An interview with Frances Seward

Today I am going to interview an artist who has nothing to do with fibers. One of the reasons I am interviewing her is to show her artwork as another medium for felting ideas. The colors she blends would be a great guide to making a felted scarf or picture. Of course none of our fiber work could ever match her beautiful photographs.

This artist’s name is Frances Seward. You can see some of her work on her Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Frances-Seward-Photography/201211002539?ref=ts

She also has an Etsy shop. http://www.etsy.com/shop/FrancesPhotography and there is a contact button on Etsy if you would like to talk with her directly.

I asked a number of questions and here are her answers;

1. When did you get your first camera?

I got my first camera when I was about 9 years old and was surrounded by photography all my life because my mother was a photographer.



2. Why do you focus on nature photography?

I love nature because it really is such a spiritual experience for me. That is how I started to photograph as I do now.  For years I spent hours at a time photographing up, close and personal with nature.  I am now in love with color ,color combinations as well as the  quality of light and how they make one feel. That is what I strive to do, to create images that are spiritually moving for others as they are for me.

3. Your style is quite unique. Is this what sets you apart from many other photographers?

I currently use a digital camera because I can create the raw image in my camera and do use Photoshop to ensure colors, contrasts and saturations as they should be. All the textures, the space and raw colors are created with my camera. The important tools for creating my art is light and my camera.

My technique does set me apart from other Etsians and photographers although there are photographers who do what I do, the method I mean not the subject matter. My photography is very painterly and a lot of people think they are paintings. My images are created in the moment, never to be seen again except on paper. I find the unpredictability of this technique, working with light and my camera, irresistible allowing me to be very versatile with my work.

4. Tell about your Esty shop and why you created it.

I started Etsy because I was recommended it by a friend. It is hard to sell your work in this economic climate but she convinced me I would get sales on Etsy. She proved me right and it has been an amazing experience. I love doing what I do and love to create new and exciting environments striving to develop my technique further – the whole process is part of the experience. It is perfect really!



5. Tell us about your self.

I grew up in the UK and currently live in the high deserts of New Mexico in Santa Fe- very contrasting lands. Both water and the desert have a huge influence on my work- I yearn for the sea and my imagery brings me closer to it. I yearn for space and this is what I find in New Mexico. I am married to a writer and have a 4 year old son who is the light of my life. Great muses for me were the sacred photographer and his writings: Minor White. My absolute favorite painter: Mark Rothko.



I would like to thank Frances for sharing her photographs with us and telling us so much about her technique. It is always wonderful to talk with someone who has so much love for her work.  Make sure when you visit her sites that you notice she has named each of her pieces with delightful names.