Francesco Fontana shares his tips and techniques for painting atmospheric watercolor landscapes.

Here’s a Q&A with Francesco:

If you could take only three colors with you to paint on a deserted island, which three would you take?
By necessity I would take some primaries: New Camboge, Alazarin Crimson and Indanthrone Blue  – although I tend to work more with Phthalo Blue, Imperial Purple and Quinacridone Sienna.

Describe a recent art show you attended that was particularly inspiring.
Joaquin Sorolla at Milano Palazzo Reale. His work expresses a complete range of fundamental aspects of pictorial art – the composition of his scenes, the absolute mastery of drawing, his tonal strategy and his sense of light. Sorolla’s palette is an infinite vocabulary of colors, warm and cool, often high key – not to mention energetic brushwork and his plein air bravery!

What were the last few photos you took that might inspire you to paint?
From trips to Berlin, Germany and Warsaw, Poland – especially their decayed buildings and graffiti walls in older districts. I am looking forward to paint more of those.

What is the best piece of advice another artist has given you?
Giovanni Iudice said, “You’re a master at your media. Don’t be content with couch-matching paintings. Take risks and engage in a bigger art discourse.”

What are you excited about working on next?
Currently I am creating a couple of extra large pieces for my next solo show in my hometown of Palermo, Sicily – opening November 9, 2024. First time I’ll be back since I left 30+ years ago.

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Join us online each week via Zoom or Facebook for an Up Close and Personal Conversation with John Cogley (Daniel Smith Owner and CEO) along with guest artists from around the world. On Thursdays (2:00pm Pacific), John and some of our Brand Ambassadors highlight a group of colors and answer your questions. On Fridays (10:30am Pacific), a guest artist shares a demo with their favorite tips and techniques. Click here for the upcoming week’s Zoom links.

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