Sunday, October 1, 2023
Obsessed with Quantity
Thursday, September 21, 2023
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'. It's true, I ask more questions than giving answers! And they love it! 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
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Wednesday, September 20, 2023
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
Friday, May 6, 2022
How to Enjoy Flying Again Overseas
Freedom can be scary after the long shutdown
Let me tell you a little story about traveling again. Last April I finally returned to the United States, first time since the era of lockdown.
I was a little nervous while prepping all requirements: mask, covid pass, traveler locator form, extra insurance.. at a point I realized that I did not feel as safe as in many years of traveling. I have always been a traveler, at the age of twenty I moved to Paris with no french nor a dime. But this time it was stressful! It seemed impossible to me that I could, for example, fly five times back and forth overseas in 2017.
Sick away from home
In fact, the minor and major health flaws happened in last three years have made me feel more vulnerable. Surprisingly, I skipped Covid, but maybe the effect of aging is just that: the fantasy of being sick and alone thousands of miles away from home -- which makes packing up not so exciting.
But I'm not a quitter. Rather, I reconsidered my trip: I canceled some business and reduced my tour to 13 days instead of 18; planned my tour as a vacation for most of the time and and scheduled visits with friends and family. Slowed down to listen to my belly in this great Country, America, that can be as exciting as scary at times. For future reference and therapy I wrote a diary.
Smart aging
It was an almost perfect trip! Always surrounded by people who love me and who have pampered me, carried me around, talked in a more intimate and personal way then ever. People made a difference, they made me feel safe and at home in three states and four different cities; fears are gone and I am looking forward to return soon!
In my diary I wrote: don't be proud. The smartest way to get older is to let others help you.
Let's talk about this, let's talk about art, let's meet in Bologna on 13 and 14 May 2022, at the Watercolor Festival. Will you be there? Reply here
Francesco
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
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 |
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.
Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Just Good Luck?
Why strong resolutions work
2 min read
Against all odds, 2021 It’s been a good year, even better than the previous one, which surprisingly wasn't bad at all for my business.
Preoccupation for my life
But not later than 30 months ago I thought my journey was over. Illness and hospital seemed to be my new reality. Business had been terribly slow even during the previous dozen months. I guess preoccupation about my life effected my ability to be creative and productive.
*****
Out of the tunnel
However in 2021 I won several major awards, the projects I am being offered are top notch, and when I look at my recent art I can see how much I have grown. The wheel turn good!
Just good luck?
Maybe, but let me think of some strong decisions I took when I was struggling to survive:
- — As my body got thinner I felt closer to my soul and I decided to show more of it, tell my story, use my voice, be honest..
- — I challenged my impatience and forced myself to work on paintings that requires time, days or weeks, versus the comfort of (plein air) painting-a-day
- — I accepted my ambition and rose the bar, planning more complex pieces of art that may one day hang in a museum.
- -- I believed I had something to say, and started to say it, though my discourse wasn't completely formed
- — I never stopped studying. I discovered that while the satisfaction for a good job vanishes quickly, learning is for good.
It’s not on me to tell how far I have gone and how long the good time will last. But for sure I made progress that stand out enough to provide acknowledgment and new opportunities. And for sure there’s still a long way to go.
More courage in 2022
That's why I take resolutions very seriously and suggest you to do the same. I know it's hard to keep up with the diet, but maybe you got stronger motivations in your business of art. Maybe -- like me -- for 2022 you need to be bolder, take more risk with your choices, learn skills you're still weak at, get involved with new people!
And of course welcome good luck if it knocks at your door!
BTW 2. If can also meet me in presence at my 3 day workshop in Dallas, TX 11-14 April 2022. Sign up here: https://swswatercolor.org/workshops/francesco-fontana-workshop/
Wednesday, December 22, 2021
Happy Like a Kid
Analog vs digital, a newfound joy
My memory today goes back to last fall, when I took a walk in the park as the sun was hitting the wet grass. Not a big park just a neighborhood park, where residents walk their dogs and chat. The leaves on the trees reflect all sort of color, except for blue maybe. Yellow, orange, red, purple, and of course green, plus tons of their variations. For a moment I feel like I am wandering in Central Park. In addition to the beauty of these big overlapping masses of color, I realize the magic is also given by the carpet of fallen leaves at the feet of every tree, and by the translucency of the sunlight thru them.
This might be called analog in the digital era. Then took one, and only one pic of the bunch and went home holding my treasure tight. Happy like a kid!