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

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

Free Like a Bird

I wish my friends and family to vote for the best on Novembre 6th, 2012, to make America an equitable Country and more people  'Free Like a Bird'!

What a lovely day in New York City! The cherry trees are blooming in Central Park and I feel free to fly on my bicycle!

Mixed Oil & Acrylic on Linen | 26 x 26 cms (10,4" x 10,4") |

How to Buy this Painting | Comment and Share

[http://www.francescofontana.com]

Palazzo Carafa

The Good Will

It was a sunny Sunday in the heart of Lecce and I was inspired by the flags waving against the blue sky. 

As I sat up my easel at the corner of the sidewalk, I realize I had brought no turps to thin my paint. I lifted a tip to the porter of a nearby fancy hotel and after a while he got me some stain remover from the hotel storage. Sorry, I have to 'stain' the canvas not clean it! Wait -- he said, and 20 minuts later he brought me some kind of detergent. Never mind -- at least I can clean my brushes! Thanks for the good will.

 

Love all the ancient names of 2000 years old city: Palazzo Carafa (ex Monastero delle Paoline, right flags) and the Palazzo di Giustizia (left). In the background the Chiesa del Gesù or Chiesa del Buon Consiglio

 

Oil on Linen | 16 x 26 cms (6,4" x 10,4")

How to Buy it Now | Comment and Share | Bid at the Auction

[http://www.francescofontana.com]

American Dream - The return of the buffalo

And the winner is Stefano Zagaglia! with 'Revenge' -- oil on canvas 40 x 80 cms (15 x 30 inc).
Visitors of the show American Dream scored this painting as best of the group exhibit that closed yesterday at Spazio Fare Pittura, Milan, Italy.

I believe Stefano combined a strong concept with a technical execution of a professional level, perfectly functional to the meaning behind the idea. Stefano's approach to the subject, takes life from his love for the wild animal world -- proven by his frequent travels to Africa (where I suspect he's at this very moment) and the larger series in progress I had the chance to preview. The result of this 'wild life' viewpoint is an original way to question America's history.

Bravo! Stefano is rewarded with a plein air alumimium easel and is offered a solo show in 2013.

PS. What a better soundtrack than this wonderful tune

Crow has brought the message
to the children of the sun
for the return of the buffalo
and for a better day to come
[...]

Ghost Dance by Robbie Robertson -- Music for the Native Americans © 1994

[www.francescofontana.com]

The American Dream from an European viewpoint

The show just closed with a best of show prize

(C) Francesco Fontana 'Flags' -- Oil on Linen The painting shown here is the icon of the group show American Dream that is closing today here in Milan, Italy.  The theme was given to the students of my school of painting alla prima FarePittura as an essay of the prep of a professional show. It was also an assignment to question themselves about developing their own message and vision, as artists to be. They engaged with the history and influence of American culture, from an European point of view, and offered a variety of interesting solutions. While you're reading this, we are appointing the visitors best of show (called Premio Mano d'Opera) rewarded with the prize of a plein air aluminium easel. The show opened last Sept 13. My article as a curator can be translated here from Italian. Stay tuned and talk to me! Live in Painting : ) Francesco Fontana www.francesocfontana.com PS. The painting above is 'Flags' (details) a work of mine that happily sold during the show. I know that business kept me away from you for a while, so next week I'll start a daily newsletter. A painting a day from my recent plein air and studio work, will be featured for you to enjoy, share, comment and purchase if available. Often but less frequently you'll receive updates about my upcoming workshops in Italy, France and beyond.  If you think that will be too much information in your mailbox, please let me know your preferences. If you feel like Basta!feel free to cancel here.

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/