Francis Focer Brown

Francis Focer Brown (1891–1971) was a well-known American Impressionist painter, as well as professor and head of the Fine Arts Department at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana from 1925–1957, and Director of the Muncie Art Museum. His work was exhibited frequently at the Hoosier Salon- Indiana Artists Annual, Herron School of Art Museum, Ball State University, Indiana State Fair, Indiana Art Club and others. Brown studied With J. Ottis Adams and William Forsyth (artist) at the Herron School of Art; Ball State Teachers College, B.S.; Ohio State University, M.A. Member Indiana AC; Hoosier Salon. He exhibited at the Richmond Art Museum, 1922 (prize); John Herron Art Institute, 1922 (prize); Hoosier Salon, 1922–45 (awards); CMA, 1922–25; PAFA, 1922, 1923. His work is held in collections at John Herron Art Institute; Ball State University; Richmond Art Museum, and in various schools and libraries throughout Indiana. Also known as Francis Brown and Francis F. Brown.

Francis Focer Brown was a child prodigy drawn at an early age to the field of art. Born in Glassboro, New Jersey, Brown later relocated to Muncie, Indiana, where he attended school as a teenager. During summer vacations while attending Muncie Southside High School, Brown received instruction from J. Ottis Adams in Brookville, Indiana. The course that J. Ottis Adams offered lasted only seven weeks, so Brown rented a room at The Hermitage to be near Adams, whom he described in later years as "a wonderfully kind and inspiring teacher" (Eldredge, 1964). Following his instruction with Adams, Brown later enrolled at the John Herron Art Institute where he studied directly under William Forsyth (artist), a teacher known for his stern manner. Brown later shared a studio with his wife, Beulah H. Brown, whom he met while a student at the Herron Art Institute. Because Beulah was allergic to oil paints, the majority of Brown's work was created in Tempera, Acrylic, Watercolor, Pastel, Charcoal and Pencil, with only a very small percentage conducted in Encaustics or Oils.

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