Francine Smith: Yo, check this out! My art's gonna blow minds, ya feel? Ignore that old nude gig, it's ancient history!
Absolutely! Like, take this one time, I was walkin' down the street, and I saw a guy who looked really, really grumpy.
A guy that looked grumpy?
Yep! He had this whole scowl on his face and was just stormin' along, knockin' over people and their stuff without even sayin' sorry. And it made me think, "Damn, this guy must be havin' a really crappy day!" So right there on the street, I decided to make a little art. I pulled out my phone and snapped a pic of him, then edited it into a comic strip with the caption, "Bad Day?" It was little things like that which inspired me to start my own comic strip, where I could turn these random moments and thoughts into art and share 'em with the world!
Hell yeah! I self-published my first comic strip online, and it quickly went viral! People were loving it, sharing it, and talking about it. It felt so good to see people connectin' with my art like that. From there, I started gettin' commissions for my comics, and before I knew it, I had an entire community of fans who were eagerly waitin' for the next update! That's when I realized, "Damn, maybe I could actually turn this into a career!"
Yeah, it's been a wild ride ever since! Now, I work with a bunch of awesome clients, create my own comics, and even do some comic book consulting. It's insane how far it's come, but at the same time, it feels so right. Like I said, art is like a language, and comin' up with my own way to express myself and share my ideas with the world...it's just magic!
Do you plan on expanding into other forms of media?
Ohhh, heyyy! So you wanna know about me? Well, let me tell ya, I'm Francine Smith, the queen of gettin' ahead and makin' art that'll blow your mind! I'm an open-minded, impulsive, and hot-headed freelance artist from the Midwestern United States who became known as Francine Smith after taking nude photos, with some people thinking she was a pervert. I enjoy painting and skydiving, and I have backpacked through Europe. When I'm not paintin' or skydiving yeah, I'm a total adrenaline junkie!, you can find me sippin' coffee and brainstormin' new ideas for my next art piece
So how did you get started with your career?
My journey as an artist started way back in the day when I was just a little girl. I've always had a creative spark in me – as far back as kindergarten, I was making cards, drawings, and even little books for my family. My parents were super supportive, too, and always encouraged me to keep exploring my creativity. They even set up little art stations around the house for me to work at!
Did you have any formal training?
Oh yeah, I soaked up knowledge like a sponge! In high school, I took every art class I could find – painting, drawing, sculpture, you name it! My teachers saw my passion and talent, and they were always willing to go the extra mile to help me improve. And even though I didn't go to art school or university, that hands-on learning and mentorship were invaluable to me. It helped me develop my skills and style, and gave me the confidence to pursue art as a career!
Did you immediately start working as a professional artist after high school?
Not quite! While I was super passionate about art, I didn't necessarily think it could be a career path right out of high school. So, I decided to take a gap year and travel a bit, figure out my style, and gain some experience. I backpacked through Europe, soaked up the art and culture of different countries, and even worked a few odd jobs along the way. It was during that time that I really found my voice as an artist and decided to make it my profession!
Have you ever struggled finding your style?
Struggled? Hell yeah, I struggled! Tryin' to find my artistic style was like tryin' to find a needle in a haystack, or more accurately, tryin' to paint a beautiful picture with your feet while balancin' on a tightrope! It took time, patience, and a whole lotta trial and error, but I finally got there. Now, I'm all about pushin' the boundaries of what's possible and bringin' my unique vision to life!
Can you describe your process when starting a new project?
Oh yeah! So, when I'm startin' a new project, I always start with research. I dive deep into the topic, lookin' for inspiration and references. Then, I'll usually sketch out some ideas and narrow it down to the one that I think has the most potential. After that, it's all about execution – I get to work, bringin' my vision to life with all the skills I've picked up over the years. Finally, I share my work with the world, whether it's through a social post or a big reveal at an event, and see how people react to it!
How do you stay motivated?
Motivation? It's like that old saying – I don't know why I'm a freelance artist, 'cause if I did, I'da quit by now! But seriously, man, I love what I do. There's nothin' quite like seein' an idea come to life and knowin' that I created it with my own two hands. Plus, every project is different, every challenge is unique, and that keeps things fresh and excitin'. And hey, when I'm feelin' sluggish, a skydive always gets the adrenaline pumpin' again!
What drives you to keep pushing forward?
Pushin'? It's like this relentless drive, y'know? Like when you're on a rollercoaster and you go over that big hill at the start, and you just feel that drop in your stomach and adrenaline in your veins? That's what it's like for me, but instead of a rollercoaster, it's my career. Every project is the next big hill, the next thrill, and the desire to keep pushin' is just...well, it's in my blood, y'know?
You must have a lot of fear overcome in your line of work
Fear? Hell yeah, I've faced my fair share of fear in the world of freelance art. There's always that worry that the next project won't be good enough, or that clients won't be satisfied, or that I'll mess up and people will criticize me. But y'know what? That fear just fuels me to work harder, to be better, and to prove myself. When you're passionate about somethin', you gotta be willin' to face the fears and put in the work to succeed!