About

Autumn 2021

Artist Statement

Become a Patron
I am most inspired by things that bring me joy. The concepts for my portraits are often based on a color scheme or element from nature. I enjoy outdoor activities, including hiking and kayaking, where the seeds of an idea often sprout. I find joy in the color and texture of moss, ephemeral wildflowers, acorns, mushrooms, and bird feathers along the paths I travel.
Forest environments elicit a fullness of heart, and I cannot resist a woodland trail. I find peace in the sound of the wind rustling through the leaf canopy and joy in birdsong. The structure of trees fascinates me in all seasons, from the bare branches of winter to the vibrant colors of autumn leaves.

My narrative portraits are typically conceptual in nature, with a focus on female empowerment. With so much negativity in the world, I find it important to focus on positive imagery and stories. By combining my figures with the natural elements that inspire the aesthetic of their portrait, I offer an alternative to the ugliness and negativity that is so dominant in our culture.
I choose my models based on their authenticity, sincerity, and self-confidence, rather than their appearance or body type because I believe interesting stories are far more important than fashion trends. Many of the women I work with are trauma survivors, have unconventional jobs or pursuits, and have the self-confidence to walk through the world as if they own it. They are women whose life experiences have led them toward a path of individuality and strength.

My studio process starts with an interview of each woman, building a foundation for descriptive imagery and symbolism that I use to create her narrative portrait. After shooting reference photos, I start developing a concept based on our conversation by pulling out compelling words or phrases and looking for appropriate symbolism to illustrate them. Once I have a general concept for my model’s portrait, I will put together a sketch or collage in my concept journal that captures the essence of her personality. Sometimes my models have specific concepts they want to explore, and I involve them more directly in the conceptual process by showing them my initial sketches and asking for their feedback.

I enjoy telling stories through a combination of narrative and visual elements. I am drawn to portraiture by an appreciation of the female form and an interest in the personalities that make my models unique. When creating the final portrait, I layer oil paints over more graphic and expressive elements, allowing the foundational techniques to show through the entire process. I often include bold words as part of the composition or incorporate longer phrases or bodies of text in the background as more subtle design elements. In this way, I invite the viewer to spend time with my model, exploring her surroundings and uncovering more of her story. Often, I choose to tell parts of my own story in self-portraits, illustrating the strong connection I feel to nature.
Facial expressions, posture, and the position of the figure in their environment set the mood for a portrait, encouraging the viewer to examine her story through visual clues like symbolism, poetry, song lyrics, and graphic elements concealed within the layers of the portrait. I use color as well as these layers of textural or graphic elements to move the viewer’s attention around the composition. These elements often create tension in the background to highlight an important concept or to place emphasis on a particular part of the composition to further illustrate the underlying concept of a portrait.

I enjoy this narrative painting process because it allows me to incorporate an illustrative style into the traditional oil painting medium. I find myself drawn to oils for their luminosity and richness, the variety of consistencies ranging from translucent to opaque, and the ability to create textures and expressive marks within their layers. I have developed my own techniques for painting that allow me to combine the drawing media I love so much from my training as an illustrator with the more traditional media of oils.

Bio

Frances Byrd is a portrait artist from Florida’s historic coast, living in the Georgia Piedmont. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 1997.  Her bold and dynamic painting style, combined with a passion for female empowerment, have resulted in a portfolio of narrative portraits that capture the unique personalities of her models.

In 2021, one of her self-portraits was purchased for the permanent collection at The Hudgens Center for Art and Learning in Duluth, Georgia. Her nature-based public works are on display in Gainesville, Atlanta, and across Jackson County, Georgia. She has received awards from the Atlanta Branch of the National League of American Pen Women, Quinlan Visual Arts Center, Georgia Art League, Hoschton Heritage Arts Council, and Tannery Row Artists’ Colony. In 2022, Frances launched her portfolio of Wild Woman Portraits during the Winter Exhibitions at The Quinlan Visual Arts Center in Gainesville, Georgia.

Over the last decade, Frances has volunteered on the Jackson County Arts Council as a board member, as well as the planning committee for the Folk to Fine Arts Festival in Commerce, Georgia. She recently designed her first coloring book illustrating women who have supported her work by sharing their stories and is currently focused on translating them to larger narrative portraits.

