Break Your Records Like a Champion

Learning competitiveness from winning athletes

Yesterday a friend posted his painting that was rejected from a major competition. He had no complain, was just proud to share it with the world. And it was indeed a good work, pretty original. I complimented him publicly and (privately) suggested to reflect on some part of the composition that might have looked unresolved by the jurors. I meant it as an encouragement and he appreciated the hint.

Managing disappointment after blaming others 

Old Time Concho, Watercolor by Francesco Fontana

But it's not always so easy. You know I have been there, in the Rejection Blue Room. That place were you either get depressed, or take it as a message for you to work harder and become a better painter. The way I learned to manage these disappointments, is to consider my career like sport people do. Sometime you win, sometime you lose, some other time you go tie. I found that a healthy competitive attitude helps face the defeats as part of the game. And, after a beer night blaming it on the referee, we want to forgive, forget and set a tighter training plan for the next challenge. Athletes and players do that all the time.

Healthy competitiveness make your art grow

In my my business of art, breaking a record basically means master some skill I am still weak at, research a more original idea, or introduce a more effective step in my process. Then present a new version of my work to the next test. Which can range from a friend's honest. feedback, to a submission for a top international competition. If you look at a workshop in this perspective, you will consider the training you get, a building block of your ability to win at the next games! 

We are the champions my friend! Let's become a team!

Cheers -- Francesco

BTW If you're an art promoter consider hosting my workshop. If you're a watercolor painter join my workshop at Southwestern Watercolor Society in Dallas, TX in April. 

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

Giverny, France Workshop in Monet's Paradise

New dates: now booking for 17 - 22 July 2017 

Sign up now 

A lifetime experience, right where Monet’s masterpieces were created

This Giverny experience is designed to learn and get inspired by the father of Impressionism Claude Monet. We’ll spend five days in Giverny, north of Paris, where Monet lived for 30 years. Here we’ll be painting in the village and in the gardens along the water lily pond the master had built. These are the real locations where Monet’s masterpieces were created. We are in love with this magical place, coming here for the fifth time. Get your post now, very limited space!

Get all the info now at workshops@francescofontana.com

More about the Monet's story

To prepare for the culture and spirit of Impressionism, you would want to visit two Paris museums: Le Musée Marmottan e l'Orangerie. The first one displaying Impression du Soleil Levant, (Impression of the Rising Sun), from which the term Impressionism was conied. At Musée de l'Orangerie you can admire a selection of giant paintings among the 250 that Monet painted of the lilies and the reflections on the waters of the Giverny pond. I will not guide your visit of Paris but you can ask for tips as I lived there. Get all the info now at workshops@francescofontana.com

Read my interview to Outdoor Painter

Back to Giverny, Workshop in Monet's Paradise

Now Booking for June 2017

Masterpieces were created here

This Giverny experience is designed to learn and get inspired by the father of Impressionism Claude Monet. We’ll spend five days in Giverny, north of Paris, where Monet lived for 30 years. Here we’ll be painting in the village and in the gardens along the water lily pond the master had built. These are the real locations where Monet’s masterpieces were created. We are coming here for the fourth time. You can add extra days to your vacation, prior and after Giverny. 

The Monet’s Paris

To prepare for the culture and spirit of Impressionism, you would want to visit two Paris museums: Le Musée Marmottan e l'Orangerie. The first one displaying Impression du Soleil Levant, (Impression of the Rising Sun), from which the term Impressionism was conied. At Musée de l'Orangerie you can admire a selection of giant paintings among the 250 that Monet painted of the lilies and the reflections on the waters of the Giverny pond.
I will not guide your visit of Paris but you can ask for tips as I lived there. I will connect you with other participants who wish to share the Parisian experience. Welcome in Giverny

Read my interview to Outdoor Painter

Once you arrive the Vernon station, a group taxi can be shared. The same day a visit to the house and gardens of Monet is scheduled. Followed by a ice breaking drink and a good dinner.

