I was an Inquisitive Child. How Francesca Ucci, the artist, was born!
I was an inquisitive child with a mischievous streak. My favourite toy was a kaleidoscope which changed patterns and colours as I looked into it and turned the cardboard tube.
My mother was from Italy and was dismayed by the lack of sunlight which brightened up her world in Italy as she grew up. She dressed me in bright primary colours – a red cardigan which she knitted me, a yellow skirt or blue trousers that she made.
She spoke to me of the lovely colours of dresses that Italians loved to wear, but oh so tastefully.
These influences were cemented in my mind on trips to Italy where I fell in love with the brightness all around me from the blue sea, to the yellow and red melons!
When I painted, strong colour was never far away from my palette.
For some reason, I stopped painting for a number of years. I went through a difficult period and decided to renew painting and drawing. I started with drawing and then took up painting but was tentative and felt held back. My work was average and I was never satisfied with most of it.
This went on for several years and despite selling my artwork I did not experience fulfilment. I painted in many styles, most of it in darker colours. Now and again, I would paint abstracts in bright colours but never settled on a style. I was drifiting.
Then I stopped painting and started to reflect on my life. I examined my roots. My mother was the bright inspiration in my life, my father was more down to earth and reserved. I decided I was struggling with my identity.
Once I had begun to understand my very nature, I began to leave dark paintings behind and moved forward with a brighter, lighter palette. I started my abstract paintings again. One day I was sitting outside Tindalls Art Store in Colchester doing a demo on abstraction in reds, yellows, blues and greens, when the Manager, Natasha, looked over my shoulder and said, I have the perfect medium for you, Posca Acrylic Pens. This medium was the spark that I needed to begin painting bold, bright joyful artwork which liberated me. I spoke to my good friend Wendy Bailey and she suggested I use a pseudonym based on my Italian Mother. Francesca Ucci was born!
I have a palette of so many beautiful bright vivid colours to choose from. I love painting and drawing now as Francesca and I teach this style to others. There are so many subjects for me to choose to paint – my only constraint is time!!
Francesca lives on the east coast of England. Her mother was from Northern Italy and her grandfather was from Southern Germany. Francesca is drawn to optimistic and joyful scenes often found in the Mediterranean - hence her bright, bold and visible style.
