Writing a non-story

This newsletter is the result of a failure. This is not what I wrote yesterday. I spent hours writing something that sounded meaningful to me.

I began writing about what I am up to with my art, to then find myself face to a very sensitive subject. Issues and feelings that can affect many of us my same age, going to turn 60 this year. So it would be worth sharing them, even though not the ideal contents that pro marketers would suggest.

But I cannot review the text. Every time I try, I end up too emotional. I let the hours pass, but I still  fear going back to that copy. So this one your are reading now can easely be considered a non-story, or a poor informative message.

I guess I'll do better next time!

For now a feel the duty to let you know that I updated my website with a new selection of paintings. Each of them is accompanied by a short story. There you might find more inspiring and funny stories than this! Just click on the pics.

Thanks for reading, Francesco

PS. The page is Mid April Oil & Watercolor Show -- online just untill next Sunday, April 15, 2018, PST. Do not procrastinate your visit to https://www.francescofontana.com

Today I Have Learned That

Words Can Change Your Life  

I am one of the top reviewers on Trip Advisor. I started posting comments on hotels as a passing time. Then airlines and restaurants. And before I knew it, I got on the top 15% experts in the Milan area, with a worldwide readership of 16,500 --  one third from the USA. 

It feels good to say thanks publicly

Knowing that my most popular single review (over 2,000 people) is a terrible story about an airline I won't mention here, makes me feel so responsible. At the same time It feels good to say publicily thanks to the staff who had run the extra mile to help me in other difficult circumstances. But was I objective in both cases?

Hard to change a first bad impression

Now days our reputation is somehow out of our control more than ever before. Some pre-facebook behavioral studies, report that reversing a bad first impression takes eight times positive proves, compared to turning a first good impression into a bad one. I guess social media now will only ampiffy that phenomenon.

So what have I learned today?

That the words I say migth change someone's life. For the worse or the better. And that my life and art can be heavely impacted by people's opinion. That leads to a new question. Do I  inconsciously feel the pressure to 'behave my self' -- therefore lose my freedom?

Love to hear from you.

Francesco
PS. Conversations like this are a favorite after a workshop day, over a drink. If you wish to chat about life and art, consider joining me. Check my schedule here: https://www.francescofontana.com/workshops-schedule

All You Need to Meet the Artist

Here you have all the links to images, videos, credits and events about the art and business of Francesco Fontana

Order Now my DVD Watercolor the Italian Way!

Main Events and Credits

​

• Dallas, TX, USA Watercolor Workshop for Southwest Watercolor Society, April 2022 
• Article on American Watercolor Weekly (Mountain M) April 2020

2019

• Feautured on The Artist Magazine, #1Uk Magazine, London, Jan 2019
• Feautured on Plein Air Magazine,  USA, March 2019 
• Fabriano in Acquerello International Festival, Invited in Italy's 20 Representative Masters, April 2019
• Exhibiting at Galleria Labor Limae, Torino, Italy, May 2019
• Palermo, Sicily w/c Workshop 22 – 27 May, 2019
• Valencia, Spain, w/c Workshop, July 2 — 9, 2019
• Giverny, France w/c Workshop 22 — 27 July, 2019
• Philadelphia, PA, USA Exhibition at PWS 40th International Juried Show 31 Aug - 26 Oct, 2019
• San Pedro, CA USA Exhibition at NWS 99th International Juried Show 3 Oct - 17 Nov, 2019 
• Don Demer's presentation on excelence at San Angelo Museum of Fine Art, Oct 2019 (Video)​

2018

• Article on American Watercolor Weekly, Feb 2018
• Galleries on The Cyber Art Show, March 2018
• Demo Article for Daniel Smith Fine Art Supplies, June 2018
• Workshop in Sidmouth, East Devon, UK, June 2018
• Winner 1st Place, Monreale Sicily Plein Air Festival, Sept 2018
• Workshop in Valencia, Spain, 8 - 12 Oct 2018
• Exhibiting Solo Show at La Comune, Milano, Oct / Nov 2018
• Exhibiting Finalist at the International Watercolor Prize, Cagliari, Galleria Esdé, Nov 2018
• Feature on The Art of Watercolour, world #1 watercolor magazine, Paris, Dec 2018
• Paintings as Interior Design on the Prime Time RAI 1 Series 'La Compagnia del Cigno' 

