Francis Coppola:
CLASS OF 1976
St. Fidelis SchoolClass of 1976
College point, NY
St. Helena Commercial High SchoolClass of 1980
Bronx, NY
John Bowne High SchoolClass of 1980
Flushing, NY
Francis's Story
12/24/2008
Storefront artist creates holiday beauty for all
by Liz Rhoades , Managing Editor
Francis Coppola points with his paintbrush to the holiday art work he created outside his family¿s pizzeria in College Point. (photo by Michael O¿Kane)
A College Point man is brightening the season for holiday shoppers with painted candy canes, poinsettias and more in reds and greens on storefronts throughout Queens.
Francis Coppola, 46, ¿ no relation to the director ¿ has been painting New York City storefront windows for 20 years and is able to make a living from it without any art training.
¿It¿s all natural,¿ Coppola said. ¿I didn¿t go to art classes.¿
Some of his holiday windows currently on display are at A & J Pizza and Five Boros Cafe, both on Austin Street in Forest Hills, and Cheeburger, Cheeburger, nearby on Queens Boulevard. In College Point, you can see Coppola¿s artistry at his family¿s restaurant, Coppola¿s Pizza at 132-02 14th Ave.
In the past, Coppola has done windows for Saks Fifth Avenue and Trump Plaza in Manhattan.
¿Each one is different,¿ the artist said. ¿I don¿t plan the design out ahead, but wait until I see the window. I just feel the window; it talks to me.¿
It takes Coppola an average of three hours to complete a design. Sometimes, he¿s hired to paint additional scenes on glass doors and mirrors. Prices vary depending on size and detail, but a merchant can expect to pay at least $300.
Coppola paints from the inside, which means he has to do reverse painting, a tedious process. He uses water-based paints, which are easily removed when the holiday or other occasion is over.
...Expand for more
Most of Coppola¿s works are painted for holidays or events. The most popular are Christmas, Valentine¿s Day, St. Patrick¿s Day, Easter and the Fourth of July. ¿After that, the summer is slow so I just chill,¿ he said.
He calls his work visual art display. Years ago, there were many itinerant artists who travelled around doing similar work. ¿It¿s a forgotten trade,¿ Coppola said. ¿I brought it back because it¿s so pretty.¿
Today, a few artists do similar projects part-time to supplement their income, but Coppola says he¿s the only one able to make a living doing it. He gets his customers through word of mouth and never has to advertise.
Coppola realized while in the sixth grade that he had artistic talent. His family encouraged him, he did some window painting at his father¿s store and voila, his career was born.
But there were detours in Coppola¿s career path. A graduate of John Bowne High School, he went on to study opera and then religious studies. In 1990, he returned to art when a beauty parlor owner in College Point remembered his talent and asked him to paint her storefront.
¿I¿m always looking for innovations. I find it very satisfying,¿ he said.
In his spare time Coppola enjoys cooking, woodworking and singing. A tenor, he often performs at weddings.
But painting store windows remains his passion. ¿It¿s work and takes a lot of patience,¿ Coppola said. ¿It¿s the perfect accent in front of stores and everyone likes it ¿ old, young, even thugs. At this time of year, it gets you in the holiday spirit.¿
Coppola can be reached at (718) 460-0992.
Advertisement
©Queens Chronicle 2009
Register for Free to view all details!
Reunions
Register for Free to view all events!
Photos
