Lynette Fransen

by Christi Marsico
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:49 PM MST

Lynette Fransen is far more than a friendly lady with paintbrush flare -- her accolades for drawing and painting have evolved into a professional business.

Add in bookkeeping and marketing, and Fransen is a one-woman operation.

Born and raised in South Dakota, her mother died when she was young. Her father raised her and three other siblings on his own.

Early on, a teacher's preparation and encouragement influenced Fransen to embody her talents as an artist, finding joy in the expressions of her subjects.

"I specialize in portraits of people and animals, but in particular, I do a lot of dog artwork," she said.

Among the subjects Fransen has captured is a portrait of celebrity Reba McEntire’s son.

In May of 1993, Fransen started her publishing company, Ruth's Images, in memory of her mother and as a tribute to her parents.

"God gave me the inspiration to start Ruth's Images, and it's him I rely on, and he grants me the perseverance to keep at it," Fransen said in an interview last week.

Fransen's persistence has been honored through multiple awards, such as Wyoming Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year; the Judges’ Award & Runner-Up People's Choice Award at the MS Art Auction & Show, and the 2003 winner of the Purchase Award at the Rough Rider International Art Show in Williston, N.D.

She also received two honors in the professional pastel category at the Wind River Valley Art Show in Dubois, and first places at the Southeast Wyoming Art Show in Cheyenne and in the Kaycee Challenge Art Contest in 2005.

Being a self-taught artist, Fransen aims to capture the distinctiveness of her subject's details from photographs.

She then portrays them in a different perspective, utilizing her favorite media of pastels and acrylics.

"Pastel gives a real softness to a dogs' coat and a child's face that some pictures require," Fransen said.

The artist has been honored for her dog artwork with state packages for Ducks Unlimited in Wisconsin, Wyoming and Iowa.

Most recently, Fransen won second place in the Iowa Ducks Unlimited art contest, and her painting was chosen to be Iowa's Ducks Unlimited National Print Series #1.

Additionally, the exclusive clothier for Ducks Unlimited has chosen several of her paintings for its lines.

As she is commissioned to a project, Fransen has no set routine when it comes to how and when she paints. Upon receiving a picture, she draws it and then transfers it to canvas.

Depending on the time factor of shows and other endeavors, it may take Fransen five hours or five months to complete a painting.

The two things most often mentioned about her pieces are the titles and the subjects' eyes, according to Fransen, who said a piece is not complete unless it's titled.

"Sometimes I can just look at a picture, and the title comes to me, and when the title comes, it really gives me excitement," Fransen said.

The artist incorporates puns and humor into her titles, such as, "Roll Call," which depicts seven roly-poly Sharpei puppies all in a row.

Her heart for humanity is evident in her works, including "Matthew 25:40" and "Noah's Rescue Mission." The latter work has been displayed around Casper, with the proceeds benefiting the Central Wyoming Rescue Mission, which Fransen has worked with extensively.

Fransen's "Knot Big Enough," featuring a little cowboy, will be highlighted on the catalog for an upcoming exhibit she will be attending at the Nile Stock Show and Rodeo from Oct. 13-20 in Billings, Mont.

With future endeavors of wildlife, different dog breeds and little cowgirls, Fransen won't be putting her brush down anytime soon.

For more information, visit her Web site, www.ruthsimages.com.

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