In My Studio
Biography
Francesca grew up in the Dominican Republic in the home of taekwondo entrepreneurs. As a child, she traveled the island with her parents, taking in the massive landscapes. As the oldest of five children and an immigrant, she has overcome many economic and social barriers, building a resilient spirit that cannot be easily broken.
Francesca considers herself a serial social entrepreneur, leading organizations and projects that make our world and our government more humane. She works with nonprofits that promote inclusion, historic preservation, and economic development. Her commitment to social justice looks like a celebration of world cultures and places in her art. Her expertise has been on the stages and pages of MIT Media Lab, Berklee College of Music, WPI, Small Business Anti-Displacement Network, Main Street America, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, and more.
What Inspires Me
studied at Bold Color School, looking for a way to use vibrant colors and move away from charcoal drawing. My work has been influenced by Klimt and Rembrandt, two masters that knew how to manipulate pattern and light, respectively. Contemporary artists that I look up to are Jon Wassom, Tania Wursig, and Bisa Butler. Their manipulation of mixed media is so precise, vibrant and unique!
I look for joy everywhere. Our world needs people who bring the best out in humanity. Questioning our priorities and our affections, what matters most, and how we live our daily lives creates our legacy. I want my art to celebrate the small moments that make up our lives, the resiliency of the human spirit, the beauty in the diversity of life experiences that make the world a fascinating place. Every piece is a story about someone’s journey.
My Process
like to work in series. By the time I start a painting, all the composition and color palette details have been resolved. I work fast through the underpainting, using large tools to depict movement and energy.
I take my time with the thread and needle. I absolutely love the way it forces me to slow down and focus on my subjects. It is a welcome rest from the violent speed at which I paint. Stitched patterns connect to my own Afro-Caribbean roots and five generations of women in my family.
At this point, gold leaf might make its way unto the canvas, but my delight is the gloss medium. I use different techniques to apply it, always looking for patterns that will emerge at different vantage points. Just like it happens with people, paintings make a first impression, but my art also invites you to take a second look. At times, it will make you want to get close, touch and engage your senses.
The final layer is oil glazes. They add depth and richness that acrylics alone can never do. Glazes remind me of amber, a stone produced in the Dominican Republic where I spent my childhood.
