Michael DeFrancesco Art

Michael Defrancesco received his fine arts degree from the American Academy of Art in Chicago. While at the Academy, he was fortunate to have studied under some wonderful instructors such as Bill Parks, Vern Stake, Eugene Hall, Fred Berger and the renowned watercolorist Irving Shapiro. At the early age of 15, he was awarded the prestigious Robert Allerton Scholarship and while still in his teens was chosen as one of the 12 portrait artists for Walt Disney productions in Anaheim, California. He has appeared on television on The Len Petrillo Show and has had his work auctioned off on the annual PBS art auction. He has done both freelance and in house illustration for a wide variety of companies including The Combined Insurance and The Boitsov Ballet of Chicago. His work is also in the private collections of McDonnell Douglas and at the Continental Can Company. Michael has taught figure drawing, oil painting and illustration at such renowned schools such as Columbia College Chicago, The Harrington College of Design and the Illinois Institute of Art.