.
"Where artists become better artists"
Copyright © 1999 * Art In The Mountains * All Rights Reserved
"The world is too full of beautiful
images to paint them all directly,
so capture as many as you can
in value sketches while the
moment lasts."
    Join Frank in San Francisco where
    some of his finest paintings have
    been created from the inspiring views
    and historical sights.  In the studio,
    you will learn how to paint with bold,
    vivid color from black/white value
    plans that Frank will provide.  He will
    demonstrate his unique style of
    painting large and loose on a very wet
    surface, allowing the pure color to mix
    itself and bring his paintings to life.  
    Emphasis will be on different ways to
    approach a painting from start to
    finish.  Franks work is often featured
    on the cover of Watercolor Magic and
    The Artist’s Magazine.  He is a
    signature member of NWS, TWSA,
    WW, WHS, WFWS, SDWS, TSW and
    CWS.
Frank Francese
Watercolor
Studio

September 15 - 18  Mon-Thur
San Francisco, CA

Cost $580

Beginning to Advanced

    FRANK FRANCESE was born in 1951 in Arizona, but has
    lived most of his life in Colorado.  He has been a
    professional artist since 1976 and achieved the
    groundwork for his profession while attending Western
    State College in Gunnison, Colorado. Watercolors came
    to the forefront of Francese attention in 1983.

    His liquid style is uniquely distinctive.  Frank enjoys
    working on a very wet surface, letting the pure color mix
    itself on the paper.  His shapes are large and loose, and
    he disregards the fine detail.  Francese uses abrupt color
    changes of the same value with the white of the
    watercolor paper to bring his paintings to life.  The
    subject matter for Francese watercolors is always varied,
    reflecting his travels as well as local Colorado scenes.  

    Francese has taught numerous watercolor workshops
    and has participated in those instructed by accomplished
    artists Judi Betts AWS, Gerald Fritzler NWS, Irving
    Shapiro AWS, Don Radovich, William Condit, Frank Webb
    AWS, Cheng Khee Chee AWS, Tony VanHasselt AWS,
    Robert E. Woods AWS, NA.  Francese is a signature
    member of the National Watercolor Society, Transparent
    Watercolor Society of America, Colorado Watercolor
    Society, Watercolor USA Honor Society, Watercolor West
    and Taos Society of Watercolorists, Western Federation
    Watercolor Societies, San Diego Watercolor Society and
    member of the Midwest Watercolor Society Board 1995-
    1997.

    Published:  
    Watercolor Magic August 2006; “Whitby, England”: 3rd
    Place, Watercolor Magic,  Watermedia Showcase 2006;
    Landscape category.

    Artist`s Sketchbook April 2006; article in “Unforgettable
    Places to Create”.

    Watercolor Magic 2006 Calendar will feature Francese
    watercolor “Del Gesu Matteotti-Genoa” on the cover.

    Watercolor magic: 2005 August Issue featuring “Del
    Gesu Matteotti-Genoa”: Honorable Mention, Landscape
    category of Watermedia Showcase [2400 entries]  

    Watercolor Magic: 2005 Winter Issue “Sketch Your Way to
    a Fresher Style”.

    Watercolor Magic: 2004 Winter Issue, Francese
    Watercolor on front cover.

    Artist`s Magazine: January 2004 – 20th Anniversary Issue
    feathering watercolor “Rainy Varzi”.

    Artist`s Magazine: September 2003. “Hyde Street Cable
    Cars”: featured in article “Simply the Best”.

    Artist`s Magazine: June 2003, Francese watercolor on
    cover, “Seeing the Sights” article on how to paint.


    Watercolor Magic, October 2002 special issue
    “Watercolor Magic Creativity” featuring Francese
    watercolor on cover, with short article on painting process
    in editor`s note.

    Artist‘s Magazine, December 2001 issue feathering
    “Rainy Varzi”: 2nd place, landscape division in 18th Artist
    ‘s Magazine Annual Art Competition.

