Interview
Quimby Franovich
Quimby grew up in a loving family that struggled to make ends meet, but always managed to provide a happy home for her and her siblings. Resourceful, tenacious and talented, Quimby’s mother monetized her artistic gifts to support the family. Such childhood experiences and life lessons from her mom showed Quimby that artistic skills hold great value, if intentionally applied.
It wasn’t until she was an adult that Quimby had an opportunity to explore her creative side and unleash her imaginative mind. While employed at a design firm specializing in commercial office staging, Quimby had the pleasure of designing and decorating a physician’s waiting area. Soon after, Quimby left the company to launch her own business, QC Creations.
With her creative conscious now being tapped into, Quimby started to seek out other ways to express it. One day, she picked up some art supplies, gathered old print boards that she had laying around, and dialed in. The end result of this creative episode was her first hand-painted masterpiece. Painting soon became a craft she couldn’t resist, and is now her life purpose.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I’ve always been creative and did forms of art here and there, and worked in the interior decorating industry for over 20 years. But it wasn’t until I was working on a design job 8 or 9 years ago that I came across an artwork that totally inspired me. I decided to grab an old picture and paints I had in the garage, and give the art piece a try. After a couple of hours painting, I stepped back and was impressed with what I had just done. At that moment, I realized I had a talent.
Over the next several years, I painted a few things for our home. One day a friend came to my home, admired my work and wanted to purchase a piece right off my walls. From that first art sale, my confidence began to grow. Shortly after, several other people ordered commission pieces, and things continued to progress from there. I brought design and art together, and rebranded my company to what it is today!”
“I'm an artist, an artist with interpretations of thoughts that bounce around in my head. When I pick up a brush, all the world is quiet, and my thoughts become His thoughts, my dreams His dreams. A gift that God gave me to express who I am, and to use as a tool to bless those around me.”
What inspires you?
“I draw the most inspiration from nature, with all the incredible use of color, textures and art forms in everything that exists. God’s artistic masterpieces are showcased in everything we see and do, from the beautifully painted sunsets that change daily, to the unique designs in rocks and crystals. Seeing the world through his lens of creativity, and providing a visual interpretation of that is what I am most passionate about. I believe that we are all created to create.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“One of the visions that I’ve had for a couple of years now is to create visual poetry. I’m releasing my first work ‘Unspoken’ in 2022. It’s best described as audible interpretations of poetic artistry. I will be showcasing a collection of my poetry, as well as the artwork that coincides with each poem. My goal is to speak words that come alive in each painting, and fall onto the hearts of those open to receiving the message. Most of my poetry is biblically inspired and shares personal parts of my journey. I talk about overcoming brokenness and walking in the freedom of who I was created to be.”
What artists influence you most?
“I do not have a specific artist that influences me. However, I am most inspired by emerging artists who are confident in their craft, know that they have something that the world needs to see, and are not afraid to share it.”
How would you describe your work?
“Most of my art is abstract with neutral color palettes in multiple mediums. You can find paint splatters and touches of gold leaf included in my work. I would describe my abstract art as pure freedom — freedom to let the brush lead the inspiration that I have in my head.
I also have a line of sculpture called ‘Elements - Jewels of the Earth’. Each sculpture is carved to showcase the unique design of each wood piece. It is then embedded with stones and crystals, covering a tube of lighting that runs behind the crystals, offering a soft glow and showcasing the beauty that lines each one.”
What is your creative process like?
"Most of my work is commissioned. I love to go into a space, commercial or residential, and create the entire design scheme with custom art to match. Putting together the color palettes and furniture selections, and then finishing the space off with décor and custom art ideas that will pull everything together.
My favorite space to be is in my studio. I just recently opened my first art studio. We created an environment that is welcoming and peaceful, providing freedom to step into a creative world. I have a daily routine of opening up the studio, putting on one of my music playlists and beginning to pull out the mediums that I feel inspired to work with that day. I love that each day is something new. I often have multiple pieces going on at once, and bounce back and forth as I desire.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“An artist’s role is to offer a creative and visual interpretation of how they see things. That can be to tell their story or someone else's. There is art in everything, and each person's interpretation of art comes out in so many interesting and creative forms. The world would be pretty boring without art.
Today, Quimby Franovich Art + Design is a leading contender in contemporary and abstract art + design. Supported by a collective team which consists of several family members, I aim to apply my artistic abilities in a way that inspires and empowers others to lead the lives they once dreamed of.”
