Frank Federico
www.FrankFederico.com
Painterly Pastels
September 20 - 26, 2009
Medium: Pastel
Level: All Levels
5-Day Outdoor Class

My method is a unique and exciting way to achieve a bold and painterly pastel rendering while stressing the more dynamic characteristics of composition and design.

The method itself is applying pastel over a water media underpainting.  This says it very concisely.  However, in the execution of this method, the ground is important, the colors are important and what pastels to use are important.  Popular papers that readily accept watermedia are Wallis, Artspectrum, Hanehmuhle, to name a few.  Watercolor papers and a variety of boards also can be “fixed” for surfaces to work on by the following:

FIRST:  The ground – my formula of gesso, pumice or marble dust, white glue and water is 3 parts gesso, 2 parts water, 2 tablespoons of (fine) pumice.  I also like to use a thin imprimatura glaze of acrylic cadmium yellow medium as a springboard to coloristic painting.  This is applied to the surface.

SECOND:  The underpainting – Water media of any nature can be used.  In my case, I prefer gouache, tempera or acrylic pigments.

THIRD:  Color – I prefer to use the more high key “spectrum” palette of primaries, secondaries and intermediate colors both with the water media and the pastels.

FOURTH:  The pastels – With this surface, both hard and soft pastels can be used.  The grittier the surface, the more the softer pastels get used; so one adjusts accordingly, employing the different methods of pastel application.

SURFACES TO WORK ON            - 140 lbhot pressed watercolor paper or illustration board; matboard.  The paper or board is coated with two coats of a mixture of the gesso and pumice.  Also, one can purchase papers that are water receptive, such as Art Spectrum,Richeson or Wallis.  This eliminates having to prepare surfaces.

SUBJECT MATTER:  Landscape, cityscape, still life

Frank Federico is a seasoned artist with many credits garnishing his career.  He has attained the honorable level of signature membership of numerous prestigious art societies including Pastel Society of America, National Watercolor Society, Pastel Society of Painters on Cape Cod and Degas Pastel Society, to name a few.  He has received numerous awards including the Grumbacher Gold, Silver and Bronze, many honors from the Pastel Society of America, National Society of Painters in Casein & Acrylic, Allied Artists of America and many more.

He has executed three murals in oil, one of which hangs in the Student Union of the University of Connecticut in Storrs.  A figurative piece entitled “Transcendence,” it reflects one’s rise to heights and/or goals of achievement.

His paintings have been exhibited in New Orleans, LA, Florida, California, New Mexico, New England, Brunei, Stockholm and Tokyo, in group and solo exhibitions.

His work is currently represented by two galleries:  Elaine Beckwith Gallery in Jamaica, VT and The Gallery in Burlingame, CA.

Federico considers himself to be a colorist and a contemporary impressionist.  He looks for the essence in a landscape or a figure, while applying emotional and aesthetically crafted content.

“I believe that art is as capricious as nature’s own whims.  It is as permanent as the endless striving for universal harmony, but in a constant flux.  My technique is varied with mood and empathy for the subject matter or motif.  Nature provides the catalyst – human or otherwise – with this constant flux of rhythms, shapes and boundless energy.  Each painting speaks for itself and has a life of its own.  I am the stoker of the energy, the catalyzer.”