John Fronza, Artist, Graphic Designer
US Navy Veteran
jdfronza@gmail.com
770-281-0636
“There is nothing noble to being superior to your fellow man.
True nobility lies in being superior to your former self.”
Ernest Hemingway
During my career I was fortunate to be recognized with local, regional and national awards for my graphic and exhibit design talents. I do not put a lot of credence into rewards, but one thing they do is make you realize that maybe you have something that will contribute to your efforts and your investment of time into making yourself just a little better at what you do. We all strive to become better people and if there is one thing I have learned it’s that it is a lifetime effort.
I strive every day to improve my craft. I am constantly at war with myself to increase my knowledge and understanding of our world and our environment.
As an artist I try to paint and draw images which tell a story. I guess it becomes more of a combination of a story and illustrations.
They say to paint or write about what you know best. Mine just happens to be being born and raised in an environment where I was always around boats, trains, planes, ships and cars during my life time. Sometimes we attempt to do paintings that fall outside our world of experience and they become either disappointing or put into the
“I’ll get back to this some day”.
JUST A REMINDER:
America's nonprofit arts industry generates $166.3 billion in economic activity every year, resulting in $27.5 billion in federal, state and local tax revenues so why is it so hard for American’s to comprehend the importance of it?
CLIENT LIST:
Hard Rock Cafe, Anheuser-Busch, Sea World, Universal Studios, Community Banks Nationwide, JC Penney, Sears, Federated Department Stores, Belk-Lindsey.
Assistant Textile and Apparel Designer
Newspaper Graphic Advertising Designer and Creative Director
National ADDY Award Winning Exhibit Designer
In celebration of Richard Bransons accomplishment of being the first commercial passenger vehicle into space this is my tribute to his accomplishment.
Moon Struck.
My influence comes from the sea and being influenced as a kid by NASA and the Mercury and Apollo Astronauts.
Turbulence.
I believe space represents the most turbulent example of our existence. It is constantly in turmoil and a never ending organized chaos. Out there is a place that exist only for those heroic enough to explore it.
The Ride Is the Best Part of the Journey
“I build engines and attach wheels to them.”
Enzo Ferrari
“I build engines and attach wheels to them.” Enzo Ferrari
Enjoy the Ride.
“If you can dream it, you can do it.”
Enzo Ferrari
Reflections of a Dream. Mixed Media.
Wheels Down.
“Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines.”
Enzo Ferrari
Purple Rain.
“The fact is I don't drive just to get from A to B. I enjoy feeling the car's reactions, becoming part of it.”
Enzo Ferrari
The Morning After.
Having lived in New York City, and spending a lot of time there prior to it, there was nothing like waking up in a massive metropolis in the morning when people haven’t yet invaded its silence. This represents one of those Sunday mornings after a night on the town, and maybe not getting lucky, or then again maybe we did.
Art on Wheels
It is difficult to choose in most any situation which automobile would create the most impressive image when you have so many to choose from. Ferrari has been at the forefront of car design for decades and this is just a small tribute with my talents.
The New Knight
Other than a fighter pilot this could be considered one of the most dangerous sports on the planet. Yet, every time and F1 race Starts Their Engines the danger goes up exponentially in every turn and every race. They are the men and women who for either the adrenaline rush or the insistence on being #1 one something profound drives them to the finish line both in a car and in life itself. The Ferrari challenge is no different.
Auburn
One of my first watercolors of the famous Auburn Boat Tail Speedster. If this was your grandfathers car your grandfather was the coolest Dude in town. It was known to get up to about 121 miles an hour. To me these were works of art and not just transportation.
Living in the Hood
I have enjoyed the format of the 20” x 30” movie poster for some time. Naturally living in Atlanta there are many landmarks three of them being our corporate headquarters for Delta Airlines, Coca-Cola and the Fabulous Fox theater which we saved from the wrecking ball.
Bars, Cars and Stars
There is an iconic bar in New York City called Pete’s Tavern. It is to New York City what Porsche is to cars. This is just a little tribute to bars, cars and my life coach, the United States Navy.
Wise Guys go to the Diner.
Throughout New York City there are some fantastic places to dine, but very few have been around or have lasted as long as the Empire Diner. It is a landmark and let’s hope they remain so for a long time to come.
Steve McQueen at the Diner.
As a kid growing up we all had people we wanted to be. I always wondered what it would be like if we were sitting in the diner and up pulls Mr Cool on his Triumph motorcycle after a hard days shoot on The Great Escape. In the movie a Triumph was tricked out to look like a BMW because there would be no way you would see the German Army using a British made motorcycle. It was one of the movies little secrets.
West Side Story.
Back in the early 60’s a movie was produced called West Side Story. Leonard Bernstein did the music, and a number of the actors went on to great careers. This November there is a remake being released and having done this drawing a number of years ago I thought it would be appropriate to bring it back to life. This is a pen and ink done on acid free paper.
