Major Tom is Going Home, or, why I chose to paint something so weird. I blame the eclipse.4/27/2024 On April 8, 2024, a good portion of the US bore witness to a solar eclipse. Some, like us here in Georgia, were afforded a partial eclipse. Though I mourned the lost opportunity to travel for totality, due to unforeseen circumstances, I was inspired to pull out my oil paints and see if I could create an image that blossomed in my mind. If you know me well, you know that David Bowie is and will always be a huge influence in my life. My first thought was the piece had to be based on a mythical Major Tom. An astronaut, lost in space, gazing wistfully at the solar eclipse from the surface of the Moon. It excited me to imagine...what WOULD the eclipse look like from the Moon, once the Earth crossed the path of the Sun? Would the corona be highlighted by a sunset/sunrise that circled the Earth? I grabbed some paints and prepared a palette. I had to know. A few of the paints I am using, along with the paper palette. After covering a 24x24 canvas with black paint, I sketched out the astronaut and put a moonscape behind him. On a canvas this big, the process took a lot longer than I hoped it would be due to my using a small 1/2" flat brush (see photo above). I made a mental note to buy some larger brushes for my next big piece. After sketching the painting, I stepped back and found myself in a quandary. What on Earth (or the Moon, ha) would I title this? With a tired arm, I quickly mapped in an eclipse in the upper right corner and called it a day. I put the painting to the side and went back to my other works in progress. Major Tom, day one. Wet and rough and I wasn't sure if it was going to go anywhere. A week or so later, I revisited the piece. It needed a sense of whimsy, a touch of magic, and a bit more color. After a couple of hours, Tom's spacesuit glowed a cool violet gray. The Earth was given a pink edge. And, surprising of all, three UFOs appeared over the horizon. Just then I was given a title for the piece. Major Tom is Going Home. The aliens had arrived to whisk him back to Earth. Major Tom is Going Home, not quite finished but coming together nicely. While this isn't a finished piece, it is complete enough for me to let it sit and marinate until I am inspired to come back to it. What I will do next is anyone's guess. Maybe this is it? We shall see.
If you are an artist, do you find that you need to let your pieces chill a bit in between painting or drawing sessions? I'd love to hear your thoughts below!
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On the afternoon of Wednesday, March 20, 2024, I met Gary Dennis, the Executive Director of the Jessye Norman School of the Arts (JNSA), in front of Washington Hall on the Summerville Campus of Augusta University. The JNSA had recently placed my painted piano, and it was time to affix a plaque and snap some photos! However, the piano was covered in a sticky yellow-green pollen residue. We tried our best to clear most of it off and make it photo-ready. But I'm getting ahead of myself. There is a story to tell! In early 2023, I answered a call for artists. The Jessye Norman School of the Arts was looking for three artists to paint one of three donated pianos that would be placed in special locations across the city. This Painted Piano Project was long on my list of dream projects I'd hoped one day would fall into my lap. On a whim I tossed my hat in the ring and hoped for the best, not believing I had a chance. But still, I figured, what the heck, let’s see what happens. I fully believed I would be rejected. I mean, when art rock stars such as Staci Swider, Leonard "Porkchop" Zimmerman, Rhian Swain, and Jason Craig had painted pianos for the JNSA, I thought for sure that I wasn't worthy enough to be included in that list of luminaries. Then, just a few months later, I received the most surprising email of my art career. I had been selected! I made the cut! It took me a minute to compose myself. I read the email over and over until it sunk in that the email was NOT a rejection. It was an acceptance. And this quickly became THE BIGGEST thing to happen to me since I began making, showing and selling art in late 2018. I was going to make my very first piece of public art. After picking myself up off the floor, I scrambled for an idea. Nothing came to me. I thought about a space scene of some sort. However, it wasn’t until I met with the school’s executive director that the thought of doing a riff on Van Gogh’s "Starry Night" popped into my head. Gary asked about my idea. I looked at the ceiling and saw Van Gogh himself staring at me, whispering “Starry Night.” So I blurted that out, surprising myself. True story. The director loved the idea and was excited about the prospect, so he took me to the Music Room to see the piano I would be painting. It was donated by the former executive director of Westobou, Kristi Jilson Sykes. The instrument had some serious local provenance. Gary cut me a check for half the stipend so I could buy the paint and supplies I would need. Dean and I rushed to Lowe's for swatches. I found the perfect hue, "Encore," a rich blue that screamed Van Gogh. I knew at this moment the piano project would be a success. I began working on the piece the Friday after Thanksgiving with help from my beloved husband. We rolled the piano onto a tarp and set to work, priming it and slathering on a base coat of blue. It felt like my spur-of-the-moment painting plan was falling into place. There was only one problem. I truly had no idea how I was going to pull this off. Once we were back at the house, I went into my art studio and found an old canvas I long ago painted in shades of blue. I sat down and created a sort of mock-up