Painter ‘Captures Essence’ Of Subjects
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A successful professional portrait artist, Denise Franzino uses her craft to bring happiness to many families. Long Islander News photos/Janee Law
By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com
Although she dabbled in painting during her college years, Denise Franzino’s skills as an artist truly flourished after she graduated from Rhode Island School of Design.
“My teacher, John Frederick Murray, definitely put me on the right path,” Franzino, of Huntington, said. “If one person can change the course of your life, he did that for me so I really am indebted to him for my training and that’s where I basically started really painting, learning the fundamentals and the foundation to painting and drawing.”
Now, Franzino is a successful professional portrait artist, using her craft to bring happiness to many families.
“I just love painting people, children, and capturing their essence,” she said. “When I deliver the finished painting and see their reaction and the happiness that I bring them, there’s no feeling like that. That’s the icing on the cake.”
Franzino said she had been crafting her talents since she was four years old, copying images of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and other Disney characters with crayons.
“That was my passion at the time…and it got to the point when I was in elementary school where I could just draw them from my memory,” she said. “I was always drawing before I could do anything else. It was something that just came very natural to me.”
Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in illustration, Franzino went on to become an illustrator for the New York Times, Doubleday books and Harlequin books.
At the time, Franzino said she wasn’t in her element since she was uncomfortable painting in color due to her college background, which consisted of a lot of black and white work.
After studying with Murray, who taught her how to paint in color and color theory, Franzino said she tried to go back into illustration but never truly enjoyed it.
Noticing her dislike for illustration, Murray suggested she take on portrait painting, a medium she’s been perfecting for more than 25 years.
With her extensive training in the classical and traditional style of drawing and painting, Franzino is best known for her portraits of children at the beach or the gardens.
The setting of her portraits is typically suggested by the clients, as they are locations that have a sentimental value to each family.
With each project, Franzino meets with clients to discuss their vision for the portrait and then sets up a photo shoot. At the photo shoot, Franzino takes 300 pictures that she will later craft into a composition.
“Having flexibility as an artist, I can take the best pictures of each child and then incorporate that into one painting,” she said.
Once the photos are complete, she crafts a detailed 8-by-10 inch study, which is an original painting as well. The study will provide a visual for the client before the image is painted on the final 24-by-30 inch canvas.
Franzino said the study is an important step as it allows her to make adjustments to her work and gives clients an opportunity to suggest changes.
“I always try to please my clients whichever way I can and once they approve the study then I could start the final painting,” she said. “It’s a little bit of a process but my utmost goal is for the client to be happy.”
Along with portraits, Franzino also enjoys painting floral arrangements, still lifes, animals and culinary delights. She has sold a variety of her beach scene material.
Last November, Franzino was one of the finalists in the Portrait Society of America’s international portrait competition for her “Headmaster Anderson” portrait. She is a member of the American Society of Portrait Artists, Hecksher Museum of Art and the Huntington Council of Art.
As a portrait painter, Franzino said it’s paramount to be able to carry the likeness a subject in the image.
“What I try to do is bring is the spirit of that person that I’m painting,” Franzino said. “It’s a moment in time that I’ve captured for them that they’ll always treasure it.”
To see more of her work, visit Denisefranzino.com.