    Watercolor Magic, spring 2002, Headliners 2001, winter
    2000, Swipe File feature article, “A Sketching Tool to Try.”

    Major Juried Acceptances and National Awards:
    Western Federation of Watercolor Societies 31st Annual
    Exhibition 2006; Award of Excellence. Lubbock, Texas.

    California Watercolor Association 38th National Exhibition
    2006; Jack Richeson Award. San Francisco, California.

    Watercolor Magic 2006 Annual Competition: Whitby,
    England, 3rd Place Landscape Category; [2300 entries].

    Transparent Watercolor Society of America 29th National
    Exhibition 2006; Kankakee County Museum, Kankakee,
    IL: Ohio Watercolor Society Award and Master Status;
    [being juried into 10 national exhibitions]

    Honorary Lifetime Signature Membership of the San
    Diego Watercolor Society; 2006.

    Watercolor West 37th Annual Juried Exhibition 2005;
    Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA. “Associates of
    Brand Library Award”

    San Diego Watercolor Society 25th International
    Exhibition 2005; Showcase Gallery, San Diego, CA:  Cash
    Award

    Kansas Watercolor Society, “The Great 8 Exhibition;
    2005”: Wichita Art Museum, Wichita, KS; Charles and
    Ruth Sanderson Memorial Award.

    Western Federation of Watercolor Societies 30th Annual
    Exhibition 2005: West Valley Art Museum, Phoenix,
    Arizona: Merit Award.

    Judging
    San Diego Watercolor Society International Exhibition
    2006: San Diego, CA

    Mississippi National Exhibition 2006, Jackson Art
    Museum; Jackson, MississippiMontana Watercolor
    Society National Exhibition 2005; Bigfork Art & Cultural
    Center: Big Fork,  Montana

    Watercolor Society of Alabama National Exhibition 2005:
    Auburn, Alabama

    Rhode Island Watercolor Society National Exhibition
    2004. Slater Memorial Park Gallery, Pawtucket, RI

Class Outline

    Frank will demonstrate how to make a black/white value plan from his sketches of San Francisco.  Students may use his
    value plans to paint from, or the may paint from their own value plans derived from their own sketches.  Frank would like to
    encourage students to sketch downtown and around the waterfront on their own on the weekend prior to the workshop, or in
    the evenings during the week. This will help the student to grow and absorb more from the workshop experience.  Frank is
    spending more time on teaching the drawing part of painting, everyone knows how to start a painting…very few know how to
    complete one. This technique will show them how to finish their paintings.

    Monday
    Nature Scenes - painting the quiet beauty of a nature scene: using mountains, trees, water, and any number of things like
    dry fall grass, snow, or glistening trees to express your inner feelings.

    Tuesday
    Country Scenes - painting rustic scenes: using old farm buildings, fields, fences, and other structures.

    Wednesday
    Cityscapes - painting colorful street scenes: using buildings, people, cars, signs, traffic signals, etc.

    Thursday
    The Tropics - painting beaches: using the seashore, palm trees, boats, sunbathers, lighthouses, etc.
    Nature's Moods - painting Nature's extremes: using stormy skies, snow storms, torrential rain, mist, etc.

    Class Demonstrations
    I will paint two per day. The first one will start at 9am, it will last 40-60 minutes, then the students will paint a similar design
    from 10am-12pm, and I will come around and help each student individually. Then have lunch and at 12:30 I paint the
    second demonstration. Then the students have time to paint on their own paintings again as I circulate the room.  At 3pm the
    class critique will start; and end each day at 4pm. I do two demonstrations because I paint so quickly that the students need
    two demonstrations to understand the process.

    IMPORTANT NOTE: Original advertised Dates Sept 15-19 has been changed to Sept 15-18 due to a conflict in schedule.
    There will not be class on Friday. Therefore, have lengthened class hours Monday through Thursday to 5:00 p.m. Frank's
    class usually has lunch together in the studio, cutting the lunch time to 30 minutes, and getting back to painting. The Studio
    will be available for student painting each morning at 8:30 a.m. and some evenings until 9:00 p.m.