idea to get the juices flowing. I called this painting "Vinnie Van Gogh-Gogh" because we were about to go-go for it. Ha. A couple of weeks later we returned to the school, the above portrait in hand as a reference, and that is when the actual painting of Gogh Play Music began. As a portrait artist, I am used to holding, turning, and flipping canvases over to work on them. Kinda hard to hold, turn, and flip a piano. I decided to just relax and see what I could do. Using colors similar to the ones Van Gogh used in his life, I created swooping, swirling clouds, yellow stars, and textures. I left the actual portrait till almost the end. I took a deep breath, set my painted portrait on the piano, and started to work. I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome. I was able to make it happen! Instead of realism, I went for artistic expression and absolutely fell in love with my Vincent. I believe he'd probably be pretty happy with it, too. Now, back to the afternoon of March 20. Gary showed me the plaque that would be affixed to the piano. I asked if I could take a picture of it, hence the photo above. The tears obeyed me. They stayed put. But inside, I was crying happy tears. This piano, parked outside the doors of Washington Hall on the AU campus, will offer students and staff something fun and colorful to enjoy any time they want to bang out a tune. I can't say thank you enough, and there are no words adequate to express my gratitude, but I do want to offer the hugest thanks to Gary Dennis, the JNSA, AU, and the Porter Fleming Foundation. You guys made one of this old gal's biggest dreams come true, and I can never thank you enough. If you're curious about how the piano came together, click HERE to watch the timelapse I put together during the process of painting this thing. Now, GOGH PLAY MUSIC! CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO WATCH A TIMELAPSE OF
THE CREATION OF GOGH PLAY MUSIC! https://youtu.be/KzaiR6DkvnQ Weeks ago, a secret dream came true for me. It was something I had longed hoped to do, and I finally got the chance. Bill Irwin of Augusta rock band Impulse Ride approached me with a request. He had written a song for his band called "Santa on the Savannah." It was included in the 2023 "12 Bands of Christmas" compilation album, and he asked me if I'd be willing to make a piece of art based on the song. It would be a donation to help support Children's Hospital of Georgia. For years I dreamed of a rock band contacting me to make a piece of art. The dream kinda hung around in the ether, and I believed that one day I'd be get to do just that. Of course I jumped at the chance to make my dream come true. Now, bear in mind that I am a portrait artist and have never painted anything like the piece I was asked to make. But when I heard the song and listened to the lyrics, the image arranged itself in my brain. I decided to give it a shot, and the resulting image was a cute children's-type art piece that I am actually proud of.
The painting is on display at Joanie Lamb Hair Salon at 1528 Monte Sano Avenue. A bid sheet is available and starting bid is at a low $50. All proceeds benefit Children's Hospital of Georgia. The painting measures 16x20 and is wired for hanging. To place a bid, see Joanie at her salon or call 706-737-4247. Ruskin Yeargain of Impulse Ride appeared on December 14's The Morning Mix to promote Santa on the Savannah. Click the link to see the segment. May you have a wonderful, safe, and joyous holiday season! My husband Dean and I after I gave my artist talk at Souls of the Midnight Dreamers. My goodness how fast time flies. In late August, I was a guest on WRDW's Morning Mix program to discuss my solo show. A few days after the reception was held, I was interviewed by WJBF's Karlton Clay for a short news segment that aired that week. These were the second and third times I have been on local television this year, and I am still so grateful for the opportunities! On Saturday, September 2, 2023, the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History hosted a reception for Souls of the Midnight Dreamers, my 3rd-ever solo art show, this one sponsored by RedWolf Advertising. It was a night I will never forget. Upon arrival at the Conference Center on the Museum campus, I walked the perimeter of the room. As I walked, I took in all of my 36 paintings and drawings we had hung just a couple days before the reception was to take place. Each piece of artwork had a little caption under it sharing little-known facts about the people I portrayed in my art. (Folks who attended later expressed how they enjoyed reading the factoids and how they learned a lot of things they'd never before known.) A podium stood at the front of a room filled with chairs for attendees to sit upon while noshing on refreshments. That podium would be the place where I would face my strongest fear. Let me take you back to that night, for those who were unable to attend, and give you a taste of the magic that was had. At the end of this blog, you will find photos from the evening. Unfortunately, I cannot remember who took what photo, but most of them were taken by Rhian Swain, owner of RedWolf Advertising. I just absolutely adore her. It was thrilling not only to see so many of my friends but to see so many folks in the community, people I have never met, come out to see my artwork. I introduced myself to each and every person who walked in that door. The love I felt from everyone was intoxicating. It was especially exciting to see Pat Knox-Hudson arrive. To have her present meant the ultimate success and I felt great joy finally getting the chance to meet her. Our caterer, Nancy Chance Blanchard of Nancy's Fancy Feast, provided a delicious spread of treats, none