top of page

  Gallery #644    

      March 23, 2018

Twelve Pieces by Contemporary Artist

            Francesco Fontana (Born 1958)

- Image of the Day -

 

"Gare Montparnasse"

______

  Feature Artist Bio

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. 

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.

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

 

Selected Exhibitions and Awards
 

2017

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

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

ExhibitionBankside 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

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 FestivalFabriano, 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

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, Italy20-25 October 2015

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

                                                     

                                                               ARTIST'S OFFICIAL BIO                                                                     https://www.francescofontana.com/abou-the-artist

 

 

 

   Francesco Fontana's

  OFFICIAL WEBSITE

                                        www.francescofontana.com                                     

                        ARTIST'S STATEMENT

I am inspired by my own travels. Places and people offer me new scenarios and feelings to pour into my painting. Europe, USA, Asia, all cultures suggest diversity, to which I want to be the eye witness. On the other hand, art is a lens that translates the outside world for me to understand it and connect to humanity.

 

My way to achieve this is either paint on location, or take notes and draw sketches when I travel. I strive to work by memory, which requires a deeper observation; I select only what really reso-nates within. If I use my own photos I draw an edited version of the subject. Then I decide my own color arrangement, according to my mood and pre-mix a limited number of colors on my palette. At this point the brushwork should be (or at least appear) the easiest and most effortless. In other words, the painting should paint itself!

 

Ultimately I want the viewer to get lost in a timeless story. It's my highest reward. And a bet every single time.” 

 

bottom of page