Fraktur Artwork by Sandy Greco

by Heinz Ahlers

The CLF is proud to present for auction this 11 X 14 Fraktur style colored drawing. Fraktur is an art form introduced in America by the Pennsylvania Germans with some of the earliest work being done by the Ephrata Cloister in Lancaster County. The term Fraktur can describe a form of calligraphy, a font type, or generally the colorful floral and figurative drawings and paintings that started as illumination for birth and baptismal certificates and evolved to stand alone illustrations.

Sandy Greco is a European trained artist. Inspired by her father, who worked in wood and restored painted antique furniture, Sandy studied ceramics and then fine art in Palermo, Italy. Sandy is now married to Tom Greco and lives here in Illinois with their family. Sandy became interested in Frackur Art after visiting her first CLA show in Lexington, Kentucky. The patterns and colors struck a chord with her, reminding her of her father’s work and the intricate patterns she had learned in Palermo. Tom was a great supporter in getting her to undertake this traditional art form.

Sandy’s creation is in gouache and ink on medium weight watercolor paper with an antiqued finish. The framed work is 17 x 14 inches. The work includes distlefinks and a tulip and heart shape in the central stem, and delicate floral and leaf work with traditional flowers. The colors used present as the original colors aged by the passage of time, a skill she learned from her father.

Sandy is grateful to the many artists of the CLA who have supported her, especially Lally House who has been a mentor. Fraktur work by Sandy Greco is regularly seen on the CLA for sale site and does not stay up long.

This is a lovely piece for your home.