Francis Coniglio
About the Artist
Francis Coniglio was born in New York, raised in Connecticut and spent much of the rest of his life in California where he presently resides, and continues his studies in art, music, and languages. He received his BA and MA from San Jose State University. There he studied advanced techniques of ceramics and glazing (with emphasis on crystal glazes and copper reds) under the tutelage of Dr. Herbert H. Sanders. Under the tutelage of Dr. Robert Fritz, he studied glass blowing. Seven of those years between degrees were interrupted by his European séjour during which he attended l’École d’Art et d’Architecture at Luminy in Marseille, France. During that time he also taught ceramics at the Maggy Champsaur school (atelier du Roucas-Blanc) in Marseille, France. There he taught coil and slab building techniques to children, and wheel throwing techniques to the adults. He also was a guest ceramic instructor in Bolzano, Italy.
From the two dimensional perspective, drawing and painting have been a continual preoccupation in his life. He worked and studied in his own style researching color in a spontaneous ambience, and in that famous light of southern France. Mr. Coniglio has admired, studied, and been greatly influenced by the Old Masters such as Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Rubens, as well as the French Impressionists. He followed in the footsteps of Van Gogh, and many of the impressionists as he lived and painted in the very same area as they did from Arles to the Old Harbor in Marseille.
His earlier works were more impressionistic employing a loose “tachisme” technique. These were executed spontaneously in the “plein air.” Mr. Coniglio, however, will also interpret in quasi photo realism, and some of his florals approach botanical precision. His style and choice of medium depend on the subject matter, and whether the work is studio or plein air.
About His Work
Mr. Coniglio’s body of work is substantial, and is essentially a tome in pictures of his travels and life experiences which are as varied and eclectic as his interests, moods and passion. A personal story is told from the dark palette and free flowing water colors (wet in wet) of Bolzano and Merano, Italy, to the bright, vivid and fanciful colors used in southern France. Then in a large work series, he revels in the subtleties of the flora of the majestic California landscape including Napa Valley vineyards. A change of scenery and atmosphere brings a stark and stunning contrast which is displayed in lively, dazzling, primary colors depicting the “joie de vivre” party-like atmosphere of Key West, Florida. This is portrayed in images of sail boats, Conch trains and wind socks.
He had several showings of his work in France as well as in Italy. Mr. Coniglio has also shown in Connecticut, California and Florida. In Key West, Florida he was represented at the Gingerbread Square Gallery, the Ferrington Gallery, and the Key West Art Center Gallery. He was a member of the Pacific Art League of Palo Alto, CA, and more recently was represented at the Coastal Arts League in Half Moon Bay, California.
His repertoire of motives include landscapes, port scenes, nudes, architecture (private homes and business establishments), portraits (adults, children, infants and pets) and florals. He works in the mediums of oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, pencil, pen and ink, aquatint and clay.
About His Teaching
Mr. Coniglio has taught art at the Music School of San Mateo. He presently teaches art for the Palo Alto Parents and Professionals for the Arts (PAPPA) at the Nixon and Escondido schools in Stanford.
