By permission of the artist, The Cyber Art Show is pleased to feature the first of two 12-piece exhibitions of works by Italian painter 

Francesco Fontana (born 1958 in Palermo, Italy). 

 

Francesco Fontana is a professional artist with many years experience working in oil, watercolor, acrylic and dry media. Francesco received his BFA in Palermo, Italy where he was born. 

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After art school, he followed his dream and started his artist journey in bohemian Paris, as a portrait artist. In the years to follow, he exhibited his art in Italy and France. He extended his education with further years of study with Italian Masters Maiotti, Lissoni and Pelizzoni. Later he met several International artists who broadened his technique and vision remarkably. He has lived in London and is fluent in English and French as well as his native Italian.

Since 2008 Francesco is the co-founder and director of Fare Pittura Atelier, based in Milan Italy, where he teaches regular classes, of watercolor, oil and life drawing. He travels intensively as a workshop instructor and presenter. Frequent painting destinations include Provence, Paris, Giverny, Normandy, Sicily, Umbria, and Puglia. Invitations include Bali, Indonesia, and USA as well as UK, Spain and Austria.

He's been a stage and field faculty member at the Plein Air Convention & Expo in Monterey, CA and Tucson, AZ also exhibiting in the expo space. Exhibited in the 148th American Watercolor Society in New York's Salmagundi Club and at International Watercolor Society's International Meeting in Fabriano, Italy. He's been the juror, lecturer and workshop leader for the fall convention of the Watercolor Society of Oregon in 2016.

 

Appearances in the press include Plein Air Magazine and Fine Art Connoisseur, The Artist -- UK. His DVD 'Watercolor the Italian Way -- The Alla Seconda Method' was released in 2016 by leading publisher Liliedhal in the USA. He was also featured in an Article in American Watercolor Weekly, Feb 2018.

The artist is affiliated with both the American Watercolor Society (AWS) and the National Watercolor Society (NWS). His paintings are found in many private collections in Europe, USA and Asia.

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Francesco the loving father of two little girls: Teresa and Flora.

 

Selected Exhibitions and Awards
 

2017

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• Exhibition - City of Bengigamin, Valencia, Spain, International Show, Jan 2017

• Exhibition - Jack Meier Gallery, Houston, TX, USA, Feb 2017

• Exhibition - Bankside Gallery, London, UK for Royal Watercolor Society, 3-15 March 2017

• Juried in the Fabriano In Acquerello International Exhibition, Italy, April 2017 (Love U 2)

• Exhibition - National Watercolor Society. NWS Member Show: June 10, 2017 San Pedro, California

• Winner Jae Carmichael Award, National Watercolor Society, June 2017

• Winner Best Overall Watercolor, Plein Air Salon July 2017 (The Shop Window)

• Workshop - Valencia, Spain, 10 - 16 Sept 2017

• Workshop - East Devon, UK 4, 5, 6 Oct 2017

• Exhibition - Mall Galleries, London, UK with Royal Society of Marine Artists, 4-15 Oct 2017

• Invited competition Artist - Plein Air Texas, San Angelo, TX, USA, 22-29 Oct 2017

• Watercolor Workshop ‘Alla Seconda’, Padova, Italy 10, 11 December 2017

 

2016

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• Featured Artist - Lighthouse Plein Air Festival - Jupiter, Florida

9- 13 March, 2016

• DVD Release ‘Watercolor the Italian Way — Alla Seconda Method’ - 15 April 2016

• Faculty - 5th Plein Air Convention & Expo - Tucson, AZ 15-19 April 2016

• Exhibition - International Watercolor Society Festival - Fabriano, Italy,  April 2016

• Watercolor Workshop - Umbria, Italy - June 16-21, 2016

• Marche D'Acqua International Prize & Exhibition - Fabriano, Italy, June 2015

• Workshop by Monet’s Lily Pond - Giverny, France - June 27-July 2, 2016

• Featured Artist - Door County Plein Air Festival - Fish Creek, WI 

24-30 July 2016

• Watercolor Workshop - Madeline Island School of Arts (MISA) WI

 29 Aug-2 Sep 2016

• Extended Article on Watercolor Painting Process - The Artist Magazine, UK, Oct 2016

• Judge at Watercolor Society of Oregon Conference - Oregon City, 7-14 October 2016

• Top 15% - Bold Brush Painting Competition, November 2016 (The Installation)

• Winner in the Master Class category in Art Muse Contest, November 2016 (The Art Lover)

 

2015

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• American Watercolor Society 148th Show - Salmagundi Club  

New York City, April 2015

• Watercolor Faculty, Demo Stage - Plein Air Convention & Expo  

  Monterey, CA, April 2015

• Exhibition - International Watercolor Society Festival Fabriano, Italy - April 2015

• Where in the World is Plein Air -  Lake Como/Milan/Salt Lake City, 10-12 June 2015

• Guest Artist with Reijinsha Japan Exhibition - Expo - Milan, Italy - June 2015

• III Monet Tour and Painting Workshop by the Lily Pond  

 Giverny, France - July 2015

• Workshop Instructor - Puglia, Italy, 20-25 October 2015

• OPA Paint Out and Oil Workshop - Austin, Texas, 7-12 November 2015