2017

• Exhibiting at City of Bengigamin, Valencia, Spain, International Show, Jan 2017
• Exhibiting at Jack Meier Gallery, Houston, TX, USA, Feb 2017
• Exhibiting at Bankside Gallery, London, UK for Royal Watercolor Society, March 2017
• Winner, The Joe Carmichael Award at National Watercolor Society, June 10, 2017 San Pedro, CA
• Winner Best Overall Watercolor, Plein Air Salon July 2017 (The Shop Window)
• Featured in Fine Ar Connoisseur Magazine, Nocturne - Aug Sept 2017
• Workshop in Valencia, Spain, Watercolor in One Stroke, 10 - 16 Sept 2017
• Workshop in East Devon, UK, Watercolor in One Stroke 4, 5, 6 Oct 2017
• Exhibiting at Mall Galleries, London, UK with Royal Society of Marine Artists, 4 - 15 Oct 2017
• Featured Artist at En Plein Air Festival, San Angelo, TX, USA, 22 - 29 Oct 2017
• Featured in Fine Ar Connoisseur Magazine, Industrial - Nov Dec 2017
• Watercolor Workshop ‘Alla Seconda’, Padova, Italy 10, 11 December 2017

2016

• Feautured Artist at Lighthouse Plein Air Festival, Jupiter, Florida 9 — 13 March, 2016
• DVD Release ‘Watercolor the Italian Way — Alla Seconda Method’ — 15 April 2016
• Faculty at 5th Plein Air Convention & Expo, Tucson, AZ 15 — 19 April 2016
• Exhibiting in Fabriano, Italy – International Watercolor Festival, April 2015
• Workshop in Giverny, France, by Monet’s Lily Pond, June 27 —July 2, 2016
• Invited Artist at Premio Marche d’Acqua - Permanent Oeuvre at Museo della Carta, Fabriano
• Featured Artist at Door County Plein Air Festival, WI, Fish Creek 24 — 30 July 2016
• Workshop Instructor at MISA Madeline Island School of Arts , WI, 29 Aug— 2 Sep 2016
• Extended Article on Watercolor Painting Process on The Artist Magazine, UK Sept 2016
• Judge and Instructor at Watercolor Society of Oregon Conference, 7 — 14 October 2016
• Top 15% in the Bold Brush Painting Competition, Nov 2016 (The Installation)
• Winner Art Muse Contest, Master Class Prize, Nov 2016 (The Art Lover)

Newsletter Subscription: http://eepurl.com/gN_mJH

Website www.francescofontana.com
Paintings Quick Gallery on FB

Blog http://francescofontana.blogspot.it

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/francesco.fontana.5203

Twitter https://twitter.com/Fontasco

Video:

Biography: http://vimeo.com/100711179

Workshops: http://vimeo.com/101597256

Oil painting demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVv8x3MCF4M

Watercolor demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j31ymS8aB2Q

Mail contact

Francesco Fontana Fine Artist

Alexandria VA, USA 20124

Via della Capinera 5 — Milano, Italy 20147

Cell +39 3381328003

info@francescofontana.com

Make a gift to your artist friends: buy their art!

The best gift you can do to an artist is to choose one of their works. The choice is an implicit sign of respect, appreciation, even affection. Artists - creatures with emotional issues, childhood trauma, or at least a wheel out of place - live in constant need of these confirmations. The applause is the mother of all confirmation, the purchase of a record, or a book, or a ticket, is its father.

Furthermore the gift is mutual. Nothing better than a work of invention and love, rewards the intellect and soul of those who buy art. It's the only case in which you give a gift to someone and keep it in your home to admire and show. It's time for a good work. We created it. Now do the right thing: buy it!

Please visit my on-line Portfolio!

PS. Thanks to Emma Thurgood for the insight 
PPS. I just did it with my artist friend Bruce. Can't wait to receive her painting in the mail

Art making and shuffling the cards

This last week end I did not miss painting. I felt fulfilled with what I painted last week: a work that took me four morning sessions. Every one crossing the door of my studio noticed it. “Wow! Different, there's something.. don’t know.. more luminous!” I am surprised myself. It was an attempt to renew my style. Several weeks of studies and headaches turned with a simple resolution: if I wanted something new I should simply do not do what used to do in my art making routine. I took a different support, watercolour paper instead of canvas, acrylics rather than oils, different size (much larger) and even a different position in the studio. And at the end of every session I go: wow! This is making its own way!

Finding new ideas sometimes is just about changing old habits, shuffling the cards

Live in painting : ) Francesco
www.francescofontana.com

PS. Additional surprise: I used three tubes from the acrylics box just to discover -- once finished -- they were water mixable oils.
PPS. The actual image don't matter!