On the Traveler

 I am embarking on an ambitious body of work entitled " Iconic Passages". This 30 x 40 painting is the start of the project. All the paintings will be no smaller than 24 x 30 . With the exception of some of the supporting sketches and ideas. I don't know how long this will take but I'm excited to embark on this journey.

 Everyone has seen the traveler. He comes into town in his rasta garb and backpack. Some of these types are now known as " Trustafarians ". Rich kids who want to do the Keruoac thing and go on the road and see the world.

 What you are looking at is just the burnt umber underpainting. The background was actually grey acrylic. There will be clouds and a city scape with noticeable telephone poles in the background. Because .... he is the traveler. This painting is already spoken for.


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On Murphy's Portait 2

 

The painting is starting to come along. I forgot to add that this painting is 24" x 30". I'm keeping the portrait monotone for as long as I can so that I can establish the value planes. As you can see I've added some red already in the t-shirt area. Okay .... I can't help myself. I just have to add a bit of color here and there. It's like when Mom was baking a cake and you just had to put your finger in the cake mixture ... it was wrong but it tasted good.

 I'm in the process of curating a show called "Wired Artists " at William Jessup University. I'll post about that in the near future.

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On Painting Michael Kent Murphy's portrait

 Well, I think I am going to go back to something I did early on with this Blog. What's that ? I will document the stages of a formal portait. In this case , Auburn's architect around town  Michael Kent Murphy. He is probably one of the few Rennaissance men left around these here parts. Architect, Painter , Collector , Inventor , Persian Rug importer etc etc etc. He has been a big supporter of the Gallery and swings by often to check in and inspire me.

 Just to liven things up , I've decided to attack this 24 x 30 linen canvas with a Burnt Umber underpainting. I essentially am creating a brown value grisaille that will help me see the planes and establish the lines of his character and attitude. I mean , Michael has a lot of attitude. He normally wears his hair in a pony tail but he let it all hang out for this bad boy.

 So here we go. Any questions? Just add a comment and lets take off on this roller coaster!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  People often ask me the leading question. Do you prefer to paint from life or paint from a photograph? Frankly, it really does not matter to me anymore. I am not a portrait fundamentalist. I've painted some sitters that moved so much that I would have prefered a photograph. Other times the excitement and energy from a sitting can really add a dimension that the photograph can lack. But here is the kicker. I try to approach every painting as if the person was in the room. As you can see , by sketching the face with a brush you can achieve a spontaneity and force that communicates immediacy and directness. I like painters that have an academic APPROACH. But I just don't like it for me.

 Judy P asked....

Do you sometimes need a few photos of a person, in different angles, as a double check for likeness? Or if you know the person well, is a single photo enough? Thanks! 

 Great question. I take multiple camera shots . Also , I always try to get a SIDE VIEW if the person is not going to sit for me directly. With a side view , I can see the angles and character of the nose and chin and forehead. Often times, if you are just looking at a straight shot of the face , the transition where the nose juts out from the face can be hard to discern. I sometimes see students paint the nose as if it protrudes forward starting from the forehead and missing the indentation down between the eyes. I also , ALWAYS work from a black and white photo just for the values. This is key. It gives me a visual grisaille. If you love color like me, you can be so in love with a color so much that it can be out of key and value. Also , by having multiple shots of the sitter , you can gauge their personality in a fuller range. Its all about the personality and spirit.

I'm stopping here to day as I need to get ready to teach a group of teenagers. And thats another adventure that I need to Blog about. 

Bye for now. Check back often as I will be posting after each session.

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On Speaking to a Crowd about Art

 

This past weekend I was one of the Keynote speakers at the 3rd Annual Intersections Arts Conference in Folsom Ca. Last years attendance seemed to be around 40 people and Saturday brought in around 120 enthusiastic art types willing to drink in the experiences of artists who have made a living at their craft.

 When I think about it , I kinda fell into public speaking by a strange accident.

 Many Years ago, ILM ( Industrial Light and Magic ) was invited to do a presentation for the Sacramento Art Directors Club. The venue was at some convention hall in Sac Town and Lorne Peterson , a Supervisor in the Model Department asked me if I wanted to talk about our Effects Business. I happened to be talking to him when the call came in.  I agreed ... not really knowing what was ahead of me. I was teamed up with another employee who specialized in the camera end of things.

 As we got on stage, I saw hundreds ( in my mind ) of people fill the room. I started to get really nervous as I looked at all the interested Star Wars fans lining up to get in to hear these Effect Wizards ( me and Harley ) talk about how Star Wars was made. I started to panic.

