Wednesday, December 5, 2012
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
Monday, November 5, 2012
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") |
Thursday, November 1, 2012
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")
Sunday, October 28, 2012
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]
Saturday, October 27, 2012
The American Dream from an European viewpoint
The show just closed with a best of show prize
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 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 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. |
Sunday, May 27, 2012
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/
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/
Monday, February 20, 2012
Art making and shuffling the cards
This last week end I did not miss painting. I felt fulfilled with what I painted last week: a work that took me four morning sessions. Every one crossing the door of my studio noticed it. “Wow! Different, there's something.. don’t know.. more luminous!” I am surprised myself. It was an attempt to renew my style. Several weeks of studies and headaches turned with a simple resolution: if I wanted something new I should simply do not do what used to do in my art making routine. I took a different support, watercolour paper instead of canvas, acrylics rather than oils, different size (much larger) and even a different position in the studio. And at the end of every session I go: wow! This is making its own way!
Finding new ideas sometimes is just about changing old habits, shuffling the cards
Live in painting : ) Francesco
www.francescofontana.com
PS. Additional surprise: I used three tubes from the acrylics box just to discover -- once finished -- they were water mixable oils.
PPS. The actual image don't matter!
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