Federico Gemma is a Wildlife Artist Member of the Society of Wildlife Artists, based in Rome, Italy. His passion for nature induced him to get a degree in Biological Sciences, to become a zoologist. Yet, even before concluding his studies, he employed most of his time drawing naturalist illustrations. Nevertheless his interests still include biological sciences since he works for parks and nature reserves, museums and nature conservation bodies making drawings and illustrations for calendars, panels, thematic areas, books, brochures and magazines. In 2012 he was awarded as a Birdwatch Artist of the year.
Not only an illustrator but also a painter, he spends his free time travelling Italy, Europe, and the world looking for subjects, animals and landscapes, to portray:
"Whenever I can, I take notes always carrying with me a sketchbook, a pencil and watercolours. Life drawing is a fundamental process to me and an irreplaceable tool to observe and fix on the paper instants and ideas. Some of these sketches then become finished paintings, others stay as they are, enduring memory of travels and sightings".
Federico holds watercolor courses and has held workshops in several occasion, collaborating with institutions and museums in Rome or in protected areas with WWF Italy. Last spring he organized a workshop in Campi Flegrei near Naples, with Simo Capecchi.
He collaborate to Urban Sketchers Italy and often participate to sketchcrawls and drawing meet up with fellow sketchers in Rome and other cities.