Oil Painter and Jewelry Designer, Mercedes Franklin has brought about her own world of Creativity. Living in a small town in Florida, she picks her distractions & uses them in her work. I would call her an "Intuitive Artist," she has chosen her subject, her paints, her colors, her tools & her style.

The Franklin's were a very visual family including their extended family members. Their discussions were not lost on Mercedes. Having watched her Mother paint and sew, her first creative endeavor was in the 7th grade with her 1st sewing class. She continued these classes creating costumes for the Drama Dept, tailoring suits & personal clothing through her senior year in High School.

Ms. Franklin attended San Diego State University, graduating with a Degree in Art, specializing in Printmaking under Dr. Hodges, whose words of guidance affect her art to this day!

Between her 3rd & 4th years at SDSU , Mercedes was in the Foreign Students Program at the Universities of Granada & Barcelona in Spain, studying the History, Culture and Art of this Country.

Once she graduated from University, she found herself traveling to South and Central America, landing in Taxco, Mexico. There Mercedes created a jewelry line, importing it to the United States and Wholesaling to Retail Stores. Later years she started manufacturing her own line in the U.S. In 2001, she returned to Oil Painting under Master Painter Victoria Bush. She paints with her to this day.

Mercedes Franklin has created a Portfolio of her current work, which is displayed on her site, www.mercedesfranklin.com. She is also a member of the Oil Painters of America, OPA