My Special Time for Fabriano in Acquerello

I enjoyed my demo in Bologna, Italy for the international watercolor festival

The challenge I set myself? Starting from a life sketch done in a park, in pencil and monochrome. It's one of the things I teach in my studio classes, on Zoom, and in my workshops. Thanks for joining me! I'll see you at my next sessions! Check my Next Events

Spring moves me, so I draw!

How a return to the basics regenerates the spirit ⁓

Spring truly moves me. On a bright, sunny day, the light radiates pure happiness. Maybe it’s the serotonin boost from those first rays, or the flowers and scents that trigger memories of youth—even childhood. Whatever it is, my first instinct is to get outside. But not before tossing a couple of sheets of paper, brushes, and colors into my backpack.

Yesterday, I took a long walk with no destination in mind and ended up in a small, slightly hidden, and overgrown park behind my house. I sat on a bench and started to draw.

Francesco Fontana, Pencil Drawing Outdoor, 2026

After seeing Gianni Provenzano’s beautiful work at the Galleria Caravello in Palermo—those beat-up cars and everyday objects I love so much—I felt a sudden, crazy urge for pure drawing: just a pencil and a kneaded eraser!

And so, my informal plein air session on a park bench turned into over an hour of total bliss. A return to the basics that truly regenerates the spirit.

Do you love to draw, or do you feel the need to improve your line work (especially if you paint in watercolor)? Let me know in the comments, maybe I can help you loosen up your hand.

Actually, scratch that... I mean loosen up your eye. Remember: you don’t draw with your hands, you draw with your eyes!