Francine Levy

Lake Mary, FL
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Francine was born in Belgium and obtained a degree in art and fashion design in Brussels. She moved with her family to Kenya where she resided for four years. Stirred by the beauty of the country and its people, she used the technique of batik to depict tribal life.

She traveled extensively throughout Western Europe, the Middle East (Israel, Turkey and Iran), East Africa and later, to Mexico and several islands of the Caribbean. This gave her a unique appreciation of cultures, people, and their surroundings and motivated her to return to paint in her favorite locations. After moving to the United States, she worked in the fashion field for many years. She now devotes full-time to painting and drawing.

As a plein-air artist, her main focus on the Florida scene is to paint land and seascapes, park sanctuaries and historical sites. Francine admires the beauty of nature and cannot imagine a more wonderful feeling than that of drawing or painting in a peaceful surrounding, intensely in tune and in communion with her subjects. One experiences a sense of wonderment, watching the play of light and shadows subtly captured as the sun quickly modifies the moment that one tries to seize. The challenge is to portray on canvas or paper the elusive moment and feelings that you sense and try to convey to others.

Media: pastels, acrylics, watercolors, pen and ink

"Sloping Vineyards"
20x24", soft pastels


"Gemini Springs"
18x24", soft pastels


"Santa Barbara Harbor"
24x20", soft pastels
 

Awards

Best in Show, Sanford Art Show, Sanford Seminole Art Association, Sanford FL
1st Place, Sanford Art Show, Sanford Seminole Art Association, Sanford FL
3rd Place, Sanford Art Show, Sanford Seminole Art Association, Sanford FL
Honorable Mention, Sanford Art Show, Sanford Seminole Art Association, Sanford FL
Honorable Mention, Gallery On Virginia, Orlando FL
Honorable Mention, City Hall Rotunda, Orlando FL
Merit Award, Arts in the Park, Lakeland FL

Exhibits & Plein Air Events

2010
Orlando Museum of Art, 1st Thursdays, Diverse Talents of NLAPW
Maitland Art Center RSVP Members Only - Juried
Steinway Society of Central Florida NLAPW Group
50th Annual Sanford Seminole Art Association Members
Avalon Gallery, Paint the Town-Orlando Magazine, Orlando FL
Peabody Auditorium, 9 Artists from NLAPW, Daytona Beach FL
Casselberry Art House SSAA Group
2009
50th Anniversary of SSAA, Chosen for Show Poster
Comma Gallery, “Celebrating Citrus”, Orlando FL
City Arts Factory, “Paint-the-Town” – Orlando Magazine
Casselberry Art House SSAA Group
Sanford Historic Welcome Center, Fourth Friday - Juried
Wayne Densch Historic Theater - Juried
Hyatt Convention Center, NLAPW, Sarasota FL - Juried
2008
Comma Gallery, “Art International”, Orlando FL
Comma Gallery, “If Walls Could Talk”, Orlando FL
SSAA Annual, Best of Show award
Terrace Gallery, Orlando City Hall
Metro Gallery, CFPAA Group, Orlando FL
Comma Gallery, “From Rural to Urban Landscapes”, Orlando FL
Creative Spirit Gallery, “The Art of Francine Levy & Wayne Hovis”

Publications

Orlando City Magazine, "Paint-the-Town", 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Sanford Herald, "Countdown to Riverwalk Celebration", 2004
Orlando Sentinel "Sanford Opens Its Riverwalk" 2004
Sanford Herald-Life Style, "Lake Mary Artist Shows Her Work", featured article, 2006
Lake Mary Life, Dec 2006
Seminole Magazine, Mar 2009
Sanford Herald, "Winning Poster", front page, Feb 2009

Associations

Central Florida Plein Air Artists (CFPAA)
Plein Air Florida (PAF)
National League of American Pen Women (NLAPW)
Orlando Visual Arts League (OVAL)
Pastel Society of Central Florida (PSCF)
Sanford Seminole Art Association (SSAA)