How long have you been an artist? 

A very long time.

Who/what are your biggest influences?

Life is my biggest influence. The good, the bad, the beautiful, and the ugly.

Briefly describe your process for creating a work of art.

For my abstracts, I begin with random markings using graphite. From there it is an intuitive process… observing and searching. I often feel like a bystander, watching the work progress as my brush dances across the canvas. The finished product is as much of a surprise to me as to anyone else.

What do you listen to when you work, if anything? 

Whatever Alexa picks for me.

When do you know a piece is finished?

I know that’s a big issue for artists. I guess I know it is finished when there is nothing about the painting that is making me uncomfortable or bothering me. And then I get that special feeling of feeling excited.

How has the current shelter-in-place order affected your work?

Under other circumstances my time is generally so committed. Under the shelter in place order I am able to be more focused.

What is the one thing people would be surprised to learn about you.

I think of a “sense of humor “ as a priority for life, but I don’t like funny books.

And just for fun:

What's your favorite color?

Love them all!

What's your favorite song?

I don’t know if I have one favorite song but I always get tearful when I hear Louie Armstrong sing “It’s a Wonderful World.”

What’s your favorite movie?

One of my favorites is an older movie called “Sliding Doors” with Gwyneth Paltrow.

Who is your favorite author?

Not sure who my favorite author is because there are so many to choose from. My favorite things to do are eat and read... but not at the same time.

Where are you going to travel when we safely can?

To Florida and Colorado to be with my children.

From the Artist:
Although painting in many genres, at present Fran Scher consider herself an abstract artist. Working in acrylics, she often begins the process using graphite to make markings on the canvas, and the adventure begins there. Using layers and layers of paint, the journey is completely intuitive, giving Scher a new-found freedom and methodology within the creative process. Graduating university with a degree in Art Education, Scher taught Art in public schools in New York for a number of years. Scher has studied with many artists and teachers, including Phyllis Franco, Kris, Meadows, Gary Bodner, Alice Williams, Jim Richards and Leslie Newman.

I believe abstract art is much like music. What does it mean? It is all about how it makes you feel that is important, and I hope my work makes the viewer feel good. What happens on the canvas is an intuitive process for me...never knowing where the adventure will take me.