Collection: Francois Fressinier Artist Biography and Art Gallery Collection

Francois Fressinier is a French Artist born in Cognac, France in 1968. He attributes much of his passion for the human figure to the fact that both of his parents were professional portrait photographers. He studied advertising and fine art at the Ecole Brassart Technique et Privee in Tours, near Paris, where he was exposed to the drawings, sketches and paintings of Rembrandt, Renoir, Courbet, Ruhens and Delaunay.  He also received a strong academic training in art from his father, to whom he gives credit for teaching him not to paint, but to see. The delicate hand of François Fressinier is distinctly visible in his beautiful, sensitive renderings of humanity. His subjects primarily consist of Ciallo-Roman imagery with embedded artifacts of the southwestern region of France. “For me, the act of creating is like a conversation I have with my painting, and I have learned over the years to listen carefully to what it has to tell me.”. That unique sight, colored with an esteem for the expressive linear drawing of Egon Schiele, has evolved into a personal style that is fluid, truly lovely, and classical in nature. It is his mastery of light and shadow and the delicate economy of his line which call to mind the exquisite conte drawings of Leonardo or sketches done by Ingres or Raphael. Francois Fressinier states his favorite time in history as being In that time period where time, speed and productivity were not the number one occupation of our days.

Francois Fressinier style is distinctly present in his beautiful and sensitive renderings of the female face, which provides the ongoing narrative for his work. The women portrayed in his artwork are imbued with his unique interpretation and have attracted the attention of collectors worldwide.  Early in his youth, François was introduced to, and captivated by, many of the world’s historic places. Paris, Rome, Amsterdam and London were all at his doorstep. The peace and serenity of Roman ruins and Gothic churches are clearly conveyed in his work. Fressinier sums up his artistic goal by stating, “My objective is to render classical subjects into the present as homage to the Old Masters; the emotion that this brings to me is what I wish to convey on canvas.”

François Fressinier's father’s admiration for the works of the Old Masters and his exposure to some of the world’s most historic places, along with France’s Gallo-Roman ruins and Gothic churches inclined François to explore and create figurative, symbolic artwork. In addition, his education at the Ecole Brassart in Tours afforded him the opportunity to study the drawings and paintings of old and new masters. He cites inspiration from artists like Rembrandt for showing us the soul of his sitters, Van Dyke for his elegance, Bonnard’s palette, Fuchs for the fantastic world he invented; all of which influence his style today. He has stated, “Art is something you cultivate; it is alive! My joy of painting is to listen to the piece and to have a discussion with it. Each one has its own personality”.

Francois Fressinier’s signature process for painting involves a bit of sketching, however; he takes greater pleasure in being alone in his studio, letting his paintings speak to him and watching them appear progressively and without force. He continues to be moved by the work of other artists, frequently visiting museums and galleries and art libraries to expand his imagination. He is passionate about painting, and also enjoys spending time with his two children, gardening, reading, and playing guitar. He credits his wife, Colette, with being his muse and considers his faith in God central to his being. His paintings have been exhibited and collected throughout the United States and internationally.