Bill and Jan Francis
“We All Need a Creative Outlet”
Bill and Jan Francis work in complimentary mediums. Jan paints in acrylics while Bill’s canvas is the yard, pondside, and garden, and his gifts extend to volunteering with Duke Gardens. Jan’s creative process is an unstated, imperceptible inspiration. It ignites subtly within her mind, finding its way through the silent synapses through her hand and the brush onto the canvas.
While inspirations come from the beauty in the world around her, she may not begin with an image in mind, a photograph, or even a conscious idea. She is drawn to her studio, the paints and brushes almost calling to her, and she cannot refuse them. “I just start painting and see what comes out. Sometimes, it begins as one thing and ends up as something entirely different. I sometimes gesso over an unsuccessful canvas and then reimagine the entire scene, using the texture in the new concept. A blue cabin I am not pleased with becomes a waterway with clouds, grass, and trees, or a vase of flowers that doesn’t feel right might become a pastoral scene.” Self-taught, Jan’s journey into art began in childhood with an interest in crayons and color.
That interest percolated for many years. Life took precedence. Raising a daughter. Supporting and caring for the family. It wasn’t until the late 1980s that Jan took her first watercolor class with a Duke Continuing Education course. “I knew from that first class that I was in love with painting.” From there she continued learning and researching, watching videos of artists she likes, taking workshops and studying with other artists. “For several years, I took week-long workshops at the Trinity Center in Emerald Isle and practiced applying what I had learned. I took weekly classes with several different local artists and studied with them for a few years. I learned something different from each one and applied techniques, mediums and tools, blending and mixing colors and exploring endless ideas of what’s possible. I am always trying new things and creating my own style.” Most recently, she has experimented with abstracts but finds that style most challenging! Following surgery on her right hand in 2022, to pass the time and keep inspiration flowing, Jan picked up the brushes with her left hand. Just “fooling around,” she painted a simple vase of flowers with her left hand and was quite pleased with the result!
While Jan’s inspirations are not directly informed by her personal surroundings, the Francis outdoor space is tranquil and beautiful, and the windows in her home studio look out to the pond providing frequent inspiration. Bill’s canvas is his own backyard. Yellow iris along the banks of the pond wave in the breeze casting reflections in the water like a Van Gogh painting. Trees and flowering ornamentals offer color and texture year-round. In the autumn, the trees surrounding the pond are mirrored in the water like an autumnal watercolor. Yearlong residents in their pond include an abundance of stocked fish, frogs and a “pet” turtle. Periodic visitors include Blue Herons, a variety of ducks and frequent thirsty deer. Volunteering with Duke Gardens is an outlet and a place of camaraderie for Bill. “I work with some great people there and have learned so much. I can show up and find myself in a group digging post holes or pulling out old plants or shoveling dirt right alongside retired scientists or engineers. The conversations are always interesting. It is absolutely amazing to see how the professional staff of Duke Gardens sustains this incredible community asset.”
Bill does similar volunteer work as a member of the American Legion where he has used his pond management skills to help maintain their pond. Bill is also an avid partner in Jan’s work. He makes custom-size frames and canvases and helps Jan set up exhibits. Jan says, “He is my best marketing tool, and he can fix or make just about anything. He has a good eye for composition and always lets me know when my horizons are not straight or if a vase is floating. I value his input!” Jan’s Instagram pages offer a sampling of her versatility, from landscapes, seascapes, and florals to cottages reminiscent of an Italian cityscape.
Look for Jan on Instagram as jancole 4740