Meet Francie Brentt!
Francie is one of PPWS’ Featured Artists for February 2026!
Francei joined PPWS in 2024 and is an Associate Member.
Francie’s Bio:
As a young child, I was always drawing, but my school didn’t offer many art opportunities and I didn’t know any artists. So, it wasn’t until late in high school that I had access to drawing and painting classes. In college I enjoyed drawing, painting and printmaking classes, but, looking back, I realize we were not taught color theory, composition or techniques (other than approaches to drawing). It was the era of encouraging students to just express themselves, and all of us art students were busy cranking out huge abstract paintings. I graduated with an art degree, but had major gaps in my knowledge and felt disillusioned.
Eventually I got a Masters degree in Counseling and had a 30-year career in counseling and child protection as a children’s play therapist. Working full-time, commuting and raising kids left no time for art.
After retirement I tried a few art classes, but it wasn’t until I took a fun and playful workshop from a visiting multimedia artist, Laura Raborn, at Bemis School of Art in 2021 that my excitement and enjoyment of art was rekindled. Afterward I joined a friend’s Portrait Group at the CS Senior Center to work on my drawing skills. That led me to try watercolor classes taught by Steve Bustamante at the CS Senior Center which I’ve continued ever since. Maybe it’s because I find watercolor so challenging (and frustrating), that I have become a bit obsessed (and stubborn) about trying to become better at watercolor. I’ve learned that, for me, making art with other people inspires and motivates me, and I learn so much from other artists.
Francie’s favorite things to paint:
Nature! Landscapes, plants, still lifes and people. I love doing spontaneous watercolor sketches at sunrise and sunset. I enjoy the struggle of making art outdoors, so I jumped into painting with the local PAAC (Plein Air Artists Colorado) group this past summer.
Besides watercolors, Francie also like to work with drawing mediums (graphite, charcoal, ink, colored pencils), gouache and pastels. She is also currently trying to learn oil painting with water-soluble oils.
Francie’s favorite or most admired artists:
I love art museums and anything about art history, so… Sargent, Mary Cassatt, Degas, Van Gogh, Matisse, Bonnard, Richard Diebenkorn, David Hockney, Wayne Thiebaud, Mary Whyte and James Gurney. Also, artists who painted nocturnes – Winslow Homer, Turner, Remington, and Maxfield Parrish
FAVORITE ARTSY QUOTE
“In painting, as in life, you can get away with a great deal as long as you have your values right.”
– Harley Brown
Francie’s goals for the next year:
Paint better, paint bigger, paint outdoors, make art with friends, paint more regularly and learn oil painting
Francie’s Tip or Trick:
Even when I feel rushed, even painting outdoors, I’ve found that making a thumbnail sketch at the beginning makes everything go smoother.
