ABOUT THE ARTIST

 Detra Francis has spent the major part of her life in Laguna Beach, California. As a product of the sixties, she is filled with an appreciation and a love of life that stems from simpler times. While growing up, the distinctive smells of oil paints were part of her life. Her father, Zygmunt Sopinski, painted portraits, landscapes and still life.

 She graduated from La Verne College, a small liberal arts school, with a high school teaching credential, an intense love of Biology, and the need to do something in the field of Art.

From 1966 through 1980 she studied and crafted ceramics, taking classes from, Mt. San Antonio, and Fullerton Colleges. In 1969 she moved to the Art Community of Laguna Beach where she built a down draft kiln, made pottery, hanging art and table tops from Stoneware. In 1971 she was admitted to the Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts.

 Marriage, children and Life necessitated a 24 year gap in the pursuit of Art.

At the age of 60, after years of being an enthusiastic gardener, she wanted to paint Botanical Watercolors and started back to classes. From there, it was just baby steps to Plein Air Painting. At present, with the unwavering support of her husband of thirty-four years, she manufactures and retails fine chocolates and crams art classes, seminars, and private lessons into a busy schedule. From her home in Laguna Beach or her Chocolate Store in Dana Point Harbor, she sets out with paint, paper, and brushes in tow and paints.

 Visit my webpage

detrafrancis.com