Professional Summary

Exhibitions
2024 Brevard, NC: SAFE Transylvania Headquarters
2022 Commerce, GA: Solo Show @ Strange Duck Brewing
2017 & 2015 Commerce, GA: Solo Show at Commerce Public Library
2008 Atlanta, GA: Solo Show, Apache Cafe

Public Art
2023 Watkinsville, GA: Hardigree Park Mural Installation
Rockin’ Art in the Park Live Painting Event (10/14)         
Gainesville, GA: Melrose Community Mural Project for Gainesville Housing Authority
2022 & 2023 Braselton, GA: Art Rageous Live Painting Event and Mural Installation on Hwy 53
2021 Atlanta, GA: Button Art.org Installation at Spring Hall Event Venue
Commerce, GA: Strange Duck Brewing Mural
Gainesville, GA: Vision 2030 Free-Range Mural Project on the Longstreet Clinic Parking Deck
2018 Gainesville, GA; Flag Mural at Hall County Farmers Market
2017 Commerce, GA; Water Walk Protect; painted fire hydrant
2016 Gainesville, GA; Vision 2030 Free-Range Mural Project on the Gainesville Greenway
2014 Jackson County, GA: Chamber of Commerce Painted Geocache Project
Commerce, GA: Scarecrow Photo Booth for Downtown Development Authority
2012 Atlanta, GA: Intown Art Box Project

Group Shows
2024 Brevard, NC: Birds, Butterflies and Blooms Show at Transylvania Community Arts Council
SAFE Transylvania Fundraiser at Oskar Blues Brewery
Athens, GA: ATHICA Members Show
La Grange, GA: 5^th Annual Southeast Regional Exhibition
Commerce, GA: Public Library Art for Dementia Awareness
2023 Athens, GA: Really Big Art Rally with Cine Athens and ATHICA
Buford, Ga: Tannery Row Artist Colony Spring Juried Art Exhibition
Watkinsville, GA: OCAF Juried Members Show
Watkinsville, GA: OCAF Juried Myth, Magic, & Mystery Show
2022 Watkinsville, GA: OCAF Juried Members Show
Watkinsville, GA: OCAF Juried Figuratively Speaking Show
Duluth, GA: Hudgens Center for Art and Learning Annual Juried Members Show
Gainesville, GA: Quinlan Visual Arts Center Winter Exhibitions
2021 Watkinsville, GA: OCAF Juried Show
Watkinsville, GA: OCAF Cut & Paste: The Art of Collage and Assemblage
2020 Monroe, GA: Monroe Walton Center for the Arts Regional Juried Show
2019 Sugar Hill, GA: Sugar Hill Arts Commission Juried Show
2017 Commerce, GA: Jackson County Arts Council Juried Art Show and Gala
2016 & 2018 Gainesville, GA: Quinlan Visual Arts Center Juried Folk Art Show
2015 Gainesville, GA: Atlanta Branch National League of American Pen Women Juried Show
2014 & 2015 Commerce, GA: Folk to Fine Arts Festival
2014 – 2019 Gainesville, GA: Quinlan Visual Arts Center Annual Gala
2012 Mableton, GA: Atlanta Branch National League of American Pen Women Juried Show
2010 Buford, GA: Tannery Row Artist Colony Juried Show: Music and Me
Buford, GA: Tannery Row Artist Colony Juried Show: The Joy of Six
2009 – 2011 Atlanta, GA: Art Papers Annual Juried Art Gala
2009 Buford, Ga: Tannery Row Artist Colony Juried Show: Word

Permanent Collections
Duluth, GA: Hudgens Center for Art and Learning
Rise From The Ashes, mixed media assemblage

Awards

2021 Duluth, GA: Hudgens Center for Art and Learning, Juried Members Show, Purchase Prize
2019 Hoschton, GA: Hoschton Heritage Arts Council Annual Juried Show, 2^nd Place
2018 Gainesville, GA: Georgia Art League Members Show, 2^nd Place
2015 Gainesville, GA: Quinlan Visual Arts Center Annual Juried Members Show, Honorable Mention
2012 Atlanta, GA: Atlanta Branch National League of American Pen Women Juried Show, 3rdPlace

Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Illustration The Savannah College of Art and Design 1997

Boards
2013 – 2016 Jackson County Arts Council
2014 & 2015 Folk to Fine Arts Festival Planning Committee, Commerce, GA

Professional Services
Commissions: fine art, portraiture, murals, illustration, printmaking
Public Art: consulting and event management, murals, live painting events

birdlady@francesbyrd.art