About Renaissance in Great Barrington, MA

"My son Jacob became a student at Renaissance Art School last year after he decided at the end of his junior year of high school that he wanted to be an artist. Jacob at that time needed to quickly pull together a portfolio in order to apply to colleges. The teachers at Renaissance guided Jacob in producing a body of work to showcase in his portfolio. Being a student at Renaissance has given him greater self confidence in his work and has helped him mature as an artist. We feel fortunate to have found the school at just the right moment to help our son achieve his goals."

Nancy Bronstein

"While travelling to Bruce's parents in New Hampshire, we made a stop in Lee, Massachusetts to spend the night. During our stay, we had dinner at a lovely restaurant called the Perigee. In this restaurant, they had pictures on the walls, which were drawn by students (grade 4 – grade 8) from a school named the Renaissance Art School. We spotted this Panda print and just had to have it for you. We then asked our waiter if the pictures were for sale, and he noted nobody had ever asked to purchase one prior to our inquiry; however, he told us we were in luck as the owner of the art school was sitting at the bar. Our waiter approached Pat Navarino, the owner, and relayed to her our request to buy the Panda picture. She immediately came to our table and explained the girl who painted this particular picture was a grade 8 student named Claudia and that she would ask Claudia if she would be interested in selling the print, but was certain she would be thrilled that someone would want to purchase one of her pictures. We exchanged e-mail addresses and kept in touch during our stay in New Hampshire. On our way back to Sarnia, we met with Pat and her husband, made the exchange; and that is how your Panda print found its new home for Christmas (2011)!!!"

Bruce and Deb Treadwell

"Renaissance Art Studio is a studio unlike any other. The one on one lessons are great and the individual attention really allows us to increase our skills. Five years ago, I joined Renaissance as a mediocre artist with no confidence in my ability. Thanks to this amazing studio, I will leave a greatly improved artist with a new found assurance in myself to succeed in my artwork."

Kate Kaminsky

"The one-on-one approach with a personal teacher has crafted and developed my love and talent in Art. This individual assistance guides every student onto new levels and allows us to explore the experience and true passion of Art. It personally has helped me and will help me become a more talented artist and allow me to pursue my dream!"

Alexa Paley

"Mrs. Navarino,

I worked with two different teachers in Renaissance Art, and I found both extremely helpful. As an AP Art student, I found I could bring my schoolwork to my lessons and benefit a lot from the personal attention. There is little time for one-on-one attention in school because of the many students, so my lessons at Renaissance art allowed me to get individual advice and assistance for problems that needed to be worked out in my pieces. My instructors could stop me when I was moving in the wrong direction and teach me new things along the way. Making art became more of a learning process."

Hannah Sotnick

"To anyone in the Berkshires considering Renaissance Art School, Pat Navarino is awesome and my daughter totally blossomed as an artist because of her program in Millburn NJ. I highly respect her - she cares about her students and pushes them to reach their potential."

Sue Adler

"What the Renaissance Art School Meant to Me:

I will never forget the day I walked down a narrow flight of stairs to take my first art lesson at Renaissance. My name is Anna Goldstein and I will be attending the University of Michigan School of Art and Design in the fall. Little did I know that after I left that very first art class, my hands covered in crimson red, that I would discover my true calling.

I have been so fortunate to have had extremely gifted and nurturing teachers at the art studio. With their help and the encouragement of Ms. Navarino, I entered my high school AP art program as a sophomore. Since then, the visual arts has become the central focus of my life. I have spent the last several years studying privately with Adam Gustavson at the art studio, concentrating on gaining facility in the basic media and techniques. I am particularly drawn to portraiture, and have done several portraits in various media, including linoleum cutting and ink. My teacher Adam is a talented illustrator, and with his help I wrote and illustrated a graphic novel which has just won the Rizzo Fine Arts Scholarship and is currently exhibited at the Nicholas Rizzo Art Gallery in Chatham, N.J. I have also won several other awards for my work, including a Gold Key award from the Scholastic Art and Writing competition, and the Graphic Communications Award and Scholarship.

Whether I pursue a career as a graphic novelist, printmaker or portrait artist, I have been committed to this passion since the day I walked down those narrow stairs to a small, homey, messy, cozy art studio called Renaissance.

Thank you soooo much for the beautiful flowers!!!!! You two are so thoughtful. They made my day. I will be thinking of you tonight!!

By the way, I just found out on Friday that I won a $5,000 scholarship award!! Mrs. Harte urged me to apply and I was a platinum winner and was chosen to speak at the ceremony on June 24th at Hearst Tower in NYC!! So exciting!"