Meet Frances Listou: Award-Winning Sculptor and Painter
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Meet Frances Listou: Award-Winning Sculptor and Painter ~
Frances'
Story
Frances Listou, as an artist, did not start carving until her husband, Erik, gifted her a hammer, chisels, and a stone. She said, “I started chipping away not knowing how or what I was doing. That sculpture sold! I named it Moon Struck (above). I was struck by what I could create. After that, I called myself a stoner; I don’t smoke... I carve rocks! “
Frances collects appealing stones, sometimes setting them aside for over a decade while envisioning their potential. This is her “work.” When inspiration strikes, she begins carving directly, which she enjoys over using models, although she occasionally utilizes clay maquettes. She chips, grinds, and sands the stone until satisfied. Occasionally, she creates bronze pieces from molds of her work. In her stone sculptures, she often leaves the natural borehole to showcase the original stone and its polished surface. Beyond stone, she creates clay sculptures, acrylic paintings, and ink art. Her creative process has garnered awards and a loyal following, fulfilling her as a sculptor and painter.
Frances' Toys
Frances carves stone using an air compressor and water tools (instead of electric) to minimize dust and preserve the diamond pads, and safety.
These are some of her stone carving tools:
two-stage air compressor, air hose, hammers, chisels, diamond blades, buffers, sanding pads, sandpapers/pads, side grinder, air hammers, grinding wheels, water hoses, waterproof boots and gloves, dust masks, earplugs, eye and face shields, umbrella, lights, sun, and sunscreen, chalk, and markers, wax, sealers, and more!
Her paintings are acrylics on canvas or panel boards and created with any doodad she finds to use.
Frances’
Art Background
As with most artists, they have always been! Of course, there was coloring, drawing, scrapbooking, and mud pies for Frances as a child growing up in southwest Pennsylvania. In her twenties, Frances attended the Maryland Institute College of Art. As a student, drawing and painting evolved, but pen and ink became her favorite. In her thirties, she moved "out West". She discovered Evergreen, Colorado, an artist's haven. Shortly thereafter Frances was invited to the Tom Ware(house) Group where she enjoyed sculpting with clay. In her late forties and early fifties, she experienced getting stoned (no, not smoking!). Frances' husband gifted her an alabaster stone, a hammer, and chisels. Later, she attended many MARBLE/marble Symposiums held in Marble, CO. The craving for carving Yule Marble became apparent. A long-time interest in bronze came in her sixties when her brother requested a mask of his face be on his headstone. Now, in her late 70s, retired from her 40-year business, she can enjoy art-making full-time.
Frances’
Artist's
Statement
Colorado inspires and brings me joy. Creating my art here since 1978 is a blessing.
My pleasure and purpose are ensured when I see someone, especially a child or a visually impaired person, smiling and playfully tracing the lines of my stone, bronze, or clay sculptures. I am struck by the tool's power that allows me to change the Creator’s creation into my creation. It is exuberant! Art must be enjoyed by both the creator and the receiver.
My cabin studio sits on the edge of a wild-flowered, tall grassed, forested mountain park. As I carve stone, push clay, or paint, I watch herds of deer and elk, a few(?) bunnies and chippers, birds, and sometimes a lynx strolling among the tall pine and aspen trees or a coyote chasing a wild turkey up a tree; and, oh my, how can I forget the bear!
Frances’
Artist's Mediums
"Art must be enjoyed by the creator and the beholder."
As an artist who creates sculptures and paintings, Frances Listou uses many mediums: clay, stone, bronze, acrylics, ink, markers, and various implements. She believes "working in a single medium is restrictive to her artistic processes".
Every piece manifests its style. Many times she is pleasantly surprised by the results. She finds it intriguing to explore new mediums. It must be her childhood curiosity.