Pete’s Tavern
Across the landscape of America are strewn the remnants of an era that time has not forgotten. Our saloons, bars and taverns have been taken over by environments that are practically no different than drinking and dining in a warehouse atmosphere. These saloons represent where some of the most important political decisions have been made and where guys like Frank Sinatra got their starts in places like New York City. Pete’s Tavern is a great example for why we have to patronize these establishments so that real estate greed masquerading as progress doesn’t destroy them.
This little pen and ink drawing represents the affluence in America about to be enlightened by the newsboy who’s paper reads: STOCK MARKET TAKES A DIVE.
McSorley’s
One of the oldest drinking establishments in New York City since 1854. McSorley’s Ale House. Pen and Ink drawing. As a young guy back in the 70’s my youth was spent in New York City on a great adventure in the most challenging environments one could have, but also one of the most rewarding. Because of New York I went on to win recognition with National ADDY awards for my work because New York brings out the best in you. It doesn’t reward slack time.
Capt. Tony’s Saloon
Having spent a number of years living in Florida, and visiting Key West on a few occasions, Capt. Tony’s was the landmark for many a sailor who was seeking the solid ground of terra firma, but needed his sea legs upon departing this establishment. It is still there and was the watering hole of people like Ernest Hemingway who said: “Don't bother with churches, government buildings or city squares. If you want to know about a culture, spend a night in its bars.” That is Ernest standing by the door.
A pen and ink concept for a new retro night club that brings back the days of the Frank Sinatra’s, Dean Martin’s, Sammy Davis, Jr’s and the great jazz sounds of Count Basie
Welcome to the Cairo Club
Columbia Restaurant,
Ybor City, Florida
This restaurant and bar was founded in 1905 and is still owned and operated by the same family. It is one of my favorites in the Tampa Bay area with its profound determination to remain true to its heritage and continue the legacy of excellence in its menu choices and creating an experience rather than just dining out.
When America Ruled the Roads
The first full-scale Corvette concept was displayed as a “dream car” at GM's Motorama in New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel in January 1953. On June 30, the first production Corvette rolled off of the assembly line in Flint, Michigan. Although this isn’t the first Corvette to have ever been seen by mankind, it was always my favorite. “Happiness is not around the corner, is it the corner.”
Think Red!
If anyone is going to break the speed of sound in a car it will probably be Ferrari. I have admired their craftsmanship and style for decades. They have always been ahead of the pack when it comes to designing an aesthetically pleasing automobile. I did this pen and ink years ago after attending a Ferrari club meeting here in Atlanta.
Smoke and Terrors.
As a kid growing up in the coal regions of Pennsylvania most of my transportation was provided by hopping freight trains heading over to the small towns and villages within the radius of my adventures. Trains were a part of lives back then. After my father came up from the mines he started working on the railroad so it have been in our families DNA for decades. I still ride passenger trains to this day when given the opportunity.
Ships and Nautical Subject Matter.
The sea is a tempest with an attitude.
USS George Washington - CVN-73
On September 11th the tears being shed by Americans and the free world could have filled the port of New York City and floated this Navy Man of War. This painting depicts the USS George Washington departing the City of New York with the ghost of the World Trade Center in the background and the signal flags reading:
NEVER FORGET.
Oil Painting on 24” x 36” Canvas.
The Calm Before the Storm.
The USS Carl Vinson - CVN-70. A painting depicting the nights at sea and always, always 24/7, 365 readiness. The United States carrier fleet is mobile airport with crews that can go upwards of 6000 men and women who have volunteered for one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. From being an airedale to a boiler technician they are performing at 4.0 while you are sitting around the dinner table.
The Hunt.
During Ernest Hemingways lifetime he had a passion for writing, women and booze, but one of his biggest passions was deep sea fishing. I believe it was more the fight than the catch.
“The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.”
Ernest Hemingway
Fixing the Jib.
The sea can be a tempestuous mate who changes her mind every few hours and within minutes you’re challenging her wrath and her drama. A sailor is prepared to accept those challenges and hopefully win in the end and return safely.
24” x 36” Oil on Canvas
Freedom of the Seas.
When one is sailing they are one with the sea, wind and elements. It will teach you a lesson about nature and how insignificant we really are and how some of the most determined of us may believe we are immortal, but the sea makes everyone equal.
Yes, the flag will fly in the opposite direction under certain circumstances. It may be for only a moment, but it happens. 24” x 36” Oil on Canvas. Commissions are welcome of your sailing vessel of boat.
Rock of Ages.
For millennia our shores have experienced nature’s ongoing fight with the sea. Constant pounding of the elements coming together and as each generation passes into oblivion nature is a constant that outlasts us all.
