Artist's Items:
The French Fable - Jane Franks
Gene and Jane live high on the Ozark Plateau in a storybook cottage in a magical place of lakes, foot bridges, lampposts, and brick sidewalks. They are a husband and wife team and blend their gifts to write stories and to paint landscapes, people and animals. Gene is the artist and he tells his story here.
Jane is the writer. She tells you how the stories of the french fable bring the paintings to a fairy tale world that enchants children and intrigues adults!
“I never dreamed I would live in Arkansas! I’m from New England, and met Gene in California as one of his students! I had to look up Arkansas on a map to know where it is!
“I helped Gene scour the countryside for subjects – driving on ‘every gravel road in five counties!’
“As Gene was winding down in his completion of his Arkansas body of work, I was winding up! In 2005, I had a vision to put the work you see here into a story – voila! the french fable was born. I took 16 paintings, produced giclee reproductions, and wove them into a ‘fairy story’. I chose a French Country setting because that style of décor is so widely loved, and that region of Europe so fascinating. It best captures the ‘heart’ of my story. I weave together Provencal people, their animals, their customs, their land, and the mysterious people of the Golden Wood through the use of ‘Storybook Pages’ that give meaning and depth to each piece of artwork. You can decorate your child’s room with colors inspired from this collection.
“And now I am writing the first of four (4) books which will encompass the french fable tales. Tale of Autumn: The Secret of the Golden Wood will be followed by Winter, Spring and Summer. I expect to have my first book in the series written by year’s end (2007)! After that, watch for publication release date!
“In the meantime, you can get in on the ‘ground floor’! Begin your collection of the exquisite art reproductions – limited editions (only 500 of each, then that image will be retired); and their accompanying Storybook Pages. We think you will want to add to your collection as new art pieces and Storybook Pages, as well as other products, become available.”