of which I had the opportunity to sample. Everyone raved over the food and at the end of the night the only thing that remained were cookies. Success! I maybe grabbed a bottle of water before my artist talk. Maybe? I can't remember much prior to that moment. Music for the reception was provided by BillKarpJazz. Bill and his wife Nancy are two of the most amazing human beings I've ever known. Bill's jazz selections set the tone for the entire evening and the crowd loved his setlist and his bubbly personality. I was thrilled to learn that he was approached for gig bookings during my reception. He truly deserves all the success in the world. When it was time for me to speak, Corey Rogers, the Executive Director of the Laney Museum, introduced me to the crowd that had gathered. Most of the chairs were taken but it was standing room only once I was given the mic. I was so scared. So nervous. Public speaking has always been a fear of mine. Any kind of public performance terrifies me. This is mostly why I have never learned to dance, play any kind of competitive sport, do anything physical in front of anyone. That said, I knew I had to give a talk, so I wrote a speech and saved it in a note on my phone a few weeks before the reception was to take place. Once I stood up in front of the room, I laid the phone down on the podium, squeezed the mic, then addressed the crowd. Within the first two or three sentences spoken, I felt myself soaring with the attendees. We had become one in spirit. I spoke a little about my history, my origins, and my journey as an artist. Surprisingly, I found myself looking directly at various people as I spoke, engaging the audience and bringing everyone along on the tale I'd spun about Midnight Dreamers. I highlighted several of the paintings that lined the walls, focusing on the humanity behind the celebrity of each Dreamer I discussed. My original speech clocked in at just under 5 minutes. The speech I gave, free-flowing and free of fear, lasted nearly 10. When I was finished, the crowd gave me a standing ovation. One of the attendees told me that I was an excellent public speaker and that I should think about doing talks more often. I know my jaw must have hit the floor. The rest of the evening went very well. I made two sales and met a lot of great folks. For a little "party favor," I had business cards made by Moo.com. They each had one of five different prints of Dreamer paintings on the back. Those business cards were gobbled up by collectors. My stickers, featuring a self portrait in watercolor I call "Star Girl," flew, too. Before my husband Dean and I departed, Corey asked me if I would like to paint the Museum's new Little Library. I jumped at the chance. He also stated he wanted me to do another show in 2024, this time with Rhian Swain who, as mentioned earlier, owns RedWolf Advertising. I was speechless. It was the most amazing time ever, and I left that night exhausted, exhilarated, and emotional. Before the end of September, the show was extended for another month. If you haven't had time yet to visit the exhibition, you have till the end of October to see the show. Since that night, I have submitted a painting for the 7th Annual October Spooktacular event at Le Chat Noir. That reception happens on Friday, October 20 from 6-8pm. Just yesterday I found out that my piece, a portrait of Herman Munster, sold already! I have a piece in the upcoming Oysters on Telfair event at Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art. That event happens on November 2. Also, three of my paintings will be available to purchase at the upcoming Winter Art Show at City Gallery. I will share more on that when I have the info. I have no idea what the future holds, but there are several group events coming up in 2024, plus the show with Rhian and another show with my friend Rachel Shea Beck of Pelted Head Studio. Rachel and I are doing a collaboration on a brilliant idea that she came up with and I'm so excited. Voices of Augusta will happen again next summer at Augusta & Co. Heather Rene Dunaway has asked me to cocurate that one, and I already have some pieces in mind to make for the show. So much to look forward to, and I hope that you will come out to one or all of the events that are coming up. If you have made it this far, thank you for being here, for reading, and for being a subscriber to the newsletter and/or a reader of this blog. I hope you have an amazing autumn and that life is treating you well. Please enjoy the event photos that follow. I'll be working on commissions and trying new art ideas going forward for the rest of 2023. Until next time, much love and peace from my heart to yours. Francie I will never not be grateful for all the wonderful opportunities that present themselves to me. This morning I was a guest on The Morning Mix, a local morning news program on WRDW here in Augusta. The hosts Cliff Bennett and Zayna Haliburton were gracious as always and made me feel quite at home. This was the second time this year that I've appeared on the show. Today, I talked a little about my participation as social media marketer for the upcoming Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival. I was also given the opportunity to share a bit about Souls of the Midnight Dreamers, my solo art exhibit that is soon to hit the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History. SO many wonderful things happening this September! Didn't get a chance to bring it up, but there is another art show I'm a part of that takes place on September 1. It's the Book on a Box exhibit by the Book Tavern, downtown Augusta's amazing bookstore. Click all the links to read more about what's in store for September. Hope to see you around town next month!
