Meet the Artist

In 1988, with her children almost grown, Fran finally embarked on her painting career. Having no formal training, Fran was hesitant to call herself an "artist". Yet there was an immediate demand for her work. She entered and won painting competitions both nationally and internationally, and sold pieces to corporate and private collectors.

In 1990, Coca-Cola commissioned Fran to do a painting of the first Bruno grocery store as a surprise for Mr. Joe Bruno. It was very important to the Bruno family that the painting be accurate in every respect. Only the products that were actually in the store could be represented in the painting and the labels of these products must be precisely reproduced.

This proved to be challenging because Fran had to work from a black and white photo taken with a flash, obliterating much of the detail needed. It was quite a task to translate this into a vibrant painting authentic in color and detail.

It took six months to complete the painting due to extensive research. Some of the companies had gone out of business and others had not archived their early product labels.

Fran contacted these compabies and even tracked down elderly employees who may have had some memory of early products. She traveled to Montgomery where, with the dairy owner's permission, she scavenged through boarded up sheds and storage areas seeking out the original signs used during that period.

Each week, throughout the painting process representatives from both Coca-Cola and Bruno's visited Fran's studio to photograph her progress. These photographs were turned over to the University of Alabama in Birmingham, to make into a video presentation. This video was shown at the unveiling of the painting.

The painting, "An American Dream" commissioned by Coca-Cola as a surprise gift for Mr. Joe Bruno

The brochure published by Coca-Cola

"In Training" Was Born

After the unveilling of "The First Game" at the Loretta Goodwin Gallery in Birmingham, Auburn coach Pat Dye asked Fran to come up with an art print that he could use for fundraising at Auburn, both for scholarships and his favorite charities, the Sheriff's Boys and Girls Ranches and the Big Oak ranch. He wanted something specifically for children because he thought there was a void in the collegiate market for children's items.

Driving home from their meeting, Fran envisioned a toddler boy, tired from play, wearing training pants and a large footbal helmet, holding a football and his precious toy tiger...and from this her "In Training" series was born.

Since then, Fran has created "In Training" graphics for over 35 universities.

Fran Baggett, John Croyle from Big Oak Ranch, Walmart store manager, Coach Pat Dye

Pat Dye used Fran’s “In Training” prints to raise money for scholarships at Auburn and support children’s charities.

Fran suggested to Coach Dye that perhaps they could team up with Walmart to jump- start his program. At the time, they were selling them through the Auburn Alumni Association.

With his approval, Fran approached Walmart and received their permission. Not only that, but Walmart agreed to match funds they brought in from the sale of Fran’s prints at the Walmart stores.

Fran contacted local radio and TV stations and asked for free ads and ad time and received both. They were very generous.

Coach Dye and Fran held sales and signings at Walmart stores from noon until 2 pm on Saturdays. Customers stood in long lines to purchase the prints and have Coach Dye sign them and write “I’m waiting for you” on them.

They averaged $4,000 per store and Walmart matched it.