COAST – AN EVENING IN CONVERSATION WITH LISA MESSENGER

How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art? May be you have to be a little crazy. May be you have to see things differently.

I am not one to buy magazines very often, sometimes I just feel like flicking through interior magazines at the beach to get visual inspiration but I still remember the day I picked up the very first issue of Collective Messenger back in 2013, I was simply drawn in. Since then I bought every single issue and I still keep them stacked amongst my favourite books in case I feel the need to get back for some more inspiration.

There’s so many motivational stories featured in each issue of Collective Hub so there’s always something that sparks a bit more inspiration that fuels my creative spirit.

When I heard that Lisa Messenger, editor of Collective Hub, was coming to Perth, I just could not pass the opportunity to see her speak.

We met Lisa on a warm summer evening at Coast Port Beach, one of my favourite beaches in Perth.

If I’m not at the studio painting, you’ll probably find me at the beach!

So I couldn’t resist the opportunity to enjoy a drink by the coast before meeting Lisa and take in the fabulous views over the Indian Ocean, a constant inspiration to my abstract landscapes.

“Life is about the people you meet and the things you create with them.”

I am blessed to be able to work with so many inspiring creatives in my industry and to be surrounded by incredibly talented entrepreneurs in my life.

So here’s to keeping inspired. Connected. Empowered. Resourceful. Excited.

Creative and curious.

LA BELLE VIE

I recently had the pleasure of painting a 6 metres canvas for fashion designer Betty Tran’s latest campaign ‘La Belle Vie’

Betty asked me to create a backdrop for the photo-shoot of her latest collection, which debuted in Paris during Fashion Week in March while I was exhibiting in Hong Kong.

La Belle Vie (‘The Beautiful Life’ in French) is inspired from Betty's journey of being a first time mother to her newborn daughter Sophia who has brought so much love, colour, joy and beauty into her life. This collection is dedicated to all women around the world and celebrates diversity and differences through the beauty of art.

Photography: Aaron McPollin

My interpretation
of the theme 'La Belle Vie' 
onto canvas is
an ethereal atmosphere, 
magical, 
dreamy,
made of soft pastels hues, 
to create a dreamlike and joyous scenario, 
as if the models were  stepping out of one of Monet's painting, 
like a bubble, 
like a dream....
 

We’re all thrilled with the results and I wish Betty all the best on her debut at Paris Fashion Week and the launch of her new collection 'La Belle Vie'

Photography | Aaron McPolin

Producer & Stylist | Betty Tran

Art | Francesca Gnagnarella

Models | Philippa Bingham, Madeleine Mitchell, Ayor Makur

Makeup | Bruce Lim

Make up assistant | Vickie Nguyen

Hair | Terry Clark

Florals |  Samara Flavel

Production assistants | Lisa Fougerouse, Sabrina Ciffolilli, Marina Sarkoskii, Danielle Colalillo

#GIRLBOSSNETWORKING

Last week, together with fellow creatives Jonté Pike, designer of fashion label Jonté Designs, and Natasha Zamora, of Zamora shoes, we hosted our first exclusive #girlbossnetworking event at the gallery. 

              Jonte Pike (left), Francesca Gnagnarella (centre), Natasha Zamora (right)

We gathered together a small group of Perth’s independent women entrepreneurs and small business owners for a soirée of fun and networking, over a glass – or two – of bubbles :-) and lots of french cheeses and yummy treats!

We all had a fabulous night meeting new inspiring ladies and sharing our latest projects and aspirations. It is amazing how well we all connected, coming from the most different fields – art, fashion, landscape design, writing, styling, beauty, interiors, photography-  simply by sharing the same vision of living our most effervescent lives by making what we love.

In each of our jobs, we have all somehow chosen to make our happiness a priority through our passions.

We definitely live our lives following the famous motto: do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life! 

We have loved catching up so much that we have decided to run the #girlbossnetworking events regularly so please get in touch if you would like to join in next time and make sure to follow us on instagram @girlbossnetworking 

CREATIVE ACCENTS

I love adding a fun accent to my outifit and the Greta-te handbag is a cheerful, colourful addition to any style that can be easily dressed up or down.

