Thomas Franco, an artist and resident of Tierrasanta, San Diego, won the third-place award in the continuingly competitive August 2021 Member’s exhibition “Lazy Days” held virtually by the San Diego Watercolor Society available to view on the website, www.sdws.org.  Franco’s painting entitled “Quiet Cove” was selected by prominent artist and juror Robin Erickson for this honor. Erickson said of  the painting, “This painting reminds me of the eastern seaboard scenes done by Fairfield Porter both in subject matter and in style.  The colors and composition work beautifully in a piece that was probably painted plein air. I like it very much.”

Tom Franco, a native of Jersey City, New Jersey, studied art at the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts and also earned a BS degree in Marketing/Advertising from Seton Hall University. He started his career in advertising as an artist, but quickly switched to copywriting, ultimately becoming vice president of corporate communications for a New England life insurance company. His watercolors have been displayed in numerous art shows in New England, and after retirement he joined the San Diego Watercolor Society, where his paintings have won awards, including Best of Theme in 2018 and 2019, the First Place Award in December 2020, and the current Third Place award.

Tom works both in transparent watercolor and acrylic, feeling that these media require almost opposite approaches. In transparent watercolor, the overall design must be worked out before the first brush stroke, thereby retaining a freshness and translucency.  For acrylic, broad patterns can be worked out and refined as work progresses.  Using both media, then, encourages fresh perspectives on design. He also adheres to the school of painting that focuses more on the design of patterns than on specific objects. Reach Tom at: francosyl@hotmail.com

The Virtual Exhibit will run through Saturday August 29, 2021 and may be viewed on the website at https://www.sdws.org/galleryart.php?cat=6968 where the paintings can be both viewed and purchased from the Online Store. 

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