Francine Dunigan on Bold Collage, Gel Printing, and Advocating for Your Health
Host Wendy Solganik introduces Francine Dunigan as a new Fodder School 6 teacher and mixed media artist known for vibrant, graphic collage using found papers, painted papers, and gel prints. Francine, based in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, shares her BFA background in communication design from Kutztown University, her shift toward fine art and fiber studies during a semester abroad in England, and how design principles shaped her visual style. She describes discovering gel printing through artists like Elizabeth St. Hilaire, creating marketable wall art and selling at local art shows, and designing stencils for Joggles. Francine discusses the complexity of resin finishing, her goals to teach more classes, and her experience navigating endometrial cancer treatment, emphasizing self-advocacy and how art and journaling supported her during recovery. She previews teaching fussy-cut pear collage in Fodder School.
00:00 Meet Francine Dunigan
02:05 Podcast Premise
03:27 Joining Fodder School
06:51 From Gel Prints to Collage
08:33 Roots and Art School
10:56 Design Skills and Marketing
14:49 High School Art Foundations
19:52 Making Time as a Mom
21:42 Discovering Gel Printing
24:03 Selling at Art Fairs
31:56 Pricing and Originals
37:07 Health Scare and Advocacy
47:54 Art as Healing
48:49 Art Through Chemo
49:44 Hope After Clear Scans
50:20 Tennis During Treatment
51:48 Mindfulness Art Journals
52:42 New Stencil Line
55:48 Fodder School Pears
59:00 Using Tissue Layers
01:00:03 Resin Reality Check
01:06:00 Bigger Work Experiments
01:07:52 Color Inspiration Stories
01:10:39 Teaching Goals Ahead
01:17:23 Fodder School Live Event
01:19:34 Quilts From Your Designs
01:22:01 Closing Thanks