Francesco grew up in Rome, Italy and studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts. He came to the U.S. in 1999 and worked as a product and industrial designer for Nike, Reef, Burton, Herman Miller and Paul Smith. Francesco received his MFA in 2012 with a focus on figure painting and drawing. Francesco’s true passion for art is reflected in his teaching, which he has done for the past decade at Montana State University, the St. Petersburg College and numerous Art Centers.
Terry Lynn’s paintings have been exhibited in national and local juried art exhibitions. In 2012, she won honorable mention in The Artist Magazine Annual art competition. She graduated from Phoenix Institute of Technology with a degree in production art and went on to study under Nina Conner. Terry Lynn paints in oils on canvas. She loves to create paintings that tell stories. She considers painting same as breathing and better than chocolate.
Leo and Krista Johnson are professional artists who have shown their work consistently in local and international venues. They have been teaching together for twenty years.
Krista is a Florida native recognized for her figurative-abstract work highlighting various cultures. As Exhibitions Coordinator at the Alliance for the Arts she has managed to become familiar with local artists, art collectors and galleries to help facilitate new and inventive exhibits. Krista also teaches students in the Open Doors Art Program, a painting class for underprivileged children which is held at the Alliance for the Arts.
Leo Johnson is a third generation Cuban-Sicilian, who is still immersed in the art, culture and language. Leo studied painting at San Miguel, Mexico, at a school founded by Diego Rivera, Orzco and Siqueiros, the great Mexican muralists.
Leo Johnson’s style is unique, personal and captivating. Leo has worked in conjunction with many local businesses and non-profit groups such as The Southwest Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, painting a mural for the YMCA in Fort Myers with children and young adults. He considers it important to be active in the community, giving lectures and teaching painting to under-privileged, disabled and at-risk children. Leo is currently showing his work at the Sunflower Gallery, Chania, Crete.
Leo and Krista will share their vast knowledge of painting beginning with the old masters and focusing on modern movements in art. Students will gain an overall appreciation of the progress and current state of visual art.
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