May 2011

NC Crafts Gallery in Carrboro, NC, Features Works by Janet Francoeur

The North Carolina Crafts Gallery in Carrboro, NC, will present the exhibit, From Carrboro to the Coast, an Artist Paints North Carolina, featuring paintings by New Bern, NC, artist Janet Francoeur, on view from May 1 - 31, 2011.

Focusing on her environment, Francoeur’s impressionistic and realistic paintings are done in watercolors and acrylics.

Francoeur moved to North Carolina in 1989 and immediately fell in love with the architecture and the landscape. After having lived in Colorado and Michigan she found spring in North Carolina to be breathtaking and is still inspired every year to paint North Carolina in bloom.

Francoeur holds a BA in drawing and printmaking from Siena Heights University, Adrian, MI, with additional study under Ken Auster, Ann Vasilik, and Mike Rooney. Her work is in public and private collections across the country, including New South Bank, John Hancock Insurance, Western History Collection of the Denver Public Library, the Michigan Historical Society and others.

Francoeur worked for twenty years in ink doing architectural renderings with additional work in the commercial printing industry and for the award winning Aspen Colorado newspaper, the Aspen Times, while pursuing her fine art on the side. After moving to New Bern she and her husband opened a gallery, Carolina Creations which they still operate today.

Viewers of Francoeur’s work often comment that her work “makes them feel good” and that they love the colors. “I paint things that make ME feel good so I am always thrilled to know it gets translated into my work.” The second comment always makes Francoeur smile. “When we moved to North Carolina I had been working in black and white for twenty years and didn’t have a clue how to mix colors. I was inspired by all the spring color. Over the next few years I taught myself how to mix paint by adding color to my ink drawings. After many years of doing this I finally felt confident enough to start painting and leaving out the lines!”.

This show at the North Carolina Crafts Gallery will feature paintings of scenes around Carrboro, including the farmers market, Fearington Village, the mosaic lady bench at Carr Mill Mall, and further east, scenes at Tryon Palace, and on to the live oaks east of Beaufort to name a few.

For further information check our NC Commercial Gallery listings, call the gallery at 919/942-4048 or visit (http://nccraftsgallery.com/).

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