Florida Artists Group

Artists Bio:

Francisco Arias was born in Puerto Rico in a small town called Ponce, in 1963.
Since he was a little child his passion was for drawing, besides playing with his friends. He was
those kinds of kids who would sit down and spend hours painting and drawing, and asking his
father to judge it. He admired his father who was also good at drawing, and Frank would ask his
father to draw something so that he could also draw it too. All through his early school years, his
teachers notice these abilities, and would ask him to draw and paint lesson charts for them to use
in their classes. He participated in several painting contests in school and for this reason was well
known among his teachers and fellow students. These school contests were of great significance
for him, and helped him develop character, and social skills.
During his youth years, he would paint faces, take pictures and ask other painters to
make portraits of him and his mom, so that he could study the methods used to replicate a small
photo into a large oil portrait. As an adult, he painted countless T-shirts to sell and even though it
didn’t develop into a business, it did give him an experience he would never forget. Several
landscapes and seascapes would be painted from time to time, but never to initiated a carrier in
fine art. But through these years he always painted and landscapes or wildlife birds for
neighbors, family members, or for himself. He loves, and had loved painting and drawing, since
these -he believes- are an activity of the soul, and nothing makes an artist happier than the
expression of his mind. Now in his fifties, he is painting more than ever, and would like to leave
a legacy for his family, his community, and for future generations. He believes that art is the
universal language for all humanity.



Artist Statement:

I love nature and all its amazing beauty. My art reflects this reality. All my paintings
are mostly Landscapes, using Oil as well as Acrylic. Loving nature I believe, puts me among the
romantics group. Nature for me is an expression of God's ingenious mind, and as long as I live, I
will capture it in a canvas and allow others to appreciate the mind of God, in the wonder of
nature. The power and reach of Painting and drawing says a lot, for it communicates and
transcend our social barriers more effectively than any other means. I truly believe that a 35,000
years old cave painting is as effective today as a child’s drawing in expressing his thoughts, inner
longings, passions, and desires due to the one thing that binds us all, and that’s because we all
belong to the one and only human species, and thus are all connected through a social and
historical thread which binds us together as passionate beings and nature lovers. We humans love
to paint because we love express our feelings, and share our thoughts to others. My art has a mix
if modern and classical style and reflects an appreciation for ancient inspiration, and the love for
the legacy of the great masters from yesterday and today.


Exhibitions:

2013:        10th Annual National Arts Program, Orlando City Artworks Exhibition, Group Exhibition,
                  Terrace Gallery, at City Hall (June- Aug)
2014:        11th Annual National Arts Program, Orlando City Artworks Exhibition, Group Exhibition,
                  Terrace Gallery, at City Hall (June- Aug)(2nd. Prize)
2014:        City of Sanford ART WALK (in the Historic Welcome Center), at Sanford Art-walk
                  downtown arts district--Group Competition and Exhibition.
2015:        12th Annual National Arts Program, Orlando City Artworks Exhibition, Group Exhibition,
                   Terrace Gallery, at City Hall (June- Aug)
2015:        Group Exhibition at Gallery at Avalon Island’s, Downtown City of Orlando (April 16, 2015
                  – May 15, 2015)
2016:       13th Annual National Arts Program, Orlando City Artworks Exhibition, Group Exhibition,
                  WINNER OF First PLACE-AWARD,(professional category). Terrace Gallery, at City Hall
                  (June- Aug)
2016:       Winter Springs Art Festival-2016 (ART-October-fest 2016)
2017:       13th Annual National Arts Program, Orlando City Artworks Exhibition, Group Exhibition, Terrace                  Gallery, at City Hall (June- Aug)
2018:       Group art exhibition at City of Orlando Art Factory (Orlando Magic Gallery) Dec 2017-Jan 2018
2019:       Group art exhibition in the 2019 Art of Healing Gallery exhibit at the Florida Hospital in
                  Altamonte Springs FL, 
2019:       Florida Artists Group-(FLAG) annual statewide exhibition, in The Naples Art Association
                 Art Gallery at Naples Fl. 
2019:       Group art exhibition at the 2019 the Lake Mary Senior Center Art Gallery,
                  "LIFE EXPERIENCES"-exhibit in Lake Mary FL 
2019:        Group art exhibition at the 2019 Florida Artist Group-(FLAG) Symposium at Ringling College of                   Art & Design (The Richard & Barbara Basch & Willis Smith Galleries in Sarasota FL.) 
2019:        Group art exhibition at the 2019 the Lake Mary Senior Center Art Gallery, "Mother Nature"-exhibit                   in Lake Mary FL July to August 
2019:       Hispanic Group art exhibition: City of Orlando, Hispanic Heritage Month 2019 City Hall exhibit 
2019:       Hispanic Group art exhibition in City of Kissimmee FL, The 11th annual 2019 "Celebrating Hispanic                  Artists and Culture" event. 
2019:       American Institute of Architects, Orlando chapter, group Art Show & Auction in
                  Maitland FL October 2019 
2019:        Group art exhibition in the 2019 (FALL SEASON) Art of Healing Gallery exhibit at the Florida                   Hospital in Altamonte Springs FL, 
2019:        Group art exhibition at the Casselberry Art House Gallery in Casselberry FL, (Rotary Club 2019                   Community Arts Calendar event) end of the year exhibition. 
2020:       Group art exhibition in the 2020 Art of Healing Art Gallery-Spring time exhibit-at the Florida                   Hospital in Altamonte Springs FL, 
2020:       Group art Springs time exhibition at the Lake Mary Senior Center Art Gallery,
                  "Work and Play"-exhibit in Lake Mary FL (April - June) 
2020:       Participation at the 2020 Florida Artists Group-(FLAG) Annual statewide exhibition at the:                   Foosaner Art Museum in Melbourne, FL 32935 (Mar. 27 – May 23)