Francine Markbein

Francine Markbein

Francine is an abstract painter who works primarily in oil & cold wax and in acrylics.  While living in New Orleans after graduating college and getting married, she tried to learn oil painting.  Enrolled at the New Orleans Studio School, which was run by one of the artists from Jackson Square, she tried painting still life, land and sea scapes and live models, all with disastrous results.  So, she quit.   After moving to Seattle she tried her hand at fiber arts with somewhat better results.  She participated in numerous street fairs, some of them invitational only, in and around the city.  Her work has been hung in restaurants and a hotel as well as many private homes.  Eventually, the demands of  family and career left no time for any artistic pursuits.  When she retired, she joined a painting group in her new community and was introduced to abstract painting.  She loved it instantly.  Using shapes, texture, line and color to make a statement or create a mood became her passion.  She paints because it makes her happy and she has been lucky to meet people who appreciate her work enough to want it for themselves.  Now that she has found her niche, she hopes to be able to continue to paint for a very long time.