The Mentor I Always Wanted

When I was very young I longed to have a mentor. My father, a good man in many ways, lacked the patience and character to be a guide, a beacon, a role model. His mission was to support five children! Not to support the artistic ambitions of a young hippie!

A wise guide since the antiquity

In the Odyssey, Ulysses entrusts his son Telemachus to the wise Mentor, to carry out the function that he will not be able to carry out by going to war against Troy. Me, I struggled alone for a long time in the search for who I was and in authorizing myself to be so. But I was lucky enough to meet a couple of 'fatherly' men in my journey. Thanks to them I built self confidence day by day, one experience at a time, in different countries and with different personalities. 

The answers you ignore to have

Today I am told to be a good listener, and be able to guide my mentees so that they reflect and discover by themselves the best choice for them. I became a 'father'. It's true, I ask more questions than giving answers! And they love it! Beyond the technique and practical advice in painting, I suggest different lens to look at their own works, and let them finally see what is 'hidden' before their eyes. This gives great confidence to those who follow the path of art!

Happy Art Life! -- Francesco 

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Love Museums Regardless The Art

I have been traveling quite a bit this year, mostly in Europe. Not much of business travels, except for inspiration hunting, which can be definitely considered part of an artist's job, right? Consequently skipped writing letters and posting on social media. Worse and shameful, a did no show at a couple of zoom meetings (sorry). But when your mind is off duty, no way! 

Rembrandt and the rockstars

Good news is now I am able to share with you a bunch of photos and some stories from those visits. Let's start From the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, well known for the masterpieces by Rembrandt and Vermeer. I love museums for regardless the art they display. They are often hosted in buildings which are piece of art in their own right. 

Time is suspended

People generally step in them with a religious attitude, in a quiet atmosphere, well.. untile they gather at their rockstar masterpiece for a selfie! Time is suspended fro me there, and I take it slow to admire piece by piece, soak the history and still some masters' secret. 

Hope one day I'll be able to include more write up. But for now my priority is to reconnect with you! So here is some beauty for you to enjoy: Masterpieces at Rijksmuseum

The Milkmaid, by Johannes Vermeer at Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Happy Art! -- Francesco

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How to Enjoy Flying Again Overseas

Freedom can be scary after the long shutdown

Let me tell you a little story about traveling again. Last April I finally returned to the United States, first time since the era of lockdown.

I was a little nervous while prepping all requirements: mask, covid pass, traveler locator form, extra insurance.. at a point I realized that I did not feel as safe as in many years of traveling. I have always been a traveler, at the age of twenty I moved to Paris with no french nor a dime. But this time it was stressful! It seemed impossible to me that I could, for example, fly five times back and forth overseas in 2017.

Sick away from home

In fact, the minor and major health flaws happened in last three years have made me feel more vulnerable. Surprisingly, I skipped Covid, but maybe the effect of aging is just that: the fantasy of being sick and alone thousands of miles away from home -- which makes packing up not so exciting.

But I'm not a quitter. Rather, I reconsidered my trip: I canceled some business and reduced my tour to 13 days instead of 18; planned my tour as a vacation for most of the time and and scheduled visits with friends and family. Slowed down to listen to my belly in this great Country, America, that can be as exciting as scary at times. For future reference and therapy I wrote a diary.

Smart aging

It was an almost perfect trip! Always surrounded by people who love me and who have pampered me, carried me around, talked in a more intimate and personal way then ever. People made a difference, they made me feel safe and at home in three states and four different cities; fears are gone and I am looking forward to return soon!

In my diary I wrote: don't be proud. The smartest way to get older is to let others help you.

Let's talk about this, let's talk about art, let's meet in Bologna on 13 and 14 May 2022, at the Watercolor Festival. Will you be there? Reply here

Francesco 

Break Your Records Like a Champion

Learning competitiveness from winning athletes

Yesterday a friend posted his painting that was rejected from a major competition. He had no complain, was just proud to share it with the world. And it was indeed a good work, pretty original. I complimented him publicly and (privately) suggested to reflect on some part of the composition that might have looked unresolved by the jurors. I meant it as an encouragement and he appreciated the hint.

Managing disappointment after blaming others 

Old Time Concho, Watercolor by Francesco Fontana

But it's not always so easy. You know I have been there, in the Rejection Blue Room. That place were you either get depressed, or take it as a message for you to work harder and become a better painter. The way I learned to manage these disappointments, is to consider my career like sport people do. Sometime you win, sometime you lose, some other time you go tie. I found that a healthy competitive attitude helps face the defeats as part of the game. And, after a beer night blaming it on the referee, we want to forgive, forget and set a tighter training plan for the next challenge. Athletes and players do that all the time.

Healthy competitiveness make your art grow

In my my business of art, breaking a record basically means master some skill I am still weak at, research a more original idea, or introduce a more effective step in my process. Then present a new version of my work to the next test. Which can range from a friend's honest. feedback, to a submission for a top international competition. If you look at a workshop in this perspective, you will consider the training you get, a building block of your ability to win at the next games! 

We are the champions my friend! Let's become a team!

