Today we’d like to introduce you to Abigail Frank.
Abigail, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always known I wanted to be an artist. Since I can remember, I’ve been making and thinking about creative ways to make the next piece. When I was little, I loved my colored pencils and watercolors. One of my favorite activities was to make watercolor cards for friends and family for every occasion with my mom. She nurtured my love for the arts and gave me the confidence to choose to pursue being an artist.
I still love to watercolor but now mostly focus on working with oil paint. Often, I will refer to a watercolor study while making a larger oil painting. I’m interested in experimenting with different ways to apply paint to discover new textures and forms. In each painting, I learn something new that I include in the following piece to continue to develop a vocabulary of painted forms stored in my muscle memory.
I have shown work in exhibitions in New England and the Midwest. My work has been commissioned and purchased by private collectors throughout the country. I have also done a residency at the Vermont Studio Center. Today, I have a home studio where I continue to paint, taking commissions and participating in shows as opportunities come my way.
In addition to making my own artwork, I love supporting other artists. After graduating from the painting program at Boston University in 2016, I was presented with an amazing opportunity to join the team at TurningArt, an art firm based in Boston that works with artists all over the world to place their artwork in commercial, corporate, and private spaces. I have really enjoyed working at TurningArt and am excited to continue to support artists with the amazing TurningArt team.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It is not an easy path to create a career in the arts. I have been so lucky to have met some incredibly talented, smart, strong women working in the arts. They have been really inspiring role models for me.
My advice to other young women is:
1. Create a schedule for dedicated creative/studio time. Balancing studio time, personal time, and work is a challenge. At the end of the day, sometimes, I just want to sit down and watch Netflix on the couch. But it is important to stick to a schedule to ensure that you are putting in the time to grow your artist/creative practice.
2. Make a space dedicated to work. Having a space to make has been essential for my studio practice and mindset. I have discovered that I am a person who needs to feel like all the elements in my life are set up in order to be able to feel creative and comfortable to make. When I step into my studio space, I am able to completely focus on painting.
3. Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way! Never say you can’t – just jump right in and you’ll be able to go places you wouldn’t have been able to dream you’d end up landing. Be bold! Know that you have something important to share with and contribute to the world. Just believe that you’re equipped to handle whatever you’re faced with and trust that you’ll end up being the best “you” you can be.
I feel like I am just getting started. I’m still searching to find a balance between working in the art world and being an artist. I’ve been fortunate to have had some really amazing learning opportunities come the way that has allowed me to develop professionally, artistically, and also personally. I am excited about what the future will bring.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into n/a story. Tell us more about the business.
At TurningArt, I am the Artist Team Manager. I work with the artist community at TurningArt to assist artists on the website, facilitate projects, recruit new artists to join TurningArt and work to provide increased value to TurningArtists to help them grow their careers. It is so rewarding to be a part of a company that is working to help artists reach expanding audiences and increase their revenue. My favorite part of my role at TurningArt is being able to share with an artist that one of our clients has selected their work.
It is such a joy to work with other artists, listen to their stories, and learn about the work they make. I am inspired every day by the artists I work with and am motivated by TurningArtists to continue to explore in my studio practice.
My paintings are mostly made by pouring, blotting, spraying, dripping, and wiping paint. I am interested in manipulating paint in ways that minimize the evidence of my hand’s gesture. I want to create painted forms that have a life of their own that are spontaneous and surprising. Painting is an experimental process for me. I can feel a painting is finished when I’ve discovered something unique and new in the relationship between the painted forms on the surface.
Looking back on your childhood, what experiences do you feel played an important role in shaping the person you grew up to be?
My parents were a huge support to me growing up. I was always given a boost of confidence and told that I was ready to take on whatever waited for me walking out the door. I was so lucky to have such a great network growing up. I hope that one day, I can be as supportive and loving to my family as my parents have been to me. I feel so fortunate to have had this support system and realize how important it is to support others around me.
I have also been fortunate to have had really inspiring women art instructors growing up who were important role models to me and encouraged me to feel empowered to pursue a career in the arts and nourish my artistic practice. I have these teachers and my family to thank for my success so far.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.abigailfrank.space
- Phone: 317-697-9294
- Email: abigailf1216@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a_bby_frank/
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