Pastel artist Francesca Droll

Seeing my art will tell you that I’m crazy in love with painting ‘en plein air’ or in the great outdoors. Landscape is my first love but I also enjoy exploring other subjects including animals, vintage objects, and still life. 

Pastels are my medium. Working with the little sticks is like an extension of my fingers. They offer me a lot of flexibility in how I use them to achieve the effects I’m looking for. From bold, expressive strokes to subtle blending, they are the perfect medium to convey the mood and motion of the scene before me.  

I know many people share my love of a beautiful landscape. It can take them to a place of peace and comfort as it does me. If my art provides a feeling of tranquility to someone, then I’ve managed to create a connection with that person and myself. Art often brings people together in unexpected and delightful ways.

My formative years were spent in the Pacific Northwest but I grew up close to the coast in Southern California. Relocating to Bigfork, Montana, i the early 2000s, seemed like coming home to me. I was back in the mountains, feeling the peace of the forests and the refreshing water of streams and lakes.

My background includes 35 years as a graphic designer, operating a small design studio with my husband and partner, John R. Webster. On the side, I’m an avid reader, enjoying puzzling when I can find the time, and during the summer months, you’ll find me swimming in Flathead Lake.