How the Eyes of a Mentor Can Change Your Life

What takes an artist from a simple pencil sketch to a successful exhibition?

Years ago, a man in his early forties came into my studio and timidly showed me a sketchpad filled with simple pencil drawings—mostly inspired by children. Technically, the pages were unpolished. But underneath the raw marks, there was an energy and sensitivity that you simply cannot fake.

He told me he wanted to improve his skills and give direction to this passion he carried every day.

For two years, he came to my studio to master the oil painting process. We didn't dive into figures right away; to build a solid foundation in color and technique, we began with still life and landscapes.

Then one day, I noticed a couple of canvases tucked in the corner of the room. They were rough sketches of two young children—a boy and a girl. The paintings were barely underway, just monochromatic underpaintings in earthy tones with crude shapes. Yet as I looked at them, something struck me. The gaze of those children was deeply intense—more expressive, even in that unfinished state, than many fully completed works.

I urged him to push forward and devote himself to that subject. I even gave him the keys to my studio so he could paint after hours.

Within a month, he produced nearly twenty paintings. They all had a raw, unrefined quality, but the expressions on those faces radiated a powerful emotion.

I didn't hesitate: “It’s time for your first exhibition. You still have a lot to learn, but everything that makes you a true artist is already right here on these canvases.”

He couldn't believe it, but I insisted. My studio was well-equipped and had already hosted shows for other students. He finally agreed, and I helped him price his work at rates he would have never dared to ask on his own.

The exhibition was a resounding success: he sold several pieces and picked up new commissions. I knew right then that this was the turning point—the moment he decided to embrace painting not just as a hobby, but as his life's path.

Soon after, he left his business and opened his own studio. Now, ten years after walking through my doors, he has graduated from the Brera Academy of Fine Arts and creates extraordinary abstract art.

Every time we catch up, he reminds me: “The very first day I set foot in your studio, I told myself: this is what I want to do with my life.”

So why did those children carry such profound expressions? They were his own children, who had moved abroad with their mother two years earlier. Love doesn't require flawless technique to shine through—it just needs eyes and a heart capable of recognizing it.

That was the moment I realized what it truly means to be a mentor: to spot raw talent early on, nurture its growth, recognize the exact right moment to help an artist step into the spotlight, and teach them the real value of their work.

If you paint and feel the need to believe in your potential—to discover what it truly takes to elevate your art—reach out. I offer a private coaching program designed to turn that artistic vision into a concrete reality.

This isn't for everyone; I devote only one day a week to this practice, keeping spots strictly limited.

Click here to send an email to discuss taking the next step together.

Francesco

The Chess Players: A Slow, Daily Ritual

Silence and Reflection as a Shared Act of Resistance  ⁓

Inspiration, in the moment, remains a mystery: it strikes invisible chords.

These two young men grabbed a beer and set out a small chessboard. The gesture caught me off guard—not a smartphone in sight, nor a cigarette, but a game that demands focus, quietude, and a deliberate contemplation of every move.

Searching for solutions to seemingly 'useless' problems is precisely the process of the artist: a purely creative act.

They have no need for words, no obligation to make conversation. Yet, this shared reflection unites them. In a way, there is a deep solidarity between adversaries, an unspoken pact. That is the true quality of the game: being fictional enemies serves to build a genuine friendship.

This happened in Berlin, but could it have taken place elsewhere?

Yes, perhaps, though I have rarely witnessed this in Italy. In Germany, however, it seems deeply rooted in the culture—I recall seeing countless chess players in the parks of Leipzig. In Málaga, too, public chessboards along the main promenade are constantly alive with players. I am fascinated by the idea of chess as a daily, simple, and spontaneous ritual.

I am not a chess player myself, but I was drawn to this scene because it elevates the value of thought and silence—not as isolation, but on the contrary, as a moment of quiet connection.

A slow time carved out against the noise and speed of the world.

The Chess Players - Watercolor on cotton paper, 55x75 cm

Inquiry about The Chess Players: info@francescofontana.com  . 

Receive more stories and art previews in private

Spring moves me, so I draw!

How a return to the basics regenerates the spirit ⁓

Spring truly moves me. On a bright, sunny day, the light radiates pure happiness. Maybe it’s the serotonin boost from those first rays, or the flowers and scents that trigger memories of youth—even childhood. Whatever it is, my first instinct is to get outside. But not before tossing a couple of sheets of paper, brushes, and colors into my backpack.

