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?

BOOK REVIEW: RENDEZ-VOUS A SAINT GERMAIN

I’ve just returned from a much needed break in Europe. I always try to get a chance each year to return to my home country to visit family and friends, and of course, to take the opportunity to enjoy the warm summer sun while here in Australia I leave behind the colder winter months.

But before I get back into work mode, and head into my studio, I didn't want to pass up the chance to introduce you to my dad Giuseppe Gnagnarella’s first novel, Rendez-vous a Saint-Germain

Giuseppe (I like to call him pop!) is based in Rome, Italy, he’s just retired from a brilliant career in journalism and he’s the author of previously published historical and political books. Pop worked for many years at the RAI (Italy’s national public broadcasting company) amongst his most recent positions he was in charge of the communication of the RAI’s Presidency, he was the spokesman for the Deputy General Director of RAI, and RAI Channel 2 head of press office.

Here I am with Pop and his book 'Rendez-vous a Saint-Germain' (Gangemi Editore)

My dad has always had an interesting and unique eye for every day’s life, which he transforms into magical moments with his confident and elegant words. Something I'm not good at, but I’ve always been fascinated by... The closest I get to poetry is when I title my paintings, which I love doing so much, it’s my way of transporting myself and the viewers into the magical world created in my paintings.

I love the preface of the book: 'Writing is like running, it's good for the heart!'

This book celebrates the neighborhood Saint-Germain, where the heart of Paris beats. Four chapters, entitled and dedicated to the four seasons, guide us into the novel through a dedication to Paris at the beginning of each chapter. My favourite one is “If you love life, you will love Paris”

Each chapter, with a technique not frequently used by Italian writers, tells the same period and it is reported and narrated “by a different heart, a different mind.” The book is addressed to everyone but especially to the young ones (or young at heart!) who love Paris: there is the art student, a French friend, a mentor and fellow student. A book that you will read with pleasure, elegant in content and in form.

I love the ink sketches of typical Parisian corners at the beginning of each chapter, and under each photo, a lovely surprise, there’s a finished story of two lines, in line with the allure of the book, but not part of the story… just to keep us dreaming a little bit more! :)

The book has just been published in Italian by Gangemi publisher, and it will be officially launched on October 10, in Rome.

The author has planned to publish an English version by the end of the year, so watch this space.

To pick up your copy in Italian from Amazon, click here

EMOTIONAL LANDSCAPE EXHIBITION

Last week I launched my latest solo exhibition in Perth titled 'Emotional Landscape' a new series of abstract landscapes inspired by Western Australia, the sunburnt country I now call home.  In this exciting exhibition I have used the visually striking colours of the Western Australian landscape in combination with its scale and texture to explore a new place, land and culture.  

Bird's Eye View II, acrylic and 23 karat gold leaf on canvas H 130 x W 200 cm $5 900 

The gallery was all glammed up thanks to the beautiful accessories by Perth Style Co.  (bed throw cushions and bed side lamps) and the stunning ombré curtain by Help Love Designs.

I thank you all my amazing supporters who attended the VIP launch and made the night such a great success. The gallery was packed with beautiful people and I hope everyone had as much fun as I did and enjoyed the show! 

And most of all a huge thank you to our event sponsors:

Jonte Designs for the amazing outfit,

Zamora Shoes for those divine shoes,

Firesun for the most colourful rug,

Pemberley Wines for the perfect wines selection. 

Request an appointment to view the collection by emailing info@francescagnagnarella.com

#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 

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! 

SINGAPORE CONTEMPORARY

Well that's a wrap! We have just closed the doors of the inaugural exhibition 'Singapore Contemporary' in Singapore ad we wish to say thank you to all the lovely Singaporeans who visited us at the show! 

It has been a very busy few days during the Singapore Art Week, with thousands of visitors through the doors in only 4 days! We had a fantastic launch showing my works to many VIP guests on the opening night. I also loved explaining my paintings to private groups of collectors and also to some very curious young art lovers! ;-D

A massive thank you goes to my number one fan and husband Russell, for always being the source of my ambition to creating something better at each exhibition and for always being the most amazing supporter one could wish for! 

Now it's time to wrap up all the sold works and deliver them to their new forever homes! 

Thank you Singapore, it was great to meet all our new followers and collectors and we can't wait to be back next year!

ALL THE COLOURS OF THE RAINBOW

Yesterday I ventured on a day trip with my business partner (in crime and other doggy adventures) Donny to the South of Western Australia to meet with my fellow artist Todd Cleave.

Todd and I have collaborated to create a new exclusive collection of beautiful original resin art pieces after our first successful joint exhibition last year. 

I absolutely adore how the brilliant colours come out onto resin and how they talk to the paint I use on my canvases, they are just a match made in heaven! 

'Lost in a daydream' 90 x 60 cm 

Each piece is uniquely created just like a painting and there is not one that is ever the same as another!

'Winter solstice light' 80 x 54 cm 

After the meeting, Donny and I had a lovely walk along the river in Bridgetown and explored the natural beauty of the landscape around the town.

Donny had the best fun!

On our way back to Perth a lunch stop in Donnybrook was obligatory!  ;-D

All new amazing resin art is now available at the gallery by appointment and on my website.  Here’s the direct link to shop online www.fragnagna.com/shop-resin-art