COBALT BLUE

Cobalt blue! This is an intoxicating colour - the colour of sun washed freedom!

I spent the last four weeks refuelling on inspiration and recharging my creative heart in a small coastal surf town in Portugal, called Ericeira.

To my surprise, almost every corner of this small fishing village is painted in cobalt blue, which enriches the town with a vibrancy and uniqueness that are a delight to my eyes! 

Along the coast, the water turns from cerulean to navy, to aqua, depending on the qualities of light and sun. Smooth, ruffled, or simply dreamy; that ocean is not silent. Every time I have watched it and listened to it, I saw a different story. At first it told me only of the plain calm beaches of towns and people close to me, but later it grew more friendly and spoke of other things; of things more distant in space and in time.

I think that a dream like that will never return. I painted my hands and face blue, then all of sudden I was abducted by the wind and I started to fly in the infinite sky, to fly, to sing... In the blue, painted blue... Happy to stay up there, and I flew and flew, happily, higher than the sun and even higher! (NEL BLU DIPINTO DI BLU ~ D. MODUGNO)

‘Whispering tide’ is one of my latest ocean inspired landscapes: every time you will be looking at this piece I want you to feel the soft breeze, inhale the fragrance of sea mist and luxuriate in the warmth of the sun!

'Whispering tide' acrylic and 23 karat gold leaf on canvas 101 x 101 cm

This painting, along with my latest collection of emotional landscapes, will be on show at my upcoming exhibition in Perth ‘Promise of Spring’ opening on Thursday 10th August at Seven Willows Designs Studio, from 6-8pm Suite 4 Second Avenue Plaza, 755 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

You are all invited, please email me at info@francescagnagnarella.com if you’d like to receive an invitation or simply RSVP to Sharon at sevenwillowdesigns@gmail.com if you would like to attend.

Hope to see you there!

A CROWNING MOMENT

I am very excited to announce that I was chosen as one of only 22 Western Australian artists to have my works featured in the recently launched 6 star Crown Towers Hotel in Perth. 

Upon finding out that I had been selected I couldn't contain my excitement! I was feeling very happy and proud at the same time that my paintings would be featured in such a large-scale project. Being associated with the Crown brand is great, and I feel honoured to be able to represent WA artists in front of an international audience. 

For the pieces that feature in the King and Queen Rooms, I have created a Pilbara inspired series of paintings, including the artwork titled 'Once upon this island' which is now hanging in the Chef's Tasting Room. 

"Beautiful deep red dirt, matched with see-through aqua tones, bringing earth and ocean together in aerial views from above the Tropic of Capricorn."

I have also created a custom painting for the Bridal Suite, which consists of more delicate lines and elegant tones. "A dreamy cloudscape, a landscape surrounded by a gentle aura that begins to glow in the early hours of the day. That particular moment of suspension when the land becomes one with the sky and everything is wrapped in a brilliant atmosphere, in the brightest gold lights".

The hotel interiors are stunning and the attention to detail is incredible and surprising, as you walk through the rooms and suites or discover common areas styled to perfection. T hotel is a beautiful addition to Perth, with spectacular views of the river and the city! 

COMMISSIONS

Happy New Year art lovers!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and spent some quality time relaxing with your families…

I can’t believe how fast the year has gone!

For me the ocean and the beach are the best way to recharge for whatever the New Year might bring and to refuel on inspiration…

I am now back in the studio and will be taking on new commissions for 2017

Usually, the first step in arranging a commission involves visiting my gallery space to look at earlier works on display to see if there is anything you like, to find the style you love and to choose the colour scheme you are interested in. 

'Soft Horizon' H 116 x W 76 cm 

Alternatively, if you don’t live in Perth, you can easily browse through photographs of previously sold paintings all available online on my website fragnagna.com/shop

I have successfully completed many commissioned artworks to collectors all around the world so don’t be afraid if you can’t visit my gallery in person, I will be able to assist you along the way and will be in touch regularly with work in progress shots.

Step 1 - Work in progress shot sent to a client to showcase texture and colours

Step 2 - Another work in progress shot sent to a client after applying gold leaf

Step 3 - Finished paintings installed in client's living room 

As most of my paintings are abstract landscapes, sometimes I have also worked on commissions inspired by my clients’ favourite beaches, like these paintings of Rottnest Island’s “The Basin” and Wyadup Rocks “Spa Pool” which I have reinterpreted loosely in abstract form onto canvas.

Prices vary depending on sizes, starting at $950 up to $5900 for one of the largest sizes, and anything in between. 

All canvases are custom made to order, so any size can be created.

 I often also work on very large paintings for commercial buildings, hotels and foyers, so please don't hesitate to get in touch if you require any more details for large-scale projects. 

Unlike other artists, my commissions prices are the same as when they sell at the gallery

So which style would you like?

DISPLAY YOUR ART LIKE A STYLIST

In the last couple of years I have been working very often with interior designers and I discovered a love for styling my works at my gallery apartment too.  If I’m not at my studio painting, you’ll probably find me restyling a room at the gallery and getting ready to welcome clients or designers, so it has to look perfetto!

One of the latest projects I have been working on, it’s a new collaboration with Perth’s stylist guru Sarah James from Perth Style Co. providing artworks for a beautiful property in the coastal suburb of City Beach. 

Photography by Crib Creative

I loved the look that Sarah has created for this home, elegant yet contemporary, refined yet with an edge. 

If you follow me on social media – Instagram and Facebook – you would know I love a good vignette! You can create vignettes based on the colours and aesthetics of the artwork. Let’s say you have a painting with blue tone variations - you can create a modern vignette playing off those colors with neutral accessories, throw pillows in a couple of different shades, and a collection of vibrant glass vases or books and voilà a beautiful ‘mini moment’ is created! 

Lighting your artwork is also very important - let the art shine, literally! It’s all about the artwork on that wall! In most of my paintings I use 23 Karat gold leaf, which reflects brilliantly the light when it hits the canvas and it changes the look of the painting at different times of the day, I adore working with it! 

Photography by Crib Creative

Another thing that I find myself constantly doing is switching up a setting. Most big collectors rotate their art or put it in storage, but I just like to change the accessories, books, and flowers to refresh that particular moment. I know I sometimes drive my husband crazy with all the changes I make; often things don’t stay the same for a week or sometimes even only for a couple of days! It’s amazing how a room can change with just a few new small touches!

Most importantly, when I talk to my collectors, I always recommend looking for art that inspires them, that creates a dialogue with their emotions, and somehow reflects their personality. My point of view is always the same: you have to love the piece! And once you know you have fallen in love with it, buy the art, you will treasure it for life!