Francesca Anduray: An Eye for a Pie

Artist statement

My name is Francesca Julianna Anduray, and I'm a 22-year-old student currently enrolled at Augustana College, where I am pursuing majors in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Art. The tapestry, like the colorful strokes on my canvases, tells the story of a journey that began at the tender age of 5, where engaging activities such as dance, painting with acrylics, and drawing became the language of my passion. Throughout my college journey, I've continued to expand and embrace my skill set by delving into new artistic realms like oil painting and crocheting. As a current senior on the brink of a new chapter, I’ve set my sights on Grad school, envisioning to pursue a Master’s in CSD and to infuse my passion for art into my future career as a Speech Language Pathologist. In the realm of helping my future clients enhance their quality of life and to aspire my creativity beyond the canvas. The art piece I've titled "Bitter Cravings" is represented through various-sized canvases, illustrating the process of creating the final outcome of a pie. Across these canvases, viewers can witness the different ingredients and objects involved in crafting this delectable baked good—whether it's sugar, spices, fruits, or common household utensils. All these natural elements are meticulously added to create a piece that exudes realism. In my art, I strive to unveil the concealed layers of the everyday world, inviting viewers to contemplate the enigmatic and sometimes unsettling aspects of the familiar. My pieces were created with mediums of acrylic, oils, and fine brushes. These pieces have taken 3.5 months due to investigating cooler hues, textures to reflect life-like strokes and the textures desired. My goal is to create an atmosphere that both captivates and challenges, prompting viewers to delve into the unseen and question the truths we often take for granted.

Novels and films like Grimm’s Fairy Tale stories of "Hansel and Gretel," "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," and the poem "The Six of Sixpence" serve as inspiring sources for my artwork due to their dark and twisted narratives, exploration of the unseen, moral and social commentary in greed and survival, and aesthetic atmosphere of striking visual and emotional evocations. My artistic style is influenced by the renowned artist Georgia O'Keeffe, combining elements of realism with abstract and modernist approaches. Much like O'Keeffe, known for her large-scale paintings of natural forms, I aim to create a similar tone and manner in my work, focusing on close-up details and brush strokes. While O'Keeffe often employs vibrant colors, my paintings tend to lean towards more neutral and cool tones, maintaining the elements of beauty, mystery, and openness.