Artist Bio

Francine has been an artist from the time she held her first crayon. She was never satisfied with just staying within the lines; she enjoyed shading and blending colors. Francine started painting with oils at the age of 21. She took a short course in art through a program offered by the city. From there, she discovered acrylic paints and enjoys adding bark, sand, twigs, shells, and other “found” items to her paintings.

Francine is also the illustrator of several children's books. In 2015, she collaborated with Brian Chenevert to illustrate his first book, “Azban’s Great Journey”, which is a compilation of traditional and original tales of the Abenaki trickster – Azban, the raccoon.  Azban’s Great Journey is now available for purchase on Amazon.

Then they developed the coloring book Abenaki Animals and most recently, they have collaborated again on the storybook  Swift Deer's Spirit Game that was just released.

Francine not only paints, but she also enjoys making leather pouches, regalia, and beading.

Artist Statement

Like so many other native artists, my favorite subjects are from nature, and my paintings show my passion for Mother Earth. I have drawn and painted almost as long as I can remember. Being able to express my heritage through art is a real gift from Creator.

I especially enjoy painting on wood. I like to frame my work using twigs and other items from nature, including leather. I enjoy working with leather and make pouches, fashioning them from the way the piece of leather looks and letting my imagination run wild.

In addition to painting and making leather pouches, I make regalia. In 2014, I made my mother’s first regalia from her head (headband) to her toes (beaded moccasins), including her dance fan, dress, and shawl. She was 86 years old at the time and had never danced in the circle because she had never been allowed to so.

 Contact Info

Phone: 804-943-6197

Email: dancingbluewolf@gmail.com

Etsy Store: Blue Wolf Crafts

Acrylic  Mixed Media

 Francine Poitras Jones,18th Century Abenaki Couple 2. 2015. Acrylic Painting with Birth Branch Frame

Beadwork on Leather

Watercolor cover illustration by Francine Poitras Jones

Exhibits

2017-2020

Alnobak: Wearing Our Heritage. Traveling Exhibit. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. 

2019

Babaskwahomwôgan: The Spirit Game. Invitational Group Art Exhibit.  Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, Warner, N.H.

2016

Parley and Protocol: Abenaki Dipolomacy Past and Present. Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Farmington, PA.

2015

Parley and Protocol: Abenaki Dipolomacy Past and Present. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. Vergennes, VT.

2014

All of my Relations: Faces and Effigies from the Native World -  Invitational Group Art Exhibit.  Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, Warner, N.H.

2011

Friday Night at the Arts, Petersburg Regional Art Center, Petersburg, VA

2010

Friday Night at the Arts, Petersburg Regional Art Center, Petersburg, VA

Available for Puchase

Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, Highlawn Rd. Warner, NH.

North Star Gems, 252 Mayhew Tpke, Bristol, NH 03222

Affiliations

Vermont Abenaki Artists Association, Juried Artist since 2014