We were lucky to catch up with Astrid Francis recently and have shared our conversation below.

Astrid, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I moved to the United States from Germany when I was 25. Although I appreciated art from a very early age, went to museums and bought art books, it wasn’t until after I had come to America that my passion for art intensified. I worked in the creative department of advertising agencies and was always exposed to illustrators and art directors; and then I married an art director.
However, as anyone knows who has tried to hold down a full-time job while creating viable art, it’s just not so easy. But finally, ten years ago, I retired. And then pursuit art, went for it full-blast immediately.
That’s not to say I’d been creatively idle all that time. I’ve taken art classes at the Palos Verdes Art Center in pottery. Then, for about three or four years I taught myself the art of jewelry design. While more of a craft than an art, per se, I had a fair amount of success selling my wares in Los Angeles.
Following all of the above, I ended up at the Palos Verdes Art Center again, but this time taking abstract painting classes. My main influence or inspiration was the contemporary German artist Gerhard Richter with his scraping technique.
This sort of work is most definitely abstract in nature, but occasionally, as in a Rorschach test, one may imagine a splotch or a squiggle that resembles a person, an animal, or some other object from the real world. I had found my medium. Abstract fantasies. I started doodling around shapes I poured with thinned acrylic on canvas. The outcome a surprise to me as well as the observer. Tiny dots with tiny brushes. Figures waving at me, wanting to jump off the canvas. I followed Joan Miro, Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky for inspiration. There is something there where we shake hands.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I operate in a realm of abstract fantasies, utilizing bright colors to create otherworldly and, at times, playful figures that inhabit an unfamiliar and disorienting space. I do not endeavor to depict things as they are in this world, but rather what I feel or imagine they might be in some other world. At its very basic level, it is the celebration of paint on a surface, and the quirky, unexpected beautiful results that it can produce. But I do not stop there. The resulting shapes and textures I see suggest to me what is in there and brings it out in wildly imaginative characters and creatures. There is a whimsical and humorous nature to my art, which challenges you not to smile when viewing this work.
What sets me apart from other painters is that I use a technique slightly removed from purely abstract goals. Hence I call it Abstract Fantasies.
This is an organic, lengthy process for me since there is no real plan when I start a work other than deciding in which direction I want the initial color to go. I’ll even abandon that plan if something else starts to speak to me. As I’m working and the characters are revealing themselves, there starts a conversation that I have in my head with these entities. Thus I’m slowly building a tableau, typically a grouping of characters that suggests a gathering or event. Through the different works in this collection, you will see a pacing. Some are very active, dense, crowded even, while other paintings are more relaxed and more tranquil. They are lighter with more open space, a floating, peacefulness. But you’ll still find the crazy in there.

And lots of surprises.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

What I find most rewarding for an artist is the completion of a painting, starting with a struggle to arrive at a theme and following your instinct of where to take this. Like Picasso said, “You should paint like a child, without fear”. I highly recommend joining an artist group/association, to share your efforts and to receive guidance, banking on others’ experience, exploring different techniques. Most important is the exposure of your work on social media, such as facebook, instagram, etc. These sites will share with you upcoming exhibits with ‘open calls’, a great opportunity to get your work out there. I have shown my work in countless exhibits throughout California and have received numerous awards for “Best in Show”. One of the highlights of my journey was the participation of an Artist Exchange with Thailand 2020. I was one of 10 US artists invited to Thailand for a 3-week workshop, which ended with our work hanging in a museum in Bangkok and Krabi.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

I don’t believe in NFTs. They appear to be high risk, just as bitcoin and leave a prospective participant confused.

Contact Info:

• Website: astridfrancis.com
• Instagram: astridfrancisart
• Facebook: Astrid Francis

Image Credits
AWARDS: 2017 “First Place”, Celebrating PVAC Artists show, PVAC, Palos Verdes, CA 2018 “Honorary Mention”, summer show at PVAC, Palos Verdes, CA 2020 “Best of Show”, winter show at PVAC, Palos Verdes, Ca. 2021 “Best of Show”, summer show at PVAC, Palos Verdes, Ca. 2022 “Best of Show”, winter show at PVAC, Palos Verdes, Ca. 2023 “Best of Show” winter show at PVAC, Palos Verdes, Ca.