Words by Suzy Synchronome

Blaine Fontana is a contemporary urban artist, but is incredibly unique in that his work is multi-faceted. He partakes in illustration, graphic design, sculpture, fine art, installations, furniture and home furnishing products. Fontana’s art manages to blend ancient tradition and nature perfectly with contemporary, urban elements. He’s able to bring together many seemingly unrelated objects and ideas, creating a cohesive and original style. Fontana’s work is full of grace, wisdom and emotional tangibility. A successful creative, Fontana’s art inspires viewers all over the world, thanks to years of discipline, dedication and family-fuelled inspiration.

Fontana grew up in a creative environment, surrounded by talented family members. Fontana’s mother has always expressed her creativity in many ways, but currently runs her studio and a boutique, The Rabbit Hole. Fontana’s younger brother is a fine artist in painting and sculpture and is also a level three draftsman at an architectural studio. Fontana’s younger sister expresses herself through massage therapy, but has now taken leave due to her pregnancy. Fontana look’s forward to being the troublesome uncle and perhaps passing on some of that family talent on to his nephew.

Fontana’s family encouraged and supported him for years to pursue the arts. He took every available class that he could within the curriculum limits in high school, commuting to two different high schools to study photography, sculpture, graphic design, illustration, film and Photoshop. It was an incredibly nourishing environment in which Fontana could develop a wide range of art skills.

After high school, Fontana went on to Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, CA. His initial cause for attending Otis was to learn discipline, professionalism and to establish a creative network. By the end of his junior year, Fontana realised that he was becoming a far better painter and illustrator thanks to the teachings of Nathan Ota and Nick Taggart. Fontana wouldn’t say that art school was responsible for his style, but rather that it nurtured it and gave him the necessary discipline and respect towards his craft, “Art schools won't teach you your vision or style, but they can influence it under the right instructors and academic flexibility. Fortunately Otis provided that. It was in my senior year that I nailed down a project that became the foundation of my style for many years to come.”

The FULL interview with BLAINE FONTANA appears in issue 4 of Mynameis? magazine - click here to purchase your copy www.graphotism.com/Subscribe-Graphotism-or-MyNameIs-Magazine.74.0.html