About Tom Francesconi AWS, NWS, TWSA
Tom Francesconi studied watercolor at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. His paintings have been exhibited in many national exhibitions, which include the American and National Watercolor Societies. In 2015, Tom’s painting was selected to travel to Shenzhen, China to be included in the National Watercolor Society’s International Biennial Exchange Exhibition. In 2020, Tom’s painting was chosen for inclusion in the NWS: 100 Years Exhibition and most recently, Tom’s painting was one of forty paintings selected to hang in the Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland, as a part of the National Watercolor Society’s 2024 Exchange Exhibition.
Tom has earned signature membership in numerous watercolor societies, including the American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society, Watercolor West, Rocky Mountain National Watermedia and the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, of which he has been honored with ‘Master’ status. Tom has served as president of the Transparent Watercolor Society of America and the executive director of the Illinois Watercolor Society.
His work has been published in eight books on American Watercolor. Tom has written articles for Watercolor Artist, Watercolor Magic and Watercolor magazines. Tom’s award-winning painting, “Unleashed”, was published in The Best of Watercolor: Winners From the 22nd Annual Splash Competition, June 2021.
His work has received many awards in regional and national exhibitions, including the Henry Fukuhara Award, 1st Place Award, the Founders Award and the Tom Fong Memorial Award at the 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2023 Watercolor West Exhibitions, 3rd Place Award at the 2019 Houston International Watermedia Exhibition, 3rd Place Award at the 2019 Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition, High Water Award at the 2019 Red River Watercolor Society National Exhibition, Soft Edged Expressionism Award at the 2013 and 2019 Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors as well as the Gordon and Mildred Memorial Award at the 2023 Adirondacks Exhibition, and the Lakes Region Watercolor Award at the 2010 and 2015 Transparent Watercolor Society of America Exhibitions.
Tom’s paintings are held in the corporate collections of Inland Real Estate Corporation,
Oakbrook, IL, CNA Insurance Company, Chicago, IL, Paige Bus Enterprises, Chicago, IL and Morgan Stanley Financial Services Company, Chicago, IL and in many private collections throughout the United States. Along with his weekly classes in Chicago, Tom has conducted watercolor workshops throughout the United States, Canada, France, Italy and Croatia.
