Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Frances James. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Frances, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I am my happiest when I am able to create something that I love. I have been unhappy working regular jobs and it wasn’t until I found ways to be creative within those regular jobs that I found some peace. I worked in an escape room for 6 years and it was fun, but being able to create props and paint add to the artistry of the rooms is what made the job not feel like work. It wasn’t until the pandemic hit that I was able to really understand the type of artist I want to be. Being home and creating things that I wanted to create is how I came to really know myself as a creative. So, no, I don’t wonder what a regular job is like because I have been able to find creative outlets within and through many of my jobs.

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 know with absolute certainty that I am an artist. I create. I am a painter. I am a choreographer. I am an artist and the reason I create is very simple: I create because it is who I am. Art in any form is my therapy and my way of being completely free in my humanity. I create art that I hope can spark emotions in people that they may not know they need to feel.

I remember watching the dance ministry at my church when I was younger and feeling deeply connected to what I was seeing. I wanted to dance with them. I didn’t think I could do much more than that but I wanted to be a part of that. It wasn’t until college that I realized I LOVED dancing. I got the opportunity to take a dance class my freshman year in college and that was it for me. I had to dance. I had to be a dancer. And the more I danced, the more I wanted to tell my own stories.

Every piece of choreography that I have created has been about something that spoke to my personal journey and my humanity. When creating these different pieces, I have thought about the specific life events and how they personally affected me. The example that I would like to share is the piece that I choreographed entitled: “;”. The piece touched on the subjects of depression, suicide, and bullying. As a young lady, I struggled with depression and bullying and as a result, there were times where I wanted to harm myself. For me, dancing about something so personal is the therapy that I need to be able to move past those feelings and accept and heal that piece of myself.

But going back further, I was always the kid getting in trouble in class for doodling when I should have been doing my work. I was always a doodled. I sketched but that was it. A few years ago, I started painting but it still wasn’t serious. COVID gave me the chance to really think about the art I was seeing in the world and how there was nothing that spoke to me. I wanted to color but couldn’t find a coloring book that spoke to me. So, I made my own. Color Me Nappy was born from the idea of creating something for us. Black hair is so expressive. I created a coloring book for black hair styles, A-Z. Once Color Me Nappy was out, I wanted to do something else. I had a jacket that never fit me and decided to paint it. I posted it on my social media and that was all she wrote. Everyone wanted a jacket. I was painting jackets and selling coloring books as a way to get through the lockdown. But I wasn’t able to dance. Both parts of me were not being fed creatively. So I did what any sane person would do during a global pandemic, I applied to graduate school! Lol. I want to be the dance educator that I hoped for as a late beginner in college and going back to school was the only way to do so.

So, I create. I am an artist and I mean that. I am the dance teacher I hoped for. I am the choreographer that tells personal stories. I am a painter that creates what I feel. Overall, I am a black woman hoping to create artwork that expresses blackness in all forms.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I don’t have millions of followers on social media, but I have made meaningful connections and gotten wonderful opportunities through those who do follow me. My advice for growing your social media platform is to be authentic to who you are and what your brand is. Those who are meant to follow your journey will find you. Don’t try to keep up with the trends or beat the algorithm. Doing so will make you seem inauthentic. Being yourself is what will connect to people. People are smart. They know when someone is pretending and just chasing the attention. It may take a little longer to grow your numbers, but you’ll be building a foundation of people who genuinely support you and your art.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Quincy Jones’ audiobook, “12 Notes: On Life and Creativity” has really shifted how I approach my artistic practice. It is a personal self-development guide that helped me to understand that creativity, in any form, is a calling. It is a calling that must be answered no matter what your experience or background or age is. Mr. Jones tells stories of his own life and how he was impacted by his mentors and counterparts on the journey. He was able to pull from his experiences and the lessons he learned in each moment and how to apply those lessons to your own creative pursuits, whatever they may be. Mr. Jones found a way to tell the story of his life, full of peaks and valleys, in a way that wasn’t to brag but to share how he was able to pivot and create even when it seemed like there was no way through. Art can get you through the best and worst of times if you find a way to shift when necessary and find the lesson and the gratitude in each moment. He is still learning at the age of 90 and that in itself is a lesson. You are never too old to learn and grow as a human and a creative.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bohemianspectrum.com
• Instagram: @bohemianspectrum for art, @earthsunflower for personal
• Other: My website is under construction and will be relaunched on October 1st!

Image Credits
Photo of myself in black shorts and white bra – Akeel Shabazz photo of myself in red dress – Bmore Broadway Live audience shot