Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a look at my art!
I’m Maria Froncillo. Originally from western Pennsylvania, I made the move to Arizona about 20 years ago and now live in the Phoenix suburbs with my small army of furry companions.
Painting is my passion, my joy, and my favorite form of self-care. I’ve always been creative, but I began painting seriously around 2010 and have been growing ever since. I consider myself self-taught, though I come from a very creative family that’s been a huge influence. My late grandmother Marian was an oil painter, my mom has an incredible eye for interior decorating (and more), and my aunts are all artists in their own way. My sister… we'll say she contributes emotional support.
Describing my style is tricky — I simply paint what I love. I’m drawn to bright, playful colors as much as I am to spooky, darker themes. I’m the kind of person who buys Halloween decor and leaves it up year-round, but I also adore rainbows, glitter, and anything cute. That contrast shows up naturally in my work.
So why Hearts and Keys? I’ve always had a thing for hearts… and piano keys. I can’t actually play an instrument — I like to joke that a certain famous piano-playing singer who shares my birthday claimed all the musical talent that day. In reality, music skipped me, though my dad and sister picked up the slack. The name comes from an early painting I created called Hearts and Keys, which I still have today. Piano keys still appear in my work from time to time, and hearts are always part of the story.