Summer 2009
Exhibits and Demonstrations

New original oil paintings by John will be exhibited, along with those of members of the Palmer Lake Art Group, June 1 through 28 at the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts, 305 Highway 105 in Palmer Lake. There will be a free public reception Saturday, June 6, 5 to 7 p.m.

On June 13, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., John will demonstrate oil painting at The Phancy Pheasant, 20 East Bijou in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Both his large and small paintings will be available that day and throughout the year.   

John will be the featured artist, demonstrating his techniques, during the July 16 Art Hop event in Monument, Colorado. He will be at Margo’s on the Alley, 215 Chapala Plaza, off Second Street, in downtown Monument between 5 and 8 p.m. Refreshments will be served.  Throughout the year, Margo’s features John’s small works and miniatures in sizes of 2x3, 4x6 and 5x7.

John’s mid-sized oil paintings will be on exhibit through June at Bella Art & Frame, 366 Second Street in Monument, Colorado.

Workshops and Classes
John will conduct the following:

Indoor Art Workshop
“Essentials of Good Painting”

Date: Saturday, July 18, 2009, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: The Palmer Lake Art Group Gallery in Palmer Lake, Colorado.
Description: An intensive oil painting session designed to enhance your ability to capture on canvas the shapes, hues in their proper values, shadow and light that combine to make a good painting.  This will be a quick-paced and fun event.  (Note: Due to the specialized techniques being taught, painting in any medium other than oil will be undesirable).
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced.
Cost: $55.  Contact John at 719-488-0459.

Outdoor Art Workshop
“The Light Fantastic - En Plein Air.”

Date: Saturday, August 29, 2009, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: The Tuscan-like gardens setting at the home of John DeFrancesco and Diana Picchitetti (a Colorado Master Gardener) in Monument, Colorado.
Description: Painting outdoors is both rewarding and frustrating.  Outdoors is the best place to see and paint true color, but rapidly changing conditions require a special focus, which this workshop will teach.  

While John will demonstrate in oil, you are welcome to paint in the medium of your choice (oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel).
Level: Intermediate and Advanced. Beginners are welcome.
Cost: $70, including a full lunch, and beverages throughout the day. Contact John at 719-488-0459

Indoor Art Class
“Feel the Color”

Dates: Five consecutive Mondays, July 20 through August 17, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Senior Center, 1514 Hancock Ave., Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Description: An oil-painting class to help you apply shapes, colors, shadows and light to make a good painting. Learn how to mix color tones that properly match values, how to improve composition and how to control edges. Emphasis is on painting exercises each week.
Level: Beginner and Intermediate.
Cost $70. Contact Becky Carver at the Senior Center, 719-385-6980.

Private Lessons
For information about taking customized, private or semi-private lessons in John’s studio, contact him at 719-488-0459. 

Other News:

In July, John will paint outdoors, en plein air, with a group of artists led by renowned landscape painter and art book author Tim Deibler. You can view Tim’s work at www.TimDeibler.com.

In early September, John will be painting en plein air in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.

John is preparing a new series of small works and miniatures to be available at the annual Christmas Craft Show by the Palmer Lake Art Group in early October.