Student Spotlight: Hand-Painted Denim Becomes a Business

It’s a dream for many to get paid for their hobbies and interests. However, this is a reality for senior Francesca Crevoiserat, who has transformed her passion for art into a thriving business. Francesca draws and paints on many different pieces of clothing and items, varying from denim jackets to purses to Hydro Flasks. Since this summer, she has been taking commissions through her art Instagram account, @fran.paints; however, she has been experimenting with painting on denim since sophomore year.

Francesca takes inspiration from black-and-white photography, and her artistic styles and influences are clear in her art, shifting between abstract and realism. Her favorite piece she has done was her first denim jacket, upon which she painted a woman intertwined with a tree (pictured here). She describes this moment as a kind of revelation, spurring her to begin her love affair with wearable art: “It was that first, ‘Oh, I did it, and it actually turned out all right.’” Since then, Francesca has done about ten commissions, painting beautiful, unique scenes on jeans, jackets, and Vans shoes, among other items. Her art varies in price, depending on the labor, time, and materials involved in the painting; however, each object she sells is one-of-a-kind.

Though Francesca wouldn’t choose art as a main source of income, she would love to expand her customer base and make art every day. At the moment, she must find time to manage her growing business between school, homework, and water polo and swim practices. Her schedule is very busy, but she says she doesn’t mind; “when you love something as much as [I love] painting, you find time to do it.”

Interested in finding your own piece of unique, wearable art? Contact Francesca @fran.paints on Instagram.