Angelo Di Francesco
I am a contemporary artist from Toronto, Canada who is inspired and influenced by past and present Canadian art, Impressionism, and use of colour, and light. Although I have been sketching, drawing and painting all my life, it has only been in the last few years that my passion to create has become a full time endeavour. I have been able to share my deep love of art, the stories that inspire each piece, and their personal meaning. I do hope you are touched by them as well.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
Art has always been a big part of my life. As far back as I can remember, I have always drawn, painted, etched and created. I have seen the world as if every image, moment and place could be a drawing or a painting.
I have used many different mediums, such as watercolour, acrylics, and pastels over the years but I am most passionate about oil on canvas. I love vibrant colour, and brush strokes that creates energy.
I am inspired by the places I visit, the people I meet; a walk, a hike, a memory. Many of my pieces are directly influenced by these moments. They inspire me to capture their essence.
I am a contemporary artist from Toronto, Canada who is inspired and influenced by past and present Canadian art, Impressionism, and use of colour, and light. Although I have been sketching, drawing and painting all my life, it has only been in the last few years that my passion to create has become a full time endeavour. I have been able to share my deep love of art, the stories that inspire each piece, and their personal meaning. I do hope you are touched by them as well.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
Art has always been a big part of my life. As far back as I can remember, I have always drawn, painted, etched and created. I have seen the world as if every image, moment and place could be a drawing or a painting.
I have used many different mediums, such as watercolour, acrylics, and pastels over the years but I am most passionate about oil on canvas. I love vibrant colour, and brush strokes that creates energy.
I am inspired by the places I visit, the people I meet; a walk, a hike, a memory. Many of my pieces are directly influenced by these moments. They inspire me to capture their essence.
$500.00
Oil on canvas.
20x16"
Montreal Reflections, oil on canvas, 16 x 20. Recently completed, this oil painting captures the vibrant Montreal waterfront while also being introspective. It is really all about the reflections and energy emitted by each brushstroke. I love Montreal. I believe I've captured it's energy in this piece
$750.00
Oil on canvas.
22x28"
Garden Blossom Blast, Oil on Canvas, 22 x 28. In this large oil painting, I decided to paint one of the first clematis blossoms of the season at dusk on a wet day. What was absolutely wonderful was being able to paint diffused daylight, water and garden light through leaves. If you look closely you'll see the progression, layering and thought process. Painting with oil is always about patience, perseverance and planning. I feel that the photograph of this painting doesn't do it justice. It must be seen.
$600.00
Oil on canvas.
18x24"
Don Valley Weeping Willow, Oil on Canvas, 18 x 24, Don Valley Golf Course. Every Wednesday morning at 6:00 am I golf at the Don Valley Golf course. It's such a wonderful course with so many trees in the heart of Toronto. When I walk the valley, the city literally disappears. On the course there are many majestic Weeping Willow trees that are between 200 and 450 years old. I often wonder how many people have walked by. How many tears has this willow shed? How many changes have occurred during those years? The tree's bark has so many gnarly bits that are ragged and lumpy. This particular tree looks like it has someone trying to escape from inside but the bark has it trapped. It definitely is the tree's prisoner. Take a walk with me!
$725.00
Oil on canvas.
24x18"
On the Verge of Spring, Oil on Canvas, 18 x 24. Every year at the beginning of March in Canada, we are between seasons. Winter snow is still around but in some places with some milder temperatures, icy lakes have melted and some evidence of spring's imminent approach is visible. This painting is about my desire for winter to be over and spring to be here. I love spring with its colour, new life, hopes and possibilities. This painting, with its brighter sky, shimmering water, elements of new growth is about anticipation.
$500.00
Oil on canvas.
20x16"
Twilight Storm Clouds, Galway, Ireland. Oil on Canvas, 16 x 20. One evening, while walking into the central part of Galway, we noticed storm clouds rolling in. The clouds added an extra sense of drama to the evening with intense colours and light that shimmered on the waters.
$450.00
Oil on canvas.
20x16"
Little Italy Remembered Circa 1970, College Street, Toronto, Ont. Oil on Canvas, 16 x 20. It was great to have grown up in the Little Italy area of Toronto. College Street was always a buzz of activity with merchants and their wear, family run grocery stores, cheese shops, fish mongers and vendors of bric a brac. Sights, sounds, smells galore. I loved those red brick buildings, old shops with awnings, and random window displays. But before the stores opened, and shops were set up, there was a quiet, a lull that was wonderful. This is my memory; slightly hazy, and still.
$500.00
Oil on canvas.
16x20"
Pond Reflections, Oil on Canvas, 16 x 20. In my garden I have a small pond that I love. Every spring, I rearrange all the rock that surrounds it, redo the waterfall and add the face of Neptune to a different position. I love to sit by the pond, listen to the waterfall, watch the birds and other animals drink and bath there and just reflect on things. There's always a sense of calm by the pond. It's like therapy. This is my painting of it.
$750.00
Oil on canvas.
18x24"
My Tulip Garden, Oil on Canvas, 18 x 24. I just added the last brush strokes to this piece; signed and varnished it. I'm very excited about My Tulip Garden because it is completely done out of my imagination. I wanted it to be a blaze of colour; bright and vibrant. I also wanted to paint a sense of movement in the tulips and leaves with great depth between foreground and back. The flowers pop and move depending on where you stand to view the work.
$500.00
Oil on canvas.
20x16"
On the Edge, Cliffs of Moher, Republic of Ireland, Oil on Canvas, 16 x 20. When I visited Ireland, a must see is the Cliffs of Moher with its stunning view and soaring height at over 500 feet. What's interesting is that you can slip through the fencing and walk in a farmer's field along the edge; no fence or barrier in your way. Such an incredible sight to behold so I painted it!
$500.00
Oil on canvas.
16x20"
Clematis on Red Brick (Oil on Canvas, 16 x 20) is a paintings that is inspired by clematis growing in my garden. They are spectacular when in bloom and add such a pop of colour. They always bring joy when in bloom, and remind me of how glorious nature can be. I hope you get the same feeling.
$500.00
Oil on canvas.
16x20"
Clematis on Trellis (Oil on Canvas, 16 x 20) is a painting that is inspired by clematis growing in my garden. They are spectacular when in bloom and add such a pop of colour. They always bring joy when in bloom, and remind me of how glorious nature can be. I hope you get the same feeling when you see this painting in person.
$450.00
Oil on canvas.
16x20"
Winter Stream, Oil on Canvas, 16 x 20. Winter Stream is an imagined scene inspired by a trip to British Columbia. Streams in winter are magical. We've all seen them on a walk right after newly fallen snow. They are always wonderful to watch and very magical; the sound, the frozen edges, the clear water! Love fresh snow and the play of colour and shadow. They are never truly white. Have a look next time!