Whether it’s a flower at her El stop or a stately Federal mansion at her favorite cemetery, Suzanne Francis finds inspiration for her prints and paintings all around her. History, architecture, flora and fauna have influenced her work since she started creating and selling art in the mid-90s. “I started doing it because it was something I wanted to see,” she says. “I’ve always been interested in the things around me.”
The Ardmore, Pa., resident lived in Philadelphia from 1993 to 2012 and considers the metro area her “stomping grounds.” Her work remains full of her interpretations of homes, parks and city landmarks, including Love Park, City Hall, and the 30th Street Station. She uses gouache, a type of paint that’s made when watercolors are mixed with gum arabic, giving it a more opaque look that creates an ethereal stained-glass appearance to some of her works.
One landmark she plans on celebrating in a few prints is The Woodlands, where the Go West! Craft Fest has been held since 2012. The site includes a cemetery, garden and mansion. “I love that [Go West is] in a graveyard,” she says. “The event is really fun.”
To learn more about Suzanne Francis Fine Art, visit suzannefrancisfineart.com.