Write now to workshops@francescofontana.com

The following mornings the class will be hold in the hotel garden. Then will return to Monet’s the next four afternoons, with a private pass to paint in the property after tourist hours. These sessions have no structured instruction, just some advise and great deal of inspiration from the golden light of the day!

Watercolor Workshop

Watercolor is the official media and beginners are welcome. Oil or acrylic are allowed for outdoor experienced painters only. Instruction is mainly based on demos. Francesco will be available for individual advise. An open feedback will take place on the last day, followed by a farewell dinner. On departure day a bus is available or a taxi can be scheduled to Vernon station for Paris, or directly to the airport.

A detailed day schedule will follow after signing up.

Write now to workshops@francescofontana.com

2016 Upcoming Events

    • Feautured Artist at Lighthouse Plein Air Festival, Jupiter, Florida 9 — 13 March, 2016

    • DVD Release  & Faculty at 5th Plein Air Convention & Expo, Tucson, AZ 15 — 19 April 2016

    • Exhibiting in Fabriano, Italy – International Watercolor Society Festival, April 2015

    • 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

 

See Recent Past Events & More Credits

Let Me Visit You

Next Custom Workshop: Bali, Indonesia

I am so thrilled to be preparing my travel to Bali, Indonesia where a local group of internediate oil painters is waiting for me next October 14, 2013.

This event is one of the results of my announcement some time ago, when I sent out e newsletter offering custom workshops. In other words I am ready to fly to join groups and art centers around the world -- in addition to my self-organized painting holidays in France and Italy.

Are you a member of an artists club or school of art?

If you are part of an art organization, please consider booking me to teach a workshop next year or further on. It's never too early! Let me visit you at you place. I'll love to meet you and share my method and my experience! Talk to me

I have a talent for teaching. I’ll never stop learning but one thing I know for sure: I know how to share what I know. I got the right words, the timely gesture, the lively example for you to get the insight you're looking for. I believe a master is the one who allows you to become what you are. Empathy first of all: your struggle is my struggle.

Francesco's Floral Demo from Life at the Public Library, Feb 2013

>> Francesco offers a well-run workshop with solid instruction, tailored to suit individual levels – from beginners to professionals. His skill with language makes it possible for a multi-cultural group to share artistically.  I came away with improved painting skills.  Bruce Bingham -- USA / Malta <<

Dynamic Brushwork & Color Mixing are the main focus of my program through demos, individual work plan, assignments and assistance, painting along, general critique and six month personal email follow up. 

Take notice

~ Length can be 3 days or longer, 6 hrs daily

~ Media oil or watercolor at your choice, all level
~ Subjects: landscapes en plein air; still life & floral indoor
~ Fluency in English French and Italian

Hire Me for a Workshop

I'll be available in the USA mid April 2014. Write me a line to make workshops@francescofontana.com to make a plan.

Live in painting ; )) Francesco

PS. If this is the first time you hire me, I am happy to either offer money off my fee, or put on my charge the airfare or alike.

PPS. If you wish to both sponsor the event and attend as a painter, you might come to up with little to zero fee! Learn how. Email me now: workshops@francescofontana.com

Find the Answers to be the Painter you Want ~ Workshops 2013

Dynamic Brushwork & Creative Mixing 

The holiday season is approaching. This year I double my workshop proposal. I offer my beautiful destinations in Italy and France, for those who visit Europe and wish to include the creative and social experience of plein air painting. On the other way around I made myself available to fly and join art centers and painters clubs worldwide, to teach custom designed workshops.

My program will focus on Creative Mixing & Dynamic Brushwork. You know, I have been teaching the alla prima method long enough, to be fully aware of the painters who will benefit from my instruction:

~        Those who do everything right and nevertheless their paintings still look 'cute'
~        Those who have some experience but their palette is never large enough
~        Those whose paintings are not as vivid as the expensive paint tubes in the box
~        Those who can't resist licking the canvas twice or more, at every paint load.

