Selected Highlights Education 1970 - 1974 ¿ Graduated at the Liceo Clasico, Pescara, Italy. 1977 - 1982 - Graduated from the ISTITUTO ORIENTALE, Naples, with majors in languages (Hebrew, Coptic, Hieroglyphic, French and English) and History of Art. Additional Education and Professional Experience After graduation, Tessie¿s interests centered around design and the arts. She decided to further her education at Europe¿s most prestigious Art Departments and Universities as well as working directly with the masters in each subject. This approach greatly expanded her interest and awareness and enhanced her hands-on experience which was to be vital in mastering many painting techniques. 1982 - 1983 - Studied, in Paris, with Lauren Welfling, arguably one of the most successful interior decorators in France at the time. From Lauren Tessie learned the use of colors in a way not included in any formal training. Her eclectic mental attitude opened Tessie to an unexplored world, from the fresco on the walls to lampshade design. 1983 ¿ 1999 As a result of this experience, Tessie opened a very successful interior design study in Milano, which she kept for 15 years. 1993 ¿ 1994 Tessie became interested in floral arrangements (which today has a strong influence in her artwork). She decided to visit with Tage Andersen in Copenhagen, one of Europe¿s most respected artists in the subject. Again, she became proficient in original color combinations, now enhanced by the use of pigments, glue, resins, mixing styles and materials in innovative arrangements. (This experience led, later on, to several commissioned works). 1998 ¿ 1999 While still operating her own interior design company, Tessie decided to move to London, to attend specific courses at the prestigious Palladium Academy. Brilliant teachers, state of the art innovative courses and a stimulating alumni, led her to understand that sculpture and painting were the answers to her expression in art. These feelings have prevailed and grown stronger with the passage of time. Each of these experiences and the excellence of the training received, is now evident in her work, a distilled synthesis of her appreciation of nature, art, the aesthetics of design all coupled with a very sophisticated involvement of new techniques and materials. In 1999 she moved to South Beach to become a full time painter. 2000 ¿ 2003 During this period, her expertise in design, painting and sculpture resulted in a commission to do the interior design of The Bentley Hotel (at 101 Ocean Drive, South Beach). The project involved original sculptures, paintings and the full decoration of the building. 2004 Presented four Sculptures at an Art Exhibit in Panama City, Panama, where she was commissioned 15 paintings by the Bank Credit Suisse. Since she moved to South Beach, Tessie was mostly interested in the research for each of her paintings, experimenting with colors, materials, textures and techniques. This was a slow process, and she decided not to undertake any additional commissioned work. She was then not interested in the public exposure of her work, which and since changed (in 2006). Tessie¿s work then began to surface at major exhibits. 2008 Invited to the opening of Phillip Starck new YOO project in Punta del Este, Uruguay, as the only international painter invited. During that same month, she was invited to present her paintings at the Fraternity Week held in Punta del Este, a major Uruguay-Argentina event for the summer season. Upcoming Exhibits July 2008 ¿ Invitation to participate at SOFITEL (Hotel) Gallery Night, Buenos Aires. This four day exhibit coincides with Gallery Night, a time when all galleries are opened till midnight. The Jellyfish Collection and the Classical Heritage Collection will be presented. In all, close to 20 paintings will be in exhibition. September 2008 ¿ Individual Exhibit, ¿Tessie De Felice on Her Own Terms¿, Karina Paradiso Gall...