Art by Frances Elson – Portraits Art Exhibition – MyArtContest.com

Artist: Frances Elson of Somis, CA

2013/14 Portraits Art Exhibition – MyArtContest.com

My professional career(s) over the past thirty years certainly speaks for my willingness to re-invent myself. Beginning with a Masters Degree in Social Work, I worked as a clinical therapist, then as an administrator (both in Michigan). Then a move to upstate New York led me to teaching at the State University of New York. After my husband, Ed, and I settled in Ventura, California I taught Social Work at UCSB extension and did some clinical work but finally gave in to my love of architecture and design. True to my character, I jumped into that world at the retail furniture level while learning about the field of interior design. In 1975 I opened my design studio, soon tested to qualify as a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers, and ultimately opened Gold Coast Design Center, a resource for other designers in the area. In the meantime my daughter Cheri had given us the gift of two incredible grandchildren, Jonathan and Tari, and I had become very involved in volunteer work. It was clear to me that the time had come for another change, so, in 1998, when my fabulous husband and I moved to our own little paradise in Somis, I felt the time had come to add some fine art activity to my life.  Maybe the interior designer in me demands that I “redocorate”  my life every now and then.  Wouldn’t want to get bored!

Having always loved any art form involving glass, and having wished often that I had the time and opportunity to pursue this passion, I finally took the plunge into classes and, after an introductory class at Focus on the Masters in Ventura, California, I was smitten!  I enrolled for a four-day class at Pacific Art Glass in Los Angeles and never looked back.  Thank goodness for my husband, Ed, who has always been supportive and who truly challenged me to “just do it”. So here I am, another incarnation of Fran as Frances Elson – glass artist !

Please feel free to browse at the photos of my work, and contact me with any questions or comments. I’d be happy to talk with you about designing special projects: tableware, tiles, gift items or any other items that you dream of and that I can find a way to fabricate in glass.