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

Happy to have new friends!

* Door County Plein Air Festival: back from Wisconsin (and forth)

With Debra Joy Groesser, Jeff Merrill and Nancy Tankersley

I won't forget my week at Door County Plein Air Festival that easily. Stunning scenery, very friendly people, and lot of painting work on the field (July 24-30, 2016)

An amazing staff at ‪#‎dcpaf‬ made the machine work smoothly. Thank you Cathy, Kay, Tori, Ginny and the others for helping and smiling at all times!

I was excited to catch up with old artist friends. Let me remember Andre Lucero the zen man, Charlie Hunter the genius, the sweet Margi Lucena, happy face Debra Groesser, the adventurous Patrick Saunders and my watercolor buddy Andy Evansen! 

Happy to have new friends. Great to meet you: Mitch Baird, Brian Blood, Shawn Cornell, Valerie Craig, Mari Ann Davis, Tim Horn, Eric Jacobsen,  Mat Barber Kennedy, Laurie Kersey, John John, Patrick Lee, Jeff Merrill, Tom Nachreiner, Michael Obermeyer, Kathie Odom, John Poon, James Richards, Dave Santillanes, Brian Sindler, Carol Strock Wasson, Bill Suys, Nancy Tankersley and Dawn Whitelaw. So honored to be in the company of such extraordinary talented people and rockstars! I lernt a lot! 

A special thank to my new collector Kaaren, Steve, Martha and Bruce. So grateful for your appreciation. A big thank you my exquisite hosts Sue and Kurt (and their dog) for making me feel home in their wonderful property.

How can I forget Gina Ward who's always ready to give advice, ideas and help in my US venture (in addition to treat me good pizza!) 

And last but very first my strongest hug goes to the awesome Shelby Keefe, who opened here new house to me and my jetlag, days before the event. She showed me the artsy Milawaukee, introduced me to her friends, took care of me and made sure I had all the stuff I needed and even more, to make it to the festival. Shelby your friendship alone worth the trip from Italy! XXX 

Thank you all, including those I missed to mention. Wish you the very best in life and art and hope to see you soon again!

Francesco

PS Will be again in Wisconsin a the end of August. Check that out!

Please leave a comment and visit www.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/

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