By Susan Kern-Fleischer | Sonoran Arts League
Editor's note: This article first appeared in Sun Life Magazine, a Daily Independent publication.
When Frank Williams encounters a creative challenge, he embraces it with enthusiasm and loves to experiment until he finds a solution. Whether he’s at a gourd farm “hunting” for unique-shaped gourds that he can turn into a mask or a large vessel, or he’s welding metal at his home studio and experimenting with acrylic pours, he is happiest when he’s pushing himself out of his comfort zone to hone his skills and improve his art.
A Goodyear resident, Williams grew up in Chicago and attended a high school for gifted artistic students. He majored in art, creating landscape drawings primarily with pen and ink. He was so talented that his art teacher, who was also his varsity football coach, helped him secure representation at some local art galleries.
After serving in the Army, Williams became a hair stylist and opened several salons. He began working with Breck Hair Products Co., which led to a position as national sales manager of the professional products division. He had been traveling to Arizona on business, and when Breck was sold to The Dial Corporation, he began consulting with them and moved here permanently.
“My art career started after I attended a show at the Heard Museum in 2003. I was fascinated with the colorful, expressive gourd art,” Williams said. “I began visiting gourd farms and I taught myself how to make gourd masks and vases. There are so many varieties of gourds, and part of the fun is hunting for gourds that have unique shapes, sizes and textures.”
Gourds continue to be his passion, and he enjoys experimenting with different carving techniques and finishes. He is most proud of his large mask “Oracle” that is part of the City of Surprise’s permanent public art collection.
An avid hiker, Williams would often see stone cairns along trails. As his gourd work evolved, he added gourd cairns to his repertoire. Much of his gourd and metal art is also inspired by petroglyphs he sees on his hikes.
“While working on the cairns and very large vessels, I was eager to learn how to weld so I could create metal stands for my larger pieces. I have become quite proficient at welding, and now I also create contemporary free-standing metal sculptures. Many of my pieces feature stone inlay, saguaro ribs and other elements of nature,” he said.
Recently, Williams began experimenting with acrylic pours to enhance his gourd art and metal sculpture. The process involves mixing a resin with different acrylic paint pigments to create unique colors and a high gloss finish.
“The more I experiment, the more fun I have,” he said. “I'm never quite sure exactly how it will work, but I love the challenge and the rewards. I am honored and forever grateful when patrons choose my work to be part of their home or business art collections.”
Williams is a juried member of the Arizona Art Alliance, West Valley Arts Council and the Sonoran Arts League. In November, he will showcase and sell his work at the 28th Annual Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour.
Art enthusiasts can also view and purchase his original art at gourd-geous.com.
