes available, but because of his remarks. During my private classes, he often said stuff like: how I was beautiful / cute, we had so much in common, calling me a good girl, asking if I had a boyfriend, saying Im a very romantic person, etc. Also unsolicited touching. :(Mind you, I was an 18 year old girl and the owner was 40 at the time.One day, the owner asked if he could paint me, I was of course super excited. After this, he messaged me on Facebook messenger a lot, asking me what dresses or clothing I had, asking for photos of me in them, or suggesting dresses that he had seen me wear and thought I looked stunning in. The moment I started to feel genuinely unsafe and uncomfortable, was when he discussed the location. It was not at the school.When I learned this, I asked if we could please have it in a location with other students, I gave several suggestions. He then told me that he did not really want anyone to know he was painting me, especially people around the school. I was 18 and very sheltered/naïve during my time here, any red flags that I mention now, had mostly gone over my head at the time. It wasnt until I spoke about the situation with older friends and my aunt, that they all warned me this was not normal behavior for a teacher.I tried to talk to other students at the school but was continuously separated from them. I felt very isolated at this school. After a while, I downgraded from the Full-time program to the part-time program because I felt like this was all beginning to be a waste of money.As soon as I announced now being part-time student, the main instructor changed his entire demeanor. He was now cold and rude to me. He immediately said for me to move all of my artwork out of the building as, it really isnt supposed to be sitting here, and he gave me 10 minutes to do so. I had to move EVERYTHING I had worked on that year into my car by myself. The entire time he just sat making rude remarks about how I needed to take being an artist more seriously...all of this because I switched to part-time and asked to take classes with the other female instructors.I ended up crying the entire way home and finally calling my parents to tell them I couldnt handle this school anymore. Between what I have talked about in this review and all the other issues that I do not have space to type, there just was too much. My family helped me pack all my things and I left the school and Sarasota about a week later.I lost a lot of my passion for art after my time here.

Charles Miano is a freaking genius. Check out this school.

I just finished the red chalk online class with Charles Miami. The level of knowledge, skills, and kindness were exceptional.

What a true gem this place is ! It offers the highest caliber training for the realist artist, with great attention to the fundamentals as well as discussions regarding how to “see” as an artist. The atmosphere is warmly welcoming and professional and the tuition is very reasonable. The benefits derived from study at the Southern Atelier are priceless and last a lifetime. All ages and all skill levels happily create side by side.

This is a fantastic art school , I have been taking classes for a year and my painting and drawing has improved 100% … it is step by step in instruction but it is state of the art in the techniques that are taught. I highly recommend it Jerry S. Horton Ph.D.

Charles Miano is a genius.

Southern Atelier is my dream school for classical and realistic art and is absolutely unique in the area. When I attend the school two years ago, I found it really more than I could have hoped. Focusing on traditional training practices of the Atelier methods and Master workshops are really developing the skills that every artists must have. Thanks to Charles Miano and all of the instructors for keeping art alive and real!

Look no further for top-notch art education. I began studying here 2 years ago and was sold after only a few classes. Charles Miano is a master draftsman and painter. He takes time to give each student individual guidance as well as providing numerous in class demonstrations every class. The concepts he teaches are simple and understandable. Never have I experienced such a thorough teaching method!

Would be a nice place to take a class.