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!

Life to resists death

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

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The Beauty of Geometry

Why do I paint lot of houses? ~

A student of mine tells me I often paint houses, at least in my demos and en plein air sessions. Figurative is another story. How might this interest you? Whether you are a painter or a collector, this post helps you better understand the composition behind a painting. The beauty of geometry My attraction is maybe a reminiscence of when we were kids and used to draw houses with sloping roofs and chimneys. Perhaps what appeals to me are geometric shapes: trapezoid, rectangle or the triangle, also found in the shape of my umbrellas. Rational forms and line of emotions Actually my facades are always connected with trees and vegetation, combining geometric shapes with more random shapes, Euclidean rationale with intuitive lines. Mountains like camels The placement of elements, their variety, their proportions are a crucial framework for the outcome of a painting. Perspective is also critical. It's a good practice to break curves into segments. Beginners e.g. have a tendency to exaggerate the mountains profile, which often ends up resembling the humps of a camel! Geometrical shapes in a watercolor by Francesco. Fontana

I draw a lot of preliminary studies, to make sure that there is a good variety of shapes and an interesting connection between them. Which combined with tonal values establish the weights of the composition.

Paintings of semi abstract realism

Visualizing the geometric boxing in of organic elements is definitely more effective than details. If I have a boat in front of me, thinking of a trapezoid and two ovals helps me in two directions:

-- Control of curves and inclinations
-- Achieve a semi-abstract quality

These compositional principles can be fully appreciated in the beautiful small works available on my website Studio Sale. This selection of demos and plein air watercolors represent my design style to the full. Collect these works at a clearance fixed price thru November 2023. 

Happy Art Life! -- Francesco

Francesco Fontana Fine Artist francescofontana.com

Liberation From Fear

People's judgment hold you back? Five insights to help ~

Silvia wrote to me: 'The fear of people's judgment paralyzes me or at least slows me down in my artistic expression. What to do?'

A recurring dilemma that afflicts even some accomplished artists. And I know the problem firsthand. As a teenager I was writing music but when it came to show on stage and sing I would go zero salivation! Finishing a song was a pain. I stopped making music despite some career opportunities.

You are not able to do it

At the contrary, since I was a child, showing my drawings was not a problem. Good or bad that my art was, people's judgment was none of my problem. And that despite one of my works was rejected in a competition at primary school. It could have been a trauma, but as I made a career in painting, I guess that  disappointment didn't paralyze me. A the contrary I had students telling me they were left stranded for decades after a school teacher's cynical ruling on an art assignment: too good to be your work. 

Feeling authorized

It's not easy to understand why we are so self confident in some field and feel terribly inadequate in others, although we're equally capable. My mother supported my talent and sent me to art school. But my father didn't approve and it took me years to free myself from his disapproval. And that recovery costed me some professional help. My sense of identity and my psychic balance were at stake. Whether I was good or not at painting was not the point, not my concerne. 

Digging into emotions

My struggle was to give myself permission to become an artist in life. The minute I felt authorized, a huge relief happened and I ultimately took the road for the dream to come true! What I'd suggest to Silvia is digging a little into her emotions, especially if the fear of judgment is effecting other aspects of her life.

To begin with, I would do a little self interview, asking myself:

• What exactly am I afraid of?
• What concrete consequences would a negative judgment have?
• Would someone really look at my works and say out loud 'that sucks'?
• Has it actually ever happened that someone mortified me?
• What do I not feel adequate in: the subject? The technique? The style?

I'm sure that by honestly answering these five questions, Silvia can find insights to start removing the obstacles that block her. And take a path not to be too hard on herself and offer her art to the world without fear.

Happy Art Life! -- Francesco

PS. If you appreciate receiving these little reflections, I call MuseLetter, you might also like what I post on Instagram and follow me. Thank you!

PPS. And if you're in the mood of surrounding yourself with beauty, take advantage of the Small Works Studio Sale on my website.

The Mother of Invention

What's the secret of creativity? ~

When wearing seat belts in cars became mandatory in Italy, a stall appeared in Naples selling t-shirts with a black diagonal stripe printed on them. Don't we want to call them artists? They had a problem: heat in Naples and tickets from the cops, thus an idea was needed!  

Necessity sharpens ingenuity

This idea is not as simple as it sounds. Many novice and even expert painters think art is pure fun, and freedom of expression. However, self-expression does not take place without rules, because it does not trigger original solutions. 

In art, sport and business

Thinking of sports might help better understand. It is essential to work around the things you are forbidden to do. You can't touch the ball with your hands, not even unwillingly. Why do we consider Pelè or Maradona genius? Precisely because of their creativity, inventiveness, style and intuition in working out their way to the goal without using their hands. Oh my God,  Diego was actually accused to cheat a goal with his mano de Dios! Let's call it an exception

Challenge and divergent thinking

So in order to be creative, in art or business, we should make a set of obstacles and restrictions: what if i paint in 30 minutes? If I use only five forms? If I lay any color but the local one? If I paint with one eye closed? ... Result is unpredictable. And there lays the magic of creativity! 

This is a concept that an artist such as Larry Moore practice and shares in his What If University on Facebook  Larry reflects on this matter extensively and suggests some very intriguing challenges at times. 

Hope I was creative enough to inspire you within the limit of less than 360 words and 90 minute writing time. Please let me know your thoughts, I am likely to return on to this topic. 

Happy Art life! -- Francesco

PS. Some of this ideas are applied in my paintings. at the current Small Work Studio Sale

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!

Obsessed with Quantity

Looking for new friends is an innate social tendency. But today, we invest a lot of energy in compulsively acquiring new contacts. It was almost a shock to discover that my phone book alone has over 1800 contacts! But how many can I hear in a day? On a good day maybe a dozen. Well below 1%! So why add more weight to my contact list? After all, how many good relationships does a person need?

We're one short of two

I have extended the same reflection to other aspects of my life. It seems mandatory to be informed about everything, to know how to do the most disparate things, from editing a video to speaking in public. Everything seems essential to be successful. And of course it's never enough. If we are not active on the latest trending social media we become invisible; if we don't apply this new type of marketing (yesterday's was a scam) we will never sell anything... In short, we are always missing one to make two!

Our hidden golden capital

Interrupting this race for a moment, I realized that in my studio I have a capital of hundreds of paintings, that over time I have gained a wealth of life experiences and soft skills, that I have built a network of people who respect me and admire my art.

So much to tell and share

So I decided. For a period of time (maybe three months, maybe a year) I may want to paint only a few art works and dedicate more conversation with those I was lucky enough to meet and perhaps forgot too soon. Taking the time to study my existing work deeper. Perhaps my masterpiece is already there, or simply there is still so much to tell and share. 

I hope these reflections inspire you. 

Happy Art Life! -- Francesco

PS. I've redesigned the home page of my website and rearranged my Collecting and Learning proposals. Please check it out and interact as much as you can. I appreciate that you let me know what you like and especially what you don't and your advise. Redesigning is still ongoing. Thank you!