Shreveport painter Eric Francis is ‘a treasure of the community and its culture’

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When Eric Francis heard his name called out as the Critics’ Choice award recipient  last month at Critical Mass 9 he could not believe it.

“I was absolutely shocked,” Francis said.

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A photo illustration using a photo of Eric Francis and a detail from one of his paintings.

 (Photo: The Times, Henrietta Wildsmith/The Times)

He entered his paintings six other times; once being recognized, but never winning. For someone who is “in it to win it,” it was a little discouraging even though he was always appreciative of having his work in the show.

Along with the recognition came a check for $2,000 to use toward developing a solo show, which will be hosted by SRAC/Artspace next year.

“I look forward to seeing the body of work he creates for his solo show at Artspace. I am certain with the liberty to work on a larger scale, he will create a show everyone will be very proud of. Eric is a treasure of the community and its culture,” wrote critic Gabriel Shaffer.

For Francis, who is deeply spiritual, it echoes what he believed God told him when he was struggling in his career.

“People are going to think your art is amazing, remember me,” is what Francis interpreted in prayer.

For the new contemporary artist who primarily, but not only, paints detailed portraits of Black women, the road to where he is now has not been a straight path.

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Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, from Haitian parents, Francis adapted to the hustle and bustle of big city life with a gruff exterior. He thinks of New York as a true melting pot and lived in a neighborhood with other people from the Caribbean. “Island people was my America,” he said.

However, that all changed when his father relocated to Shreveport and Francis found himself living at a much slower pace of life than he was used to.

“People really take their time with you,” Francis said. “If you ask them how they are… they will tell you.”

It is here where Francis began his higher education in the arts, first at SUSLA then finishing with a bachelor’s degree from Centenary. After spending his childhood building toys and drawing, he decided to pursue a career in illustration. He went to school because that was what he was told to do. As it turned out, it was not that easy.

He graduated during a time when America was in a recession and jobs were hard to come by. He took an opportunity to work in Chicago but not in illustration.

 “I was unprepared for the art world,” recalled Francis.

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Inside the notebook of painter Eric Francis.

 (Photo: The Times, Henrietta Wildsmith/The Times)

Instead, his time in Chicago was spent working odd jobs at a bank, at UPS, and finally at a bar. He felt lost and confused.

“Is this my life?” Francis asked himself.

It was during this time that he describes becoming physically sick. Spells of dizziness, weakness, and a pounding heart so severe he felt he could not breathe began to reoccur several times a day. The doctors had no solid answers, and it soon became impossible to work.

Francis headed back to Shreveport to live with his brother. His brother took Francis to his church, Abundant Life, where the pastor prayed over him.

“It was powerful. They pray for people and you get healed,” said Francis.  

With more time on his hands than he knew what to do with, Francis began creating painting tutorial videos on YouTube.

His “How to paint skin tones in acrylic portrait part 1” has been viewed more than 200,000 times.

With his smooth voice and pleasant background music he shares his technique to painting any skin tone using only five colors. “It helped me develop a name,” recalled Francis. It also showed him that he could get paid for doing what he loved.

He took a business class for artists at SRAC and finally got the needed information he felt he was missing.

He was regularly doing commissions which comes with a great responsibility to his customers. He knows he is doing something for someone else, something that will live past him. He imagines future generations looking at the paintings.

Each year things were getting better and better.  And so was his artwork.

He recently began a series of paintings of Black female authors. In one, the author of “The Color Purple” looks at the viewer with the quote, “I’m poor, Black, I may even be ugly, but dear God, I’m here! I’m here!”

In another, the profile of Toni Morrison demands attention with her bright colors and fine details. That painting was part of the recent art show “Homecoming: The SUSLA and GSU Artist Reunion exhibition” at Artspace.

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His painting “Song of Songs 1:5” was the Critical Mass “Best of Show.”

“The rendering of his subject emits power, pride, self-awareness and a regal aura. The balance of gold and black abstractions with attention to subtle touches in the portrait, demonstrates a broad range of sensitivity. I personally think referring to Eric as a portrait artist is limiting. It is clear that this man is a painter. Period. And one of the best painters in Shreveport,” Shaffer wrote.

As Francis prepares for his solo show he knows he wants his viewers to be inspired.

“I desire to express the beauty that we so easily miss but exist in the world all around us,” he said.

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