Meet merit award winner: Francke

Francke Gretchen Crots – Merit Winner 2017

1. Where does your passion for art comes from?
I grew up with my mother, who taught me everything I know about art and creating. it became a lifestyle rather than a hobby.

2. Briefly describe your artistic journey up until the point of entering Sasol New Signatures?
Before entering New Signatures, I started developing my style and defining it. I started exploring new ways of combining design and art mediums, such as ceramics.

3. What motivated you to enter the Sasol New Signatures art competition?
I am lucky to have very inspirational lecturers at North West University, Graphic design department. My illustration lecturer encouraged me to enter.

4. What excites you about the creative process?
Thinking about the final product usually excites me, because I have a definite idea about what I want the final to look like. But sometimes in reality the final surpasses my highest expectations, especially with ceramics.

5. Tell us about your preferred medium/s ...and why?
I prefer to work with ceramics, I always have. Growing up with a mother who does ceramics certainly opened up a world of endless possibilities, wonder and playfulness. For me personally, ceramic art is a very expressive medium. It generates the ability to let my mind go and to create things that I couldn’t imagine were possible.

6. If you could summarize your work in three independent words, what would it be?
Quirky, Tactile, Fresh

7. Did this competition teach you anything about yourself?
It certainly did! I didn’t think I would come this far in the competition, so it taught me to have more faith in myself and to never doubt my creativity or creations.

8. Which local artists do you admire?
Conrad Botes, Hylton Nel, Dylan Lewis, Angus Taylor

9. What are you currently working on/What is next for you as an artist?
I’m always caught with my hands in the clay, whether it’s a commission or just playing around. Currently I’m working on a series of dinner plates that have a tongue- in- cheek play on social commentary. The style I’m using for the plates, is the age old traditional Willow pattern and Delft porcelain products, so it’s exciting to “zoosh” it up and put my own distinct mark and twist on it.

10. What impact would winning this competition have on you?
It would definitely open up a space in the art world for me. It would be the first step for me to push my art into a business and make it a permanent job description!