About the Artist
ARTIST STATEMENT:
Heidi Franscioni is an interdisciplinary fine art photographer
working in a variety of different mediums. She is best known for her encaustic
photographic paintings; applying layers of hot molten beeswax with her
photographic images. Her work often references nude studies, architecture,
saturated color, transparent forms, and found objects. Dreamlike issues are
explored, encouraging the viewer to be transformed to another place and time.
At times, her art becomes a personal religion, crossing lines between
traditional art, other disciplines, and her connection to Spirit. Franscioni
says, “When done well, my art feels as though it is channeled through my body.
As a conduit, I often feel as if Spirit is directing my hands. My mind then
follows, reading the story that my hands tell.”
Franscioni received her Bachelor of Arts from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio
(1985) with additional graduate studies at California College of the Arts in
Oakland, California (1985-1987).
From 1989 to 2001 she owned and operated Wind & Sea Studio in West Marin County,
designing and wholesaling a collection of handmade greeting cards, photo albums,
journals, bath products and other giftware. In 2001, she closed this business to
focus more time on her fine art.
In 2003, she and her husband moved to Paso Robles, California and opened a music
academy, live music venue, and retail store called
Matt’s Music, Stage & School. In
April of this year, Franscioni moved her studio into
Studios On The Park; a year round
open studio concept located across from the park in downtown Paso Robles. From
there, she shows her work and
teaches encaustic
painting.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
July 2009, Castoro Cellars, Templeton, California
“Building the Greenhouse”
May 2009, Sally Loo’s, San Luis Obispo, California
“When Animals Dream” selected works
January 2008, Firefly Gallery, Paso Robles, California
“When Animals Dream”; A personal study of fertility and
fantasy
November 1998, Sacramento, California
Selected works featuring nude studies
September 1996, Marshall, California.
“Luminous objects”; film positives & found objects,
illuminated with candles & oil lamps
GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
May 2010 & May 2009, Studios On The Park, Paso Robles,
California
"Follow The River, Paint the Dream", invitational show
May 2009, Clark Center For Performing Arts, Arroyo Grande, California
Duo show of selected works
November 2008, Firefly Gallery, Paso Robles, California
“Imaginary Landscape”, Duo show
September 2008, Firefly Gallery, Paso Robles, California
“Zone North”
May 1998, Summer Wind Gallery, Isleton, California.
featuring the works of Sacramento Delta Women
May 2007, Summer Wind Gallery, Isleton, California
Group Show featuring embellished suitcases
May 1996, Austin, Texas
“Nude Works”
PUBLISHINGS:
1997, Published in Women Photographers,
A selection of images from the Women in Photography
International Archive 1852-1997
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
Founding Artist at Studios On The Park in Paso Robles,
California
ARTS Obispo, The San Luis Obispo Arts Council
Artist Comments about her collections:
"When Animals Dream" Series
These works represent a personal study of fantasy
and fertility symbolically expressed
as animals are suspended in a dream like state.
Chlorophyll Printing
Using the
natural process of photosynthesis, plant leaves have been exposed to the sun for
several days under film. Areas on the leaf that are still exposed to the sun
under the light areas of film continue to photosynthesize, while areas covered
by the film will darken. As a
result, the film images are transferred onto the leaves and they form miniature
canvases in their own right. These leaves are then preserved in wax and
incorporated into my encaustic paintings.
"Building The Greenhouse" Series:
During a time in our history when many of us are slowing
down, reprioritizing, and cutting back on the distractions of our lives, I find
it is a natural time of stillness, contemplation, and nesting. This art comes on
the heels of a parallel body of work presented last year which delved into
issues of fertility and fantasy. It is natural that what comes now for me is an
honoring of the life around us.
This collection is about my dream of someday building a greenhouse. On a
much more rooted level however it reflects our spiritual yearning to create a
safe haven of love in our lives, a nest on our planet, and a place of health and
beauty. It’s about celebrating the seeds of life and the growth that happens
when we nurture our humanity.
The pieces in this collection are represented by photographs on wooden
panels with encaustic painting; the layering of hot molten beeswax onto the
surface of my images. I refer to my original images as “photographic underlays,”
and paint over my photographs much like a traditional painter would paint over a
sketched drawing. This allows me to reinterpret my photographs and further play
with transparent ghost-like images, creating a fantasy experience which echoes
our dream memories. A variety of other techniques are also employed including
photo transfers, incising into the wax, and the application of oil paint in
order to further embellish the surface.
View a slideshow
which shows the images under the encaustic paintings from this series.
Info on
the care & feeding of encaustic art
Heidi's maiden name is Heidi Fruehan