Yesterday, I took a long walk with no destination in mind and ended up in a small, slightly hidden, and overgrown park behind my house. I sat on a bench and started to draw.

Francesco Fontana, Pencil Drawing Outdoor, 2026

After seeing Gianni Provenzano’s beautiful work at the Galleria Caravello in Palermo—those beat-up cars and everyday objects I love so much—I felt a sudden, crazy urge for pure drawing: just a pencil and a kneaded eraser!

And so, my informal plein air session on a park bench turned into over an hour of total bliss. A return to the basics that truly regenerates the spirit.

Do you love to draw, or do you feel the need to improve your line work (especially if you paint in watercolor)? Let me know in the comments, maybe I can help you loosen up your hand.

Actually, scratch that... I mean loosen up your eye. Remember: you don’t draw with your hands, you draw with your eyes!

Masters Who Inspire Artists (Me)

What makes a painter a great role model? ~ 

I am often asked who my reference artists are, great masters of the past and contemporary authors. Not an easy answer, artists in history are endless! And just as many today, when visual access to art is global and often overflowing. I look with admiration at Turner, Monet, Hopper, Fattori, Segantini. But also living artists the like of Dean Mitchell or Sean Cheetham. Each of them has something specific that inspires me and pushes me to learn.

Under the Awning, on the Beach of Zarautz

See more of Sorolla's works

However there is one who somehow represents them all: Joaquin Sorolla (b. 1863, Valencia, Spain). I was blown out at his exhibition at Palazzo Reale in Milan in 2022. It completely overwhelmed me! Not even the visit to the Sorolla Museum in Valencia had such an impact on me. 

Why Sorolla?

Because his work expresses a complete range of fundamental aspects of pictorial art, in his case in oil but not only.

• The composition of his scenes, often complex, with unusual angles and a combination of figures and landscape, never intimidated by very large size. 
• The absolute mastery of drawing, which emerges from proportions and anatomy.
• His tonal strategy and his sense of light. For me his dynamic power surpass Caravaggio, the monument to tonalism.
• Sorolla's palette is an infinite vocabulary of colours, warm and cool, often high key -- which make his phrasing very rich, like the timbres of an orchestra.
• Finally his alla prima brushwork, energetic, fat and sensual. It ties everything together in a rhythm and a fantastic dance!

As if that weren't enough, many of Sorolla's masterpieces were painted en plein air. He's not the only artist to do this for sure -- Monet and Cezanne even a little before him. But he worked outdoors on larger formats and in challenging conditions, on the seashore, under blinding light and with water, boats and figures in motion. For days.

He was able to transfer this vibrancy to his studio works as well. 

Studying Joaquin Sorolla therefore means for me studying almost everything about the artistic practice of painting. He   became a model later in my career. This means to me that reference models change over time and are perhaps an achievement of maturity. Just at the stage where you no longer need to imitate them.

Happy Art Life! - Francesco

PS. Sorolla is a genius of  alla prima painting, which was re-actualized by a great personality of recent times, Richard Schmid. The American master who passed away a few years ago, influenced a couple of generations of oil painters around the world with his iconic book Alla Prima.

PPS. There are so many historical and contemporary artists that I admire. I think I will need more posts to talk about it. So be ready by signing up now and receive my (News) Artist Letters!

Visit my Art Store

Follow me on Instagram

Share and have a friend subscribe

Send Francesco an email

A Story of Everyday Love

Why Art makes people so happy? ~

A couple of Sundays ago I was in my hood church to host the charity sale of 60 paintings that a local painter bequeathed. The exhibition is set up in the room right next to the altar where kids are babysitted during the mass. Here I meet Marco and Monica, middle-aged parishioners who help with the exhibition. He tells me about his amateur watercolorist father, she tells me about his talented mosaicist father, who disappeared mysteriously years back. Kind people, can't help but invite them for coffee in my studio a few days later. Love in little everyday things While chatting about the neighborhood, they browse trough my larger figurative paintings. They love at least a dozen of them but often return to the same piece. An image of a senior couple in the kitchen getting coffee. It's the portrait of Bill and Randy, who hosted me as invited artist at plein air Texas festival. Two sweet people, who collected at least two of my paintings. -- Marco says: See how in the painting she looks at him sweetly, while he pours the coffee into the cup for her. -- You can see that he takes care of her, who is probably a safe harbor for him for many regards -- replies Monica. I let them comment for a while. I could feel something is making its way into their hearts. I tell myself that this couple play in unison! Than I say: -- Do you know how this painting is called? Ordinary Love Ordinary Love ~ Watercolor by Francesco Fontana, 50 x 65 cm -- Yes, they reply -- that's exactly how we feel! This painting is the perfect representation of how we want to grow old together! We are overjoyed to purchase it! I smile to myself proud to have captured a moment so full of meaning for me, and apparently important for others too. They can totally identified with the subject. When this happens people's emotion and gratitude are gigantic. For me as an artist that is the greatest reward!  Now it's your turn You too can find the painting that resonates with your feelings in my Small Works Studio Sale 50% Off Black Week. This is valid only until Tuesday, Nov 21 at midnight PT. The discount is automatic and includes free shipping! Get your slice of love now! Don't feel guilty if you like a painting simply because it decorates your living room. This too is daily love! Choose your favorites now! Black Week Sale 50% Off Follow me on Instagram Sign up and get a Gift Share and have a friend subscribe Send Francesco an email

