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Frances Ferdinands – Art and Cake

September 20, 2024 - Art

Work in Progress, Acrylic on Canvas, 34″x 44″,2024.

Frances Ferdinands
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Age 72

What keeps you excited in the studio?
My Studio has always been my ‘home’ no matter where the location was. So just physically being there is exciting. Frightening is facing a blank canvas. Exciting is the prospect of abandoning preconceived notions and opening myself to letting the painting lead the way. Every day is a challenging process of problem solving and making new discoveries. The process can be quite exhilarating.

Looking back at your trajectory as an artist, how would you say your work has developed?
At University I painted abstractly (often badly) and created my first hanging installation. Later I moved on to painting figuratively within thematically-based series as I felt that abstraction for me was not satisfying in communicating my relationship to the world around me. The merging of ideas with imagery is still relevant to my practice even though in the last few years I have moved into abstraction once again. Presently I feel like I have come full circle as I am combining installation with abstract painting, and feel that the relationship between the two creates a 3rd dimension that enhances both mediums.

What role do you think the artist has in today’s society?
Sadly I think the artist is largely ignored or irrelevant to the larger society. Most only pay lip service to the artists importance in contributing to a healthy, vibrant, culture. Creating Beauty is much needed in today’s polarised world and is a political act.

What’s the most important advice you could give to an aspiring artist?
You must be absolutely passionate about your decision as it will be a difficult life. If you have a choice, do something else. Having said that, I don’t regret my decision as it has been a rewarding and fulfilling life. The work is its own reward.

Does age matter in art? Why or why not?
Yes and No. Great art can be produced at an early age. I don’t produce a ton of work. I need to ruminate, let the work take its time. Ideas, skill and craftsmanship have always been important to me. I have been exhibiting for 4 decades and I think the quality and breadth of my work has deepened over time.

What can we look forward to from you next?
I am hoping that my current Solo Exhibition “Covenant of Circles” consisting of a large hanging installation of embroidery hoops combined with abstract paintings on paper and canvas will travel to other Art Galleries in Canada.

Is there anything else you would like to share about being an artist later in life?
Being an ‘older’ artist is both a blessing and a curse. However one develops acceptance and patience later in life realizing that everything takes time. One of the benefits is the opportunity to develop a rich inner life along the way. The years of perseverance pays off. Hopefully not only do you grow as an artist but you grow as a human being.

http://www.francesferdinands.com
http://www.instagram.com/francesferdinands

Many Moons, Acrylic, Marker, Beads, on Canvas, 36″x60″, 2024. From “Covenant of Circles” exhibition




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