Francesco Fontana is a professional artist with many years of experience in oil, watercolor, acrylic, and dry media. After art school, he followed a bohemian dream and started his artist journey in bohemian Paris, making a living by drawing tourists’ portraits. In the years to follow, he exhibited his art in Italy and France and his paintings are now in many private collections in Europe, the USA, and Asia.
Before becoming a full-time painter, Francesco worked as a graphic designer and illustrator for international cultural events such as theatre, classic music, jazz festivals, and symphonic orchestras. Other specialty works include large watercolor renderings for major architectural projects in the Middle East.
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 extensively as a workshop instructor and presenter. Frequent painting destinations include Provence, Paris, Giverny, Normandy, Sicily, Umbria, Puglia – Invitations include Bali, Indonesia, and the USA.
He’s 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 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.
Francesco received his BFA in Palermo, Italy where he was born. He extended his education with further years of study with Italian Masters such as Maiotti, Lissoni, and Pelizzoni. Later he met several International artists who broadened his technique and vision remarkably. Francesco has started his career in Paris, has lived in London, and is fluent in English and French as well as his native Italian. He’s the loving father of two little girls: Teresa and Flora.