The painters qualified for my workshop are many more and the spots limited to eight per workshop. Be the first to get my help to discover your own personal answers (not the formulas) to be the painter you want to be!

Check out my 2013 Painting Holidays Tours here: http://www.francescofontana.com/network/Workshops_Plan.asp

Learn how to hire me for Your Custom Workshop: http://www.francescofontana.com/English/Painting-Workshops-Custom-Art-Centers.htm

Live in painting : )) Francesco

PS. New entry in the Painting Holidays Tours include Elba Island, Toscana and Marche

www.francescofontana.com
workshops@francescofontana.com

New scenaries to paint in Provence

This year I wanted to design a new itinerary in Provence for the next painting workshop 2 - 9 September. New scenaries yet within the same magical atmosphere of the sweet South of France we enjoed so much in the past four years.

Sign Up

We’ll be based just off Salon de Provence a key place as it is located just half hour from Marseille Airport, Aix en Provence – the native city of Cezanne --, St Remy and beyond in beautiful Luberon.

The 6 day painting workshop includes:

3 mornings of lectures + assignments
3 mornings of supervised autdoor painting
5 afternoons of outdoor painting along / free
1 afternoon off for shopping souvenirs

You only need to arrive in Marseille with the TGV train from Paris or land into Marseille Airport. Then we’ll pick you up to take you to the guesthouse. We’ll be accommodated in a tipical provencal Mas with swimming pool and have dinner at local restaurants. We only have one room left at the Mas. Sign up now!

Registration fee for this memorable experience is 690 Euro or 863 US$ which includes tuition, group transportation and the membership fee (benefits include revise of your works for a year after the workshop is finished).

Live in painting : ) Francesco
http://www.francescofontana.com/

Meet me in America - An inspirational tour

I’ll be travelling in the US for eight full days next April. My purpose is to paint out the ‘American beauty’, meet family and friends, and explore business opportunities.

If you wish to meet me over a coffee, please write me to
info@francescofontana.com

I’ll be around the East Coast from 10 to 19 April. I will drive from NYC to Virginia on Friday 15. Everyone is welcome..

Artists who wish to share a free paint out
Painters who want info on my summer and fall workshops in Italy and France
Venues willing to host my workshop in 2012
Collectors wishing to view my wet paintings and portfolio
Galleries and media

Get in touch! Francesco http://www.francescofontana.com/ | info@francescofontana.com
.

Early birds alight on lavender flowers

July 2011 Booking

I wish to thank all those who responded to the my survey about Your Ideal Painting Workshop. The survey provided a number of insights which enable me to better match your needs in the 2011 plein air workshop season.Among the many suggestions I received (I will comment some in the next News & Views Letter) there is the month of July as one of the best dates to attend a workshop. Provence stands out as the very top destination in your wish-list. So I decided to stretch my usual season in Provence to July for a lavender-blooming session, reserved to early birds. Spaces are limited to 8 people and due to high season demand, this session must be booked very, very soon. The B&B we I’ve made our artists home in the past three years -- is so successful that rooms for July are expected to run out right after Christmas.

Be an early bird and sign up now!

Dates: 9 to 16 July 2010 (7 nights)
Click here to get a quote and reserve your space (limited to 8 people)

Happy painting! - Francesco

PS. View our wonderful guesthouse here: http://www.letempsdunechanson.com/
And view the surroundings here: http://www.letempsdunechanson.com/slideShow/index.html

Sicily Painting Workshop countdown

Getting ready to fly to Catania, for my first workshop in Sicily -- Monday 4th to Sunday 10th, May 2009. I am excited to meet this group of Americans willing to visit and paint outdoor in the Noto valley. I've travelled in this area a few years ago and felt in love with the wildness of the territory and nonetheless the stunning richness of its Baroque heritage. So I guess I am a bit afraid I would have to find my way to the several locations I planned to show to these new friends. As an expat Sicilian (but from the western coast) -- I am confident that my people and home land won't let me down. So I hope the Gps navigator!