Fran McIlvain offers a bold new approach to watercolor artwork. Her painting combines watercolor, acrylics, and paper collage to create exciting new visual effects. Fran's subject matter comes from varying motivations. Extensive world travel has supplied inspiration, but her everyday visualizations also influence what she paints. At times, the paint itself can be the impetus, a kind of spontaneous reaction. Creating a watercolor, acrylic, and paper collage requires a great deal of concentration and a thorough understanding of those mediums. Using many innovative combinations, she conveys new freedom of expression in both color and design.
EDUCATION
Fran received a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Education at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. She continued her scholastic pursuit of the arts in Europe and the United States, working at symposiums and studying with Nicholas Reale, Frank Webb, and Louise Cadillac; Tyler School of Art in Rome, Italy; Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA; Mounts Bay Art Center, Cornwall, UK; Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ; Monmouth University, Long Branch, NJ; and Friends of Arts & Science, Sarasota, FL.
Fran worked as a staff artist for Halsted & Van Vechten Advertising Agency. She is listed in Who's Who in American Art and Who's Who of American Women.
GALLERIES
Fran is represented by The Hang-Up Gallery in Sarasota, Florida, and by The Guild of Creative Art, Shrewsbury, New Jersey.
MEMBERSHIPS
American Watercolor Society, Signature Member
New Jersey Watercolor Society, Past President
Garden State Watercolor Society, Elected Member
Guild of Creative Art, Founding Member
National Collage Society, Inc., Associate
International Society of Experimental Artists, Associate
Hilton Leech Studio, Member
Longboat Key Art Center, Member
PUBLICATIONS