Art Against Cruelty

What artists can do in war times? ~

Writing frequent letters involves opening eyes and hears to find inspiration and ideas in the environment. And of course trying to cherry pick interesting topics for a conversation with art enthusiasts.

Pretending it's business as usual

Hold my Hand - Watercolor by Francesco Fontana

Today I feel a certain discomfort because what is going on in the world shake my soul to the core. It is impossible to ignore the atrocity of war, and pretend this is business as usual. I can't get used to human cruelty, I guess I am too naive to not be surprised to hear someone feels rewarded or have good reasons to inflict pain to others.

Universality of art

Artists are very sensitive to the human condition, but at the same time we are warned not to openly take a political standing. In same cases we don't want to upset segments of the public or customers. In the best cases it's because being partial seems to betray a sense of universality and connection with the condition of all humanity.

To me establishing who is wrong and who is right seems to be  mere speculation. My ethical position is simple: 

Anyone who attacks defenseless people is wrong. It doesn't matter it's an action or a reaction. Killing innocents is never justified.

I don't think I'm politically biased if I say that those who attack young people at a music festival and kill in cold blood more than 1,000 in their household, are dead wrong. And I don't think I'm being politically partial if I say that murdering thousands of civilians, including 3000 children (*) as an unavoidable price to target terrorists, is not less wrong. More than wrong. These actions are mass crimes! (*edit: 11,300 children as of August 2024). 

People here seem trapped in their own daily business, and although they are hunched over their cell phones, they look like no one has told them thousands of people are dying. I don't want to think that it's just selfishness. Perhaps silence is a form of resistance, of emotional defense. Ultimately, not losing sight of the path of a constructive life can be our most powerful weapon, the life that does not recede in the face of death.

Grow the beauty that unites

As artists, between our ego trip and our sense of guilt, there is a third way. Feel responsible and honored to exalt, defend and propagate the expression of vitality in the world through our creativity. Insist with our artworks on the universal value of a deeper truth and beauty, cultivate a form of love that unites all people. We did it during the pandemic. Looks like our job is not over. 

Happy Art Life! -- Francesco

Learning Opportunities
Follow me on Instagram
Small Works New Selection

Send Francesco an email

What price for your art? Know your value

How to ask more for your talent

~ I was around 25 when I was called by the boss I was already working for, in a famous live jazz organization. He wanted to hire me as press secretary, for he had noticed that as a junior manager of their jazz club, I had shown good communication skills and some attitude I had brought from my time in Paris and London.

Fontana with a collector in the studio

Stellar artists

At theaters and large outdoor venues, headliners were stellar names. One for all Myles Davis! I thought it  was a cool opportunity. I would have had relationships with the media and interviews with music legends! Seeing me excited, the boss asked me point blank:

~ How much do you want?
~ What do you mean?
~ How much per year do you need to live well?

I mumbled something but I wasn't able to put a figure on it.

~ You tell me.. - I said

I accepted the offer he made, it seemed great. But what if I was prepared to figure my value? Years later I would understand that, for funding reasons, he had no interest in keeping costs low. (Italian politics, don't try to understand!). So I could have shot high! 

Millionaire until proof to the contrary

It took me years to make a psychological change and stop basing my requests on the economic standard of my social class. I have learned to value my work more, never less! As far as I know, the potential customer in front of me, it's not the small official my father was, he's by default a millionaire - at least until proven otherwise!