“You can never cross the ocean until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.” Christopher Columbus
Coquina Beach.
There are times in our life when getting away from it all means just the beach as therapy. At Coquina Beach life was good. Diving, fishing, wind surfing and lounging. This is my abstract interpretation of that lifestyle which I experienced for over 20 years while living on Florida’s West Coast.
“But man is not made for defeat," he said. "A man can be destroyed but not defeated.” Ernest Hemingway from The Old Man and the Sea.
A Morning on Lake Lanier
This is more of an etherial piece not overrun with detail. It is based on a moment that I had on Lake Lanier not far from my home here in Georgia. It was a few uninterrupted moments when no boats were on the Lake, and no sound with the exception of nature could be heard.
Study for Yonah Mountain .
Here in Georgia we have some beautiful landscapes where we can sit and enjoy some good wine. I live here because it reminds me of the mountains in Pennsylvania where I was born and raised. I spent a lot of time in the forest as a kid. This is a study for a painting that I hope to get around to someday if I can ever get myself focused on the subject matter. It’s not a great execution, but then again it wasn’t supposed to be because I did it using the thoughts I had about where I was at that particular moment in time. Yonah Mountain Vineyards is quite a nice place to visit.
The Red.
In my trips around the Georgia I have come across many vineyards. I have also had the opportunity to enjoy the wines of Napa and of course being Italian I lean toward their wines. This represents a painting of that experience. You will notice in the upper left hand corner that a little friend has come to visit the vineyard.
This is an oil painting on a 18” x 24” gallery wrapped canvas.
The White.
I do not partake of very many white wines with the exception of maybe the occasional Sangria in those hot months of July and August here in Georgia. On my visits to the vineyards I always notice the activity that surrounds the vines and the wonderful experience of noticing the local visitors hiding in the vines.
This is another 18” x 24” gallery wrapped oil on canvas.
Fire in the Vineyard.
When I lived in Pennsylvania as a kid the summers were filled with a lot of exciting things to do. You better be imaginative because there wasn’t a lot of money. Part of the adventure in the summer months was watching the Fire Show. Thousands of fireflies worm swarm the night. When I joined the Navy and then moved to Florida I hadn’t seen fireflies in over 30 years. When I moved to Georgia I have them right in my back yard and they put on a show every evening in the summer. It is a welcoming sight to see them again. This painting depicts that event in our local vineyards.
This is a gallery wrapped canvas oil painting that measures 18” x 36”
After the Rains.
Sitting in the vineyard can be an exercise in exploration when it comes to nature. In this painting you will see a lady bug for good luck, a butterfly for beauty and a spider standing guard. Spider webs can be quite interesting after a good rain. It is amazing what is all around us that we do not even recognize.
Red Dawn.
This is a study for a painting relevant to the vintners art. Wine is a complicated matter. Not only is it complex, it is probably one of the most highly uncertain professions one could embark on. So many variables could make the difference between success and failure. Mother Nature being the co-operating factor of them all. It is why I respect the art of the vintner so much and drink wine as something that is a work of art rather than just a beverage.
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
How I met Joe.
As I was giving a presentation on my work this guy walked in and asked if he could sit down. I said of course you can. As I studied him I couldn’t help but be intrigued by his demeanor and eloquence in his speech.
Joe told me he came from Jamaica many years ago and he couldn’t read or write. He taught himself. I found out that Joe spent his days in the local library teaching underprivilidged children how to read and write.
It is really too bad that there aren’t more Joe’s in the world because the last time I heard Joe was very ill. We gave him a print of this portrait as a gift from the librarians. If my art can bring some pleasure into someones life that is really what a gift of talent is for, to give it as a gift in return for having it in the first place.
The Fire Dance
As a tribute to my daughter who was a Flamenco dancer I did this 20” x 30” inch mixed media and digital poster design. This really falls more into my commercial work.
A Vintage to Remember.
A commemorative poster representing the challenges and the difficulties that confronted the vintners in our nations wine country. To say the least it was less than an enjoyable experience.
A Vintage to Remember.
2020 is a year we will all not soon forget. Mask were the new fashion statement and surviving was the name of the game. Some of us spent our time exploring new avenues of interest. I invested my time in learning about the finer things in life such as the art of cigar making and the investigation of various veritels and the geography of the regions wines come from. Technology is a wonderful things, but survival is an art form.
Extinction is Forever.
Our environmental concerns should be as important as our ability to ignore them. Every day we lose precious and irreplaceable landscapes, but more importantly we are destroying the habitats of almost every native animal on the planet. The Big Cats being some of the most susceptible. This is my 20” x 30” poster.
Extinction is Forever.
Because of false information and mythical beliefs people are taking the lives of these animals at an alarming rate. A century ago, there were as many as 100,000 tigers in the wild. Today fewer than 3,200 persist in their natural habitat.
