Look where I will take you to paint this summer. A great video about Claude Monet garden in Giverny Monet Garden by James Priest
Francesco Fontana, AWS, NWS - Fine Artist Blog
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
The California Impressionists and Today Plein Air
It's very exciting for me
to be preparing for California to attend the Plein Air Convention & Expo in
Monterey. There I will also exhibit three paintings. Then my
plan is to honor the beauty of the Carmel peninsula, staying three extra days to
workshop in the area and paint in the stunning coastal natural reserve of Point
Lobos.
 |
| Mary Agnes Yerkes, California Impressionist Painter, (1886–1989). "Plein-Air painting at Carmel’’, Carmel Beach, CA, circa 1920s. |
For an European like me,
with a background in the French Impressionism and the Italian Macchiaioli, it's
intriguing to engage with the nature and the southern bright light that
inspired the Early California plein air impressionists.
A Bridge Across
the Ocean
Ever since the early '900 the
connection with Europe was very tight. Painter Guy Rose, studied in Paris and
lived in Giverny 1904-1912, becoming friend and pupil of Claude Monet in person. A colony took home in Giverny and the Giverny Group was first recognized in the US with an exhibition at New York's
Madison Gallery in 1910.
After a decline lasting
three decades due to the rising of modernism and the Great depression, -- a
revival of the California plein air impressionism, took up in the 70's. In 1978
curator Nancy Moure released a Dictionary of Art and Artists in Southern
California Before 1930 and curated a retrospective exhibition for the Laguna
Beach Museum.
Continuing a
Glorious History
Now publisher and painter
Eric Rhoads is the enthusiast and proud promoter of the 3d Plein Air Convention
& Expo. With his Plein Air Magazine and many other activities, he highly
contributes to build up an integrated art industry and favor the cohesion of the
artists' community.
I'll fly a long way from
old Europe to be part of this history and make it a valuable step in my career.
Which I want to share with YOU! After the Convention, join me in Carmel to paint out in the week end 11
- 13 April. Just write to my email workshop@francescofontana.com to share a great time together!
Live in painting! Francesco
PS. If you're in this
business but ain't a painter, write to my email workshop@francescofontana.com to arrange a meeting between 7 and 13 April to plan new projects across the pond!
Sunday, February 2, 2014
A Moveable Feast Through Impressionism
The Monet Tour in Paris & Giverny July 2014
A few days before we set our easels by the magical lily pond in Giverny, this unique Monet tour starts in Paris. Two major museums will show us the actual masterpieces that started the Impressionist movement and became an universal reference: Le Muesée Marmottan and l'Orangerie.
 |
| A repro of Impression Sunrise by Claude Monet |
12 -- 19 July, 2014
I planned the dates carefully. The day before we head to Givenry, July 14, it's time to let it go in the greatest National French celebration: la Fete de la Republique. A true moveable feast going on till dawn, with music and dance all over the streets of Paris!
How can you resist such an invitation! Say yes today!
Live in painting! -- Francesco
PS. Since I announced the Monet Tour, I received more inquiries than expected, in just one week. No wonder for this is really an amazing experience -- I am the sole to offer.
People from overseas are busy making travel plans. So, I expect the only 8 spots I limited this group size, fill much ahead of booking deadline.
Request your spot now, first come first served.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Monet Paris & Giverny Painting Holiday
Living The Spirit of Impressionism
Giverny is a tiny village about 75 km north of Paris, in Lower Normandy. Claude Monet, the father of Impressionism, lived in Giverny the last 30 years of his life.
There
he built his mansion and designed in person a luscious flower garden and the
lily pond. Later the lilies became the subject of a series of large paintings.
These paintings – we can now admire at Musee de l'Orangerie in Paris -- become
his most famous masterpieces, after Impression du Soleil Levant, which gave
birth to the Impressionism and constitutes our legacy as painters.
Next July I'll have again the privilege to paint right along the lily pond in the colourful garden of my muse Monet. Believe me when I say you can feel his spirit and something enormously greater in the air as you paint in the quite late afternoon of Giverny. The sky becomes peach rose thru the trees and you can only hear the frogs splashing in the pond. We feel as witnesses and humble carriers of his Art. We become aware and grateful for it seems he made all this to share his inspiration with us!
12 -- 19 July, 2014
I’ll
offer this 4 day workshop in Giverny – after a brief tour in Paris. Dry and
water media are preferred -- but oil is welcome if you have a basic gear and
painting know how outdoor. I pre-booked only 8 rooms at the hotel we stayed last
year, just around the corner of Monet’s house. Are you going to miss this
chance?
Be part of this memorable experience! Sign up now!.
Giverny is a tiny village about 75 km north of Paris, in Lower Normandy. Claude Monet, the father of Impressionism, lived in Giverny the last 30 years of his life.
 |
| Me painting in the Monet's garden, July 2013 |
Next July I'll have again the privilege to paint right along the lily pond in the colourful garden of my muse Monet. Believe me when I say you can feel his spirit and something enormously greater in the air as you paint in the quite late afternoon of Giverny. The sky becomes peach rose thru the trees and you can only hear the frogs splashing in the pond. We feel as witnesses and humble carriers of his Art. We become aware and grateful for it seems he made all this to share his inspiration with us!
12 -- 19 July, 2014
 |
| The Japanese Bridge -- Watercolor 33 x 46 cm (c) Francesco Fontana |
Be part of this memorable experience! Sign up now!.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Talk to me and share your passion
So much happened since my last newsletter in September.
My workshop experience in Bali was so surprising and intense,
it took me a week to recover from those overwhelming emotions. After a passage to Tuscany and then in
Sicily -- I am back to the studio to put new inspiration into a
new large painting series, as well as planning workshops.
 |
| The Bali Workshop 2013 |
As an art lover and collector you will receive frequent
updates about currently available paintings, in the next newsletters. I will
soon offer a special selection of my inventory to my email subscribers
only.
If you paint and wish to be updated about my travels and
workshop opportunities, California, Virginia, Italy, Paris and Monet's
Giverny are just some of the fabulous destinations for 2014. A
return to Bali will likely be schedules soon. Please check my
calendar and inquiry now about my painting holidays and
workshops.
Live in painting! : )) Francesco Fontana
Skype:
fontasco | www.francescofontana.com | workshops@francescofontana.com
Sunday, March 10, 2013
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
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
~ Subjects: landscapes en plein air; still life & floral indoor
~ Fluency in English French and Italian
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
Saturday, February 16, 2013
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
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