My inspirations
I love the quiet beauty of simple well-made ceramics, yet my pots are colourful, humorous and full of personal stories. Some ceramic artists that have influenced me are all storytellers in their own right. They include Ingrid Nicoli, Mathias Osterman, Walter Ostrom, Viola Frey, and Wendy Walgate.
My inspirations come from beautifully designed textiles, the sunny warm colours of the Mediterranean, and painters who celebrate colour – Paul Cézanne, Paul Klee, Hundertwasser, Georgia O’Keefe and Fred Franzen (my dad) to name a few.
Sunflowers are a reoccurring theme in my work. They were my mom’s favourite flower. Their large yellow heads will turn in unison to follow the light of the sun. My husband tells a wonderful story of wandering “far from home” as a wee lad and gazing upon a patch of enormous sunflowers in a neighbour’s garden. Dave says, “I knew then that fairies had to be real.”
Quinten Blake, and Brian Wildsmith and other children’s illustrators were introduced to me when I worked at the “Children’s Bookstore” in Toronto. Their quirky illustrative way of story telling appealed to my sensibility.
These days I continue to draw humour into my work and I am inspired by my immediate surroundings in Toronto’s east end Beach Hill neighbourhood. My studio looks out onto the Williamson Ravine which is home to Coyotes, Copper hawks, woodpeckers. a place where my own iconic bird The Wembley Warbler sang its first song.
Community
I have always grown up with art in my life.
My dad Fred Franzen, facilitated many collaborative art projects in schools over a 50 year period both in Canada and the USA. The Wall of Withrow mural at Withrow Public School in Riverdale Toronto was one school project that stands out in my memory.
I recently discovered that I make a cameo appearance in the documentary towards the end of the video. I’m the young teenager with long hair who climbs up the ladder with paint and brush in hand to do a few touch ups, an activity (due to the many safety regulations while on school property) that would surely not be allowed today.
The Wall of Withrow was such an amazing memorable collaboration. It allowed participants young and old to make their mark and contribute their energy on this large exterior mural and for many of us it remains a highlight that we still talk about.
In my current art practice it is still extremely important and meaningful to be part of creative collaborations.
