Houston native Ricardo Francis, an up&coming painter, writer, and director talks candidly with Unheard-Voices about his work, and his expression through his art.
unheardvoicesmag: First of all, Unheard Voices magazine would like to thank you Mr. Ricardo Francis, an inspiring artist/painter, for taking the time to kick it with the Unheard Voices community.
unheardvoicesmag: Ricardo, can you tell the Unheard Voices Community who you are and where are you from?
Ricardo Francis: My name is Ricardo Francis. I’m 33 years old. I’m a mixed media artist who works mostly in painting, in theater as a writer and director. I’m originally from Houston, TX.
unheardvoicesmag: I see that you have a very good mix of theater, painting and writing; which is a great combination for success! Today, I see that you have brought along with you several of your paintings which I would love for you to discuss and share with the Unheard Voices community.
unheardvoicesmag: But before I ask questions about your paintings, how long have you been painting, working in theater, and writing?
Ricardo Francis: I’ve been painting since I was 14. Theater and writing came later when I was in college I would say I started developing performance projects as a sophomore in college. But art has been with me all of my life
unheardvoicesmag: What exactly inspired you to paint at such a young age and do you remember the first thing that you ever painted?
Ricardo Francis: (laughs) no I don’t actually. I had a middle school art teacher that flat out said to me you’re going to be a painter. I wanted to draw for comic books initially. After taking his suggestion I discovered I really enjoyed painting and saw how expressive I could with it.
unheardvoicesmag: Yes, I can see that through the painting that you brought with you to share with Unheard Voices. Do you find painting to be a form of relaxation for you? Do you feel at peace when you are painting?
Ricardo Francis: Peace yes, Relaxation no. Painting isn’t about thinking.It’s about doing.
unheardvoicesmag: Can you tell me about your painting Relative Soul?
Ricardo Francis: I wanted to do a black male version of the catholic saint St Sebastian. Usually in images of him he is dying or rather in agony from injuries to due to arrows piercing him all over his body. Here I thought it would be interesting to have flowers growing from his abdomen. I think the painting questions the notion of what masculinity is. 
unheardvoicemag: the flowers growing from the abdomen is pretty interesting…Where were you when you painting this picture? What kind of atmosphere or setting were you in?
Ricardo Francis: I was still living in Far Rockaway Queens. At the time I was still struggling with developing my work both conceptually and technically
unheardvoicesmag: How do you feel about this piece of work? Is it one of your favorite pieces?
Ricardo Francis: I don’t have favorite pieces. Everything I do has a purpose and reason why I made it. They all are equally important.
unheardvoicesmag: Ricardo, can you tell the Unheard Voices community the meaning behind your next painting call “Lust Becomes Night”? And what inspired you to do this particular painting. I was very intrigued with the snake like image. 
Ricardo Francis: I wanted to make a snake painting. That was initially the beginning of that idea. The rest of the image is simply going at it everyday until it was complete.The snake has always been an intriguing metaphor in art for thousands of years.
unheardvoicesmag: In your painting “Relative Soul” I found this painting to be very interesting. What does the hand over the man’s head symbolizes and what inspired you to do this painting?
Ricardo Francis: It was a period where I juxtaposed men of color with flowers. Here I thought it would be interesting to have the flowers coming out the abdomen of the model.I was inspired off of St. Sebastian, the catholic saint that died from a hail of arrows.
unheardvoicesmag: The last painting is that of “The Uncomplicated Womb” that I would like to address. Can you tell the Unheard Voices community what is the meaning behind this particular painting? And do you use live models in your painting?
Ricardo Francis: I don’t believe in meaning, that hurts a painting in many ways. This one however is a self portrait. I had a picture taken of me in a window and it appeared as if I was in a womb. So I decided to make a painting from that image. I usually take photos of my models and then work from select images from that.
unheardvoicesmag: I was able to look at your painting and get my own meaning from it. Very interesting! I believe your painting allows a person to see their own meaning which is very special to do.
unheardvoicesmag: If our Unheard Voices readers/community wanted to see more your work where can get they go? Where can they get a personalized painting done?
Ricardo Francis: www.apanamae.com is my website. Right now it is being updated. By late November it will be complete. However there is a splash page with a selection of images from the recent portfolio to see and my contact information is on there as well.
unheardvoicesmag: Ricardo, what plans do you have in the future in painting? Any projects or events that are coming up that you can share with Unheard Voices community?
Ricardo Francis: I am planning some exhibits for the early part of next year and will premiere a new play I’m currently working on in the fall of 2010.
unheardvoicesmag: Unheard Voices magazine would like to thank you much for sharing your work with the Unheard Voices community. I am sure that our readers will appreciate your work and how you have opened up to them. We look forward to seeing more of you Ricardo. We also hope to have you on as a special guest when UV online radio station comes to the magazine. We thank you once again Ricardo!
Ricardo Francis: Thank you Keith
Ricardo Francis: Much appreciation and much respect
unheardvoicesmag: We here at Unheard Voices have a lot of love for you! Keep painting and producing great works of art!
Check out Ricardo Francis’s work at www.apanamae.com
[nggallery id=1]
