My name is Brandon Bowen and I have been teaching elementary and middle school students of the Central Coast of California for more than twenty-five years. Currently, I am teaching elementary school art full-time and also pursuing a Master's Degree (online) in Art History at Lindenwood University in Missouri. I have an amazing opportunity to study Art History in Italy where I will be spending several weeks in Florence and Rome studying with experts this coming May.

I have already begun to learn about Renaissance architecture, sculpture, and painting by the Masters. Seeing works of art up close and in person is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I hope to bring a greater knowledge of Renaissance Italy to my future students. One day soon, I would like to be teaching adults at the college level. I am thrilled to be starting this new chapter of my life in Art!

To make this trip happen, I have taken out a student loan, obtained an unpaid leave of absence from my job, and put the remainder of the cost on credit cards. Dear family and friends, please contribute what you can towards my upcoming Italian art adventure!