About Fran Simon
I’ve always been a bit of a visual risk-taker.
My art journey began in preschool when my teacher handed me a coloring page and told me to color inside the lines. Oh, no, that would not do! I crumpled the page and asked for a blank sheet of paper so I could make my own image.
That instinct to defy the rules continued as a preteen in painting classes. When the teacher assigned a still life, I created an abstract instead — and that pretty much set the pattern.
Those early moments shaped how I approach both art and life. Taking a different path — often abstract and conceptual, and always big picture — is simply how I work.
And on it went…
After my earliest art experiences, I studied art at the Alabama School of Fine Arts and continued as a painting major during my first two years of college. Although I had a strong desire to create, I lacked confidence and became discouraged, eventually changing direction and earning a BA and M.Ed. in early childhood education.
For more than thirty years, I built a fulfilling career as an advocate, leader, business executive, and consultant. I was still always creating in all these roles, but not making much visual art.
In 2013, my life changed dramatically. After decades of managing a chronic degenerative heart condition, I received the gift of a heart transplant. Recovery was long, but it shifted my perspective and drew me back to painting. Returning to the studio felt less like starting over and more like reconnecting with something essential.
Since 2015, I’ve been painting, taking photos, collaging, and gel-printing, building a body of work — along with many failed experiments!
Now I am a Maryland-based artist in the Washington, DC area, a dog fanatic, beach lover, and very grateful heart-transplant recipient. I am an active member of the Montgomery Art Association and other local arts communities. My work has been exhibited in regional juried and member exhibitions, as well as at The Artists Gallery (TAG) in Frederick, Maryland.
My why…
I create for the joy of discovery. The simple question, "What would happen if…?" wakes me up in the morning and continues to fuel my evolution as an artist.
My deep interest in young children continues to influence my approach. Young children create with zeal and abandon, free from fear of getting it wrong. Their feelings show up on the page as honestly as they do in their actions and words. In the studio, I try to keep that same openness, allowing intuition to lead, and resisting the urge to over-control the work. In fact, they are natural abstract expressionists!
I hope my work is as inspiring to you as it is to me. I invite you to look, wonder, and make a personal connection to what you see.
Ode to My Gifts
This painting, Ode to My Gifts (right), was created near the beginning of my return to art. It holds my gratitude for my organ donor, my family, and the renewed ability to fully embrace life and make art.
The piece was inspired by an evening of music, dancing, and beach life — an experience I would not have had without my new heart and the support of my husband, son, extended family, and friends. The overlapping forms suggest our hearts entwined and the presence of my donor’s spirit within the work.
Contact
I love to talk. I especially love to talk about art.
Contact me to arrange a visit, inquire about purchasing a piece (or many), tell me something you like or dislike about my work, or collaborations.
I would love to connect with other artists who are interested in creating together either virtually or in the Washington, DC metro area.