Sponsored by Augusta's RedWolf Advertising, Souls of the Midnight Dreamers is a solo art exhibition celebrating human achievement and the power of dreams that come true. Each personality featured in this exhibit began their life’s journey with a dream. That dream became an all-consuming desire. Each person burned the midnight oil, lying in bed until the early morning hours dreaming of how to reach the heights, to land that role, that recording contract, that job they so longed to acquire. They were souls afire, ignited with a passion that kept them dreaming, figuring out ways to move one step closer and doing the work necessary to make their dreams come true. Each person here embodied the soul of a midnight dreamer, and their successes remind us that we, too, can realize our dreams no matter how big or how small they may be.
The exhibition will be on display for the entire month of September with works available for purchase. You're invited to attend as we celebrate the power of achieving our dreams! Bio: Francie Klopotic was born and raised in East Atlanta Village and taught herself to draw faces at the age of ten. A portrait artist for over 45 years, she finds exquisite beauty in the diversity of humanity and has spent most of her life drawing portraits in graphite and colored pencil. In 2018, she began showing her work at galleries and in art shows across the River Region. She has several collectors and many of her works are in private collections across the Southeast, Midwest and New England. In 2021 Francie picked up a paintbrush for the first time and began painting portraits in bold and bright hues. Painting opened up a whole new world for her as an artist, allowing Francie the ability to fully express her love for Pop Art and pop culture in a new way. Her influences include Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Peter Max, and Alex Katz. Francie’s goal as an artist is to encourage others to embrace their own uniqueness and to revel in their beauty, for every human is a work of art. It's been a super busy year for me! Here is another group show that I'm thrilled to be a part of, this time at my favorite black box theatre. On Friday evening, July 21, please join us at Le Chat Noir on 8th Street in downtown Augusta for Art of the Rings, the Fellowship of the Art Show. Heather Dunaway of the Greater Augusta Arts Council has curated this show celebrating The Lord of the Rings. As a portrait artist, you know I had to paint someone. So, I painted my interpretation of Gandalf. I hope to see you there! Gandalf by Francie Klopotic
On First Friday, July 7, there will be a celebration of women, goddess style, at 600 Broad in downtown Augusta! 4P Studios hosts the 2nd Annual Femmes de Pouvoir art show, and you're invited! Several local women artists have gathered together to explore what it means to be a woman of power, and the artwork is absolutely stunning. I'm honored to have a few pieces in this show and am sharing a wall with the insanely talented Christina Rice! My work on the left. Christina Rice's work on the right. All goddess inspired women of power! The reception will be held on July 7 starting at 7pm. Please mark your calendars now to join us in celebration of all things women!
Melinda Swift, owner of the Olde Town Inn, is hosting the upcoming Olde Town Inn Peach Gala to be held on Friday, July 7 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Olde Town Inn. Parking is located behind the Inn at 410 4th Street, Augusta, GA 30901.
This Gala is being held in celebration of Melinda's 7 years of Inn ownership in addition to the Inn’s 153rd anniversary. Each of the Inn's five rooms are being dedicated to one of five local women of Augusta history. Those women are Butterfly McQueen, Celia DeLaigle, Marion Hollins, Agnes Holliman, and Princess Augusta. With sponsor support, Melinda will be raising funds to house breast cancer patients at her Inn while they receive treatment. Melinda is a recent breast cancer survivor, so this event is very special to her personally. In addition to this, she will be awarding a $500 scholarship to a student at Davidson Fine Arts. I have been chosen to curate this art show and sale, and I can't express my gratitude and excitement at this opportunity! Dipping my toe in the sea of art show curating is scary but thrilling and I look forward to helping local artists find new collectors at this special art buying event. Tickets for the Gala are $40 per person. Victorian dress is encouraged but not mandatory. Click HERE to learn more and to purchase your tickets! Hope to see you at the Gala! |
Welcome!This is the space where I will keep you up to date on all of my arts news. Hope to see you out and about at local events! Archives
April 2024
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