Cheers -- Francesco

BTW If you're an art promoter consider hosting my workshop. If you're a watercolor painter join my workshop at Southwestern Watercolor Society in Dallas, TX in April. 

Just Good Luck?

Why strong resolutions work

2 min read

Against all odds, 2021 It’s been a good year, even better than the previous one, which surprisingly wasn't bad at all for my business. 

Preoccupation for my life

But not later than 30 months ago I thought my journey was over. Illness and hospital seemed to be my new reality. Business had been terribly slow even during the previous dozen months. I guess preoccupation about my life effected my ability to be creative and productive.

*****

Out of the tunnel

However in 2021 I won several major awards, the projects I am being offered are top notch, and when I look at my recent art I can see how much I have grown. The wheel turn good! 

Just good luck?

Maybe, but let me think of some strong decisions I took when I was struggling to survive:

• — As my body got thinner I felt closer to my soul and I decided to show more of it, tell my story, use my voice, be honest..
• — I challenged my impatience and forced myself to work on paintings that requires time, days or weeks, versus the comfort of (plein air) painting-a-day 
• — I accepted my ambition and rose the bar, planning more complex pieces of art that may one day hang in a museum.
• -- I believed I had something to say, and started to say it, though my discourse wasn't completely formed 
• — I never stopped studying. I discovered that while the satisfaction for a good job vanishes quickly, learning is for good.

It’s not on me to tell how far I have gone and how long the good time will last. But for sure I made progress that stand out enough to provide acknowledgment and new opportunities. And for sure there’s still a long way to go. 

More courage in 2022

That's why I take resolutions very seriously and suggest you to do the same. I know it's hard to keep up with the diet, but maybe you got stronger motivations in your business of art. Maybe -- like me -- for 2022 you need to be bolder, take more risk with your choices, learn skills you're still weak at, get involved with new people! 

And of course welcome good luck if it knocks at your door!

I love to hear from you!

Francesco

BTW One of the awesome projects I am involved in is Watercolor Live 2022. If you are a watercolor fan, don't miss my demo and that of stellar international artists on Jan 26 - 29, 2022. Get your seat here:  link https://event.watercolorlive.com/wcl2022?affiliate_id=353712

BTW 2. If can also meet me in presence at my 3 day workshop in Dallas, TX 11-14 April 2022. Sign up here: https://swswatercolor.org/workshops/francesco-fontana-workshop/

Happy Like a Kid

Analog vs digital, a newfound joy

      Flash News

My memory today goes back to last fall, when I took a walk in the park as the sun was hitting the wet grass. Not a big park just a neighborhood park, where residents walk their dogs and chat. The leaves on the trees reflect all sort of color, except for blue maybe. Yellow, orange, red, purple, and of course green, plus tons of their variations. For a moment I feel like I am wandering in Central Park. In addition to the beauty of these big overlapping masses of color, I realize the magic is also given by the carpet of fallen leaves at the feet of every tree, and by the translucency of the sunlight thru them.

*** 

Instinctively I pulled out the phone to take 'beautiful photos' -- for the sake of it and as possible later panting references. Ops my photo memory and 100 gb storage are full! Darn it, I knew I needed to slim down the thousand of pics I hold, and by no way I will add more today! 

So I contemplated the Idea of keeping the moment for myself, just as a memory. No need to record everything that happens in my life. In the process I picked up a couple of leaves from the ground to look closer. In a few minutes I collected two dozens of different samples. It reminded me when we were kids and would collect stuff all over the place, to play, make a gift, or simply manipulate material. 

The feeling of a stronger connection to the place and its nature revamped in me! Digging my shoes into the wet grass, find a way to hold the bunch with one hand while bending down and get my hands dirty - was way more fulfilling than the easy touch on the camera screen to quickly pass on. Maybe normal if you live in the big wild, but very unusual for the city slicker I am!

This might be called analog in the digital era. Then took one, and only one pic of the bunch and went home holding my treasure tight. Happy like a kid!

Merry Christmas!🎄 Francesco

Breakfast with Honor

Bronze Medal of Honor

American Watercolor Society

Close up of Breakfast in America (with Flora) - Watercolor 21 x 14.5 in (54.5 x 36,5 cm).

What an awesome news to share! My painting Breakfast in America has just been awarded Bronze Medal of Honor at American Watercolor Society's International Exhibition 2021. So honored and proud of this third place overall and profoundly grateful to the great jury of award Schaller, Nuttall and Smith. Wish to thank AWS president Antonio Masi and their relentless staff and art selectors. Congratulations to the amazing fellow artists participating! And not least, thank you my beautiful daughter Flora for being my muse! I guess I must share the prize with you baby!  Dear Francesco, I have the honor of informing you that your painting "Breakfast in America" in the 154th Annual Exhibition has been awarded the AWS Bronze Medal of Honor with a check. Congratulations on this achievement! Antonio Masi, President AWS Awards are given among the 135 exhibiting artists selected out 1,300 who submitted their art this year. The exhibition is due to open April 12, 2021 at historic venue Salmagundi Club, Fifth Avenue, New York. Hope to see you there!  Want to celebrate with me? Follow me on Instagram!