Last week I enjoyed having a sneak peek at the new collection and playing dress-ups with the Italian designer behind the brand, Greta!

I really like the unique soft texture of the latex rubber materials and the irresistible range of colours.

My favourite is this candy pink - Yum! 

Paired here with the sweetest outfit by Curios Birdy “Smothered in Frosting” dress

A classic black and white gets a modern update with innovative textures and unexpected shapes. The best part about it? You can transition seamlessly by stretching life into some of your winter blacks!

And let’s be honest: who can possibly get tired of the Capri style?

What I love the most about the Island-chic wardrobes are the timeless combination of warm white, lemon yellow and lush greens! 

Shop the collection at www.gretate-te.com 

#COLOURCOMMUTES

What a wonderful night we had at the gallery last night celebrating my friends at Dynamique Blog’s 1st birthday bash!

#COLOURCOMMUTES was also an occasion to celebrate my recent collaboration with Dynamique Blog and our Istagram takeover ‘dynamiquexfrancesca’

 @dynamiqueblog |  @fragnagna_art

Art and fashion, the most perfect of companionships, a complementing relationship, often unexpected brilliance!

So here's to collaborations and to new friendships and everything they bring!

#styledinJonte wearing a fabulous cobalt jumpsuit by Jonte Designs and the most amazing sparkling shoes by Zamora Shoes 

I’ve loved every moment of our collaboration and most of all being able to work with such talented creatives and share our love for all things colourful has never been more fun!

For some it could be too much, for us it can never be enough!

When you can loose the ideal of traditional work / life balance, and fuse the two so seamlessly together & embrace both, that your work can allow you to take adventures that you otherwise might not have been able to, and as such that your life is a more enjoyable one, when you truly love what you do.

It took a lot of risk, patience and persistence, faith and optimism. Blood, sweat and a little bit of tears, working, listening, learning and getting inspired and supported from incredible people, getting doors closed in my face and finding a way in through a window to get where I am today it’s simply a bless and I’m grateful for what I’ve been able to achieve so far!

We had so much fun with our guests at last night event and we deeply thank our generous sponsors for helping us make the night such a success with delicious birthday cupcakes from  Baked 180, fabulous Pemberley Wines and a little memento of our collaboration thanks to Little Sketchy. 

#AlwaysSparkling

#HustleToAchieve

Happy 1st birthday Dynamique Blog, here's to many more years of success and fun! 

CONVERSATION WITH COCO IN PARIS

After stepping out onto the tiny sidewalk from my apartment in Paris, I find myself in front of the majestic Opera de Paris. I can never help but look up when I’m in this city and my constant gazing in awe of the architecture around me inspired this photo-shoot, despite how incredibly busy we were ahead of my exhibition launch at the Carrousel du Louvre the day after.

‘My god, I just love this place. It feels like home and it’s like if I never left after studying at the Sorbonne ten years ago.’ I thought to myself with ease.

 It’s been a while since I’ve made the time to wander the streets aimlessly and shoot photos, and god it felt good. Wondering in the streets of my favourite city in the world dressed like a dream in my favourite Birds on a Wire outfit!

Paris is always the perfect place to feel inspired! 

ETHEL & LEO COLLABORATION

Ethel and Leo is one of my favourite shops to visit here in Perth. They have the most amazing dresses, that just flow and make you feel like a bohemian chic goddess!

Hailing from the serene beaches of Western Australia, Ethel & Leo has a love for anything coastal and an addiction to colour! They have innate appreciation for the beauty in life that surrounds us here in WA and encourage those free spirited souls to express their inner creativity  & believe in magic. 

Fostering a unique aesthetic and impeccable quality standards, Ethel & Leo is handmade, with original artwork and timeless, hand printed silks.

After our collaborative exhibition in November 2014 our very first limited edition silk maxi dress was born! I loooove it! The colours turned up amazingly true to the original artwork “Future of now” that turned beautifully into a unique silk fabric for the limited edition E&L x FG collaboration.

Ok, I confess – I already own too many Ethel and Leo beauties and I just can’t stop wearing the “Future of now” maxi dress!!