Time for pro bono

I hate having a rich guy pay peanuts for my art, more than I hate losing a client who can't afford it. In this case I always have time to be generous, or do some charity. How do I practically calculate the price of my paintings? Well, ask me and I will explain it to you.

Happy Art Life! -- Francesco

PS: I'm not selling anything today (check my site on weekends for that). I will just be happy to hear your comment on this post and what topic you want to read about next. 

www.francescofontana.com

Alla Seconda: The Game Changer in My Style

This summer I spent some time in Berlin, my new fav getaway city in Europe. There I joined a huge gathering of 1,070 Urban sketchers and loved it! This refreshed my old love for drawing. But also the memory of another experience I had in America. 

Drawing outdoors in Berlin

Years ago I recorded a DVD in Texas about my Alla Seconda Method. It contributed a lot in changing my style in recent years, especially with regard to plein air painting.

The 4 critical steps:

1 - Wander and draw one or more sketches, even before I decide the subject matter I will paint 

 

2 - Pick the most convincing of these monochromatic studies, often the size of a credit card.  

Memory as a tool 

3 - Transfer my drawing on paper or canvas, then paint it. But most importantly, this can happen either immediately or days later, on the spot or in the studio, looking at the subject or even with my back to it.  

 

4 - My reference will only be my sketch and my selective memory. We only remember what really resonate with us, and forget worthless details. A great natural tool! 

Reinventing the scenery

Painting Alla Seconda it's my highway to creativity and abstraction. I let myself be inspired by reality, but use this approach to be taken where colors and design reinvent the scene and make it mine and unique!

Big or small make it a project

Many people think you grab a brush and start painting. I ask my students: do you know any art such as music, dance, theater, writing -- where artists do not draft a project first?  Rework it many times over? Rehearsal for hours before making it final for the audience? 

Move towards originality

If you are an emerging artist, these ideas might encourage you to move towards greater originality. And if you are not an artist but love art, you might use this angle for a better understanding of my painting.

Happy art! -- Francesco

PS. If you want to know why I call it Alla Seconda just ask questions. On this topic alone I prepared a fantastic workshop. Please consider hosting a Painting Workshop Alla Seconda. Cheers!

The Mentor I Always Wanted

When I was very young I longed to have a mentor. My father, a good man in many ways, lacked the patience and character to be a guide, a beacon, a role model. His mission was to support five children! Not to support the artistic ambitions of a young hippie!

A wise guide since the antiquity

In the Odyssey, Ulysses entrusts his son Telemachus to the wise Mentor, to carry out the function that he will not be able to carry out by going to war against Troy. Me, I struggled alone for a long time in the search for who I was and in authorizing myself to be so. But I was lucky enough to meet a couple of 'fatherly' men in my journey. Thanks to them I built self confidence day by day, one experience at a time, in different countries and with different personalities. 

The answers you ignore to have

Today I am told to be a good listener, and be able to guide my mentees so that they reflect and discover by themselves the best choice for them. I became a 'father'. Beyond the technique and practical advice in painting, I suggest different lens to look at their own works, and let them finally see what is 'hidden' before their eyes. This gives great confidence to those who follow the path of art!

Happy Art Life! -- Francesco 

Join (News) Artist Letters! Visit my Art Store
Follow me on Instagram
Share and have a friend subscribe
Send Francesco an email

Love Museums Regardless The Art

I have been traveling quite a bit this year, mostly in Europe. Not much of business travels, except for inspiration hunting, which can be definitely considered part of an artist's job, right? Consequently skipped writing letters and posting on social media. Worse and shameful, a did no show at a couple of zoom meetings (sorry). But when your mind is off duty, no way! 

Rembrandt and the rockstars

Good news is now I am able to share with you a bunch of photos and some stories from those visits. Let's start From the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, well known for the masterpieces by Rembrandt and Vermeer. I love museums for regardless the art they display. They are often hosted in buildings which are piece of art in their own right. 

Time is suspended

People generally step in them with a religious attitude, in a quiet atmosphere, well.. untile they gather at their rockstar masterpiece for a selfie! Time is suspended fro me there, and I take it slow to admire piece by piece, soak the history and still some masters' secret. 

Hope one day I'll be able to include more write up. But for now my priority is to reconnect with you! So here is some beauty for you to enjoy: Masterpieces at Rijksmuseum

The Milkmaid, by Johannes Vermeer at Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Happy Art! -- Francesco

Join (News) Artist Letters! Visit my Art Store
Follow me on Instagram
Share and have a friend subscribe
Send Francesco an email