Woman 009 (2006) Drawing by Manu Toxxic

Emmanuele is an Italy-based independent artist, mostly self-taught. Visual Arts have always been his main interest, including photography, drawing, illustration and, ultimately, watercolor painting.

A life abroad

Despite his artistic inclinations he took a degree in Aerospace Engineering and worked abroad for nine years. During all this time he continued spasmodically drawing at night and on weekends.

He attended evening drawing classes while working in Madrid and then basic of oil painting at the Academy of Fine Arts of Como while living in Switzerland. He eventually discovered Watercolor painting in Lugano by chance, attending a course held by Department of Culture of the Canton Ticino. He have painted for a year at night, whatching DVDs and YouTube videos, at home.

The Watercolor

“I started thinking about watercolor because of logistical problems: at home we had that time a 3-year-old child and I couldn’t leave my paintings around. Watercolor is quick, it does not smell, it dries in few minutes and the equipment is lightweight and essential, the perfect solution for a family living in a flat. When I started using it I fell in love with it immediately!”

“Why do I love him so much? Well many reasons… The incredible technical challenge, the continuous struggle in controlling the water and for the spontaneity of execution.”

In 2014 he decides to quit his job to devote himself to full-time art and begins to participate in exhibitions in Italy, France and Spain. He keeps on attending watercolor courses with the greatest masters: Chien Chug Wei in Aosta 2015, Joseph Zbukvic in Milan 2016.

Despite this initial success, due to the divorce, he interrupted his artistic activity for three years, until 2019 when, during a trip to France, he met open and friendly people who believed in him, so that he found the motivation to come back painting and bet on his lifetime dream: Art as independent job.

Live and online classes

He teaches watercolour technique in his own Art Studio located in Lecco. He's available for personal and group classes. He also publish Video and Tutorial on Youtube.

"My little life, my little personal journey, made of ups and downs, of difficulties (which mostly I avoid telling!) as well as few but immensely fulfilling artistic achievements, are just an example on how you can follow your inspirations too."

• Nationality: ITALY
• Date of birth : 1978
• Artistic domains:
• Groups: Contemporary Italian Artists