The small number of students in the program made it much more personal, plus it was much easier for us to get around. We had much more flexibility in getting into restaurants, museums, on trains, etc. The small numbers also made us closer friends by the end of the trip.

I loved getting to know the people in my group and having the freedom to travel around the cities ourselves. We were able to learn firsthand what Italy was really like instead of being in a tour group all day.

Within the three weeks we were in Italy, we were able to travel to four different cities: Rome, Sienna, Milan, and Venice. Each City was completely different within their own respects and gave you a very wide view of the Italian Culture, sights, and of course the food!

Barry Fitzgerald had done this study abroad trip before, and his prior knowledge made traveling abroad go so much smoother. He could tell us his opinion of different sights, and had recommendations of what to do in every city we went to.

My favorite part of this program was seeing the differences between the four different cities. I also enjoyed meeting all the people on the trip and eating some of the best Italian food I have ever tasted!

Choosing a favorite part of this program is probably impossible. The whole trip was 18 days of favorite parts! I really felt like I bonded well with everyone, experienced everything I had wanted, and got to learn a lot about myself as an artist.

The fact that we got to experience a variety of cities in Italy was very cool. I feel that I was able to experience more of the culture rather than just visiting the most touristy spots. Each day was filled with awesome experiences and great opportunities to learn, whether we were exploring a museum or viewing the amazing architecture and history around us.

Seeing art that I learned about in Art History classes and then learning how to better create art simultaneously, and also experiencing design in a different country just before entering my last senior thesis class/semester.

Prior to the trip I had to drawn since my freshman year of school and was not very good at the beginning of my trip, to say the least. Throughout the trip I improved tremendously with the lessons we were given, as well as the opportunities we had to draw whenever and whatever we liked. Now that I am home, I love to look back in my sketchbook and see how far I have come in such a short amount of time.

My group was fortunate enough to go with Professor Barry Fitzgerald and learn the basics of drawing from life as it is still or moving. The difficult task was dissected into an outlined course of assignments enabling you to visually "see" before you draw, and then concentrating on objective mark making that enables a seen to be created.

Seriously, the fact we climbed the Vatican without taking the lift and receiving the view of Rome I did was the most rewarding moment of my whole trip.

I felt the cultural experience was the most rewarding aspect of the trip. It was a completely new environment for me, and I found I was really able to learn a lot about the history and culture of Italy firsthand.

Being able to go abroad with the intention of drawing and documenting everything around me was incredible. Taking that purpose and applying it to my sketchbook enriched my experience and made me more observant of my surroundings overall. I was appreciative that this was the goal because I felt I got way more out of it than if I just traveled there on my own.

Being thrown into a new culture and studying while doing so will open up the mind, and have a drastic effect on the way one will think. That is exactly what happened and my conceptual thinking has dramatically changed in my artwork since. I would recommend traveling anywhere to have an experience as such. If it is offered again with Professor Fitzgerald, I would highly recommend it, considering you will have the opportunity to conceptualize the thinking of how a simplistic mark can change an entire image.

I think the trip provided me an opportunity to have more "experience". As an artist, we use what we know to create art and illustrations, and by exploring the world, going out of our traditional comfort bubble, meeting new people, or trying new things, we expand on what we know. This, in turn, expands on the kind of art we are capable of making, which makes us better, more well-rounded artists. This trip gave me an amazing opportunity to do just that - expand my knowledge and capabilities as an artist. Not only that, but the trip did so in a way that made me feel comfortable, relaxed, and happy!