Fran Pawlow spent her childhood in Southern Illinois where she developed an early interest in both painting and photography. She studied art and photography at Southwestern Illinois College, Mesa Community College, and Western Illinois University. Fran received additional private instructions by artists from both Illinois and Arizona. She has been painting for over 40 years. Fran enjoys painting landscapes, seascapes, and florals using watercolors, acrylics, and oils. Fran Pawlow is presently retired from Western Illinois University and divides her time between her home in Fairview Heights, Illinois and Ft. Walton Beach, Florida where she is known to play a mean game of shuffleboard!

Below are thoughts from Fran about what she is doing now and some of her philosophy of art in her life:

At present, I am experimenting by painting with oils on watercolor paper. I enjoy the blending qualities of oils and find it challenging to use this medium on paper. Art has become my escape from reality to a very special place where I can create and develop my art. Through the forces of my energy, I try to express and share my inner most feelings through my art. I hope by sharing these feelings with others, my art will help them to see things in nature as I do. Painting to me is a creation, like a child, it is hard to let go, but the rewards are well worth all the efforts and hardships.