 As I stood on stage I could literally hear my heart beat. I felt like it was going to burst forth like the Alien and spill my guts all over the stage. I started to sweat noticeably. Why? Well ... when Harley started to talk about the sizes of the lenses and the film stocks and the camera gear and the moving masks etc etc. etc. I felt that I had to speak on those terms in order to be credible. I was a matte painter... emphasis on the painter and I knew that once I started to talk about those technical areas that my knowledge was incomplete. What to do? My mouth started to run dry. More panic. How do I escape ... What to do?

 I then started to talk about the stories behind the making of the effects shots. Like the time we did an Ewok shoot in the middle of Summer's 90 degree plus heat and had all these midgets ( little people ... sorry )  in furry Ewok costume who almost bailed on us because their costumes were so hot and steamy and how some of them almost passed out as they charged across a field at SkyWalker ranch which we then transformed to a planet called Endor. We kept saying ... You guys are doing a GREAT JOB!!!!!!!

 I figured Harley would be the straight guy and that I would be the " color "guy. From then on , I was comfortable and as I looked at the crowd they seemed to be hanging on every word of my stories. Heck, anyone could look up the technical side of things.... but who would tell them about the time we did a shoot on location for Howard the Duck at a Naval base and how after all the pyro technic blasts were set up and then executed with actors and then only to find out that there was no film in the camera and the camera guy was fired on the spot and on and on and on.

 So, if you happen to get in front of a group of people. Remember this . Stay in an area of YOUR expertise and experience. Bring it down to earth and tell the story about what you do with all the mistakes and errors and screw ups along with the triumphs. People identify with someone who is being real as opposed to someone who is saying the right things and trying to impress. At the end of the day , people love stories and they want to hear what happens next! But they can spot a phony a mile away. Self deprecation , under the right timing , shows the audience that you are like them in their humaness but that you don't take yourself so seriously.

 If you are excited about what you do , I believe that that energy will come through and your audience will find that quality attractive. There are so many people who hate what they do ... who wants to hear someone talk about the drudgery? I don't! I want to be inspired.

 And that is the secret. You gotta love to want to share something important to your audience. People are smart . We pick up our cues from the speaker. If I am nervous then the crowd gets nervous and uncomfortable. If I am in command then the audience will respond like a puppy dog and pay attention.

 Also, stay secure and comfortable in your skin. If you are hyper and talkative like me ... then use that to your attvantage. But if you are the quiet shy type, then work within that style. One of the speakers Saturday was soft spoken and cerebral and used his dry humor effectively. Even when a line fell flat , he looked at the crowd and said ... that was supposed to be a joke and everyone laughed.

 So stay secure in your skin. Like Art ... don't try to be like someone else. Be you. If you have to, practice in front of a mirror or start with a small group. Either way, get as comfortable as you can.

 If you can avoid it, don't read from your notes line for line. That is boring . On the other hand , if you have much to say , write the main points on a sheet of paper to keep you from rambling. I do this all the time and a flow sheet of MAIN POINTS helps me stay focused and confident that there is a coherent message. Its like a color keyed underpainting for speakers.

 I hope this helps.

thanks to Jessica for the pics!

On the Picture of Dorian Gray

 New technologies have hastened the readiness of finding a book . In the old days, you had to go to the  library and then scroll through the card file and search a mile to find the book title only to discover that it was not where it was supposed to be on the bookcase. Drat. NOW , if you have a Kindle or an iPad you can download a book title instantly and in some cases , download a book for free. You can't beat that!

 I had always wanted to read The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and with my new app " FREE BOOKS ' I discovered that so many classics were available for free download. And sure enough, Oscar Wilde's book was available for download. Within minutes ... more like seconds I had the entire book.

 Immediately, I found that I enjoyed his writing style and that his prose flowed well and he vividly expressed his thoughts with elegant metaphor and word pictures. The books introduction begins with Oscar's bold pronouncements about Art in general. Many of his epigrams are meant to spark controversy .  His classic line is " All Art is surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril".

His character in the book called Lord Henry Wotton is a sophistic philosophical libertine who delights in his social position and is aware enough of the Victorian Mindset to assault his peers with shocking assertions and views just for sheer fancy and whim. A classic example from his acid tongue is .."I like persons better than principles, and a person with no principles better than anything in the world" He plays the corrupting influence on 20 year old Dorian who is physically handsome and has social standing.

 I won't give you the entire summary. Heck, you can easily read the screenplay on Wikipedia. But I saw the 1945 version years ago and recently saw the remake called simply Dorian Gray and after I read the book realized how much had been changed and altered and therby diluting the real force of the novel. But here is the basic synopsis. A painter is seduced by Dorian's physical beauty and builds his Art Ouevre around painting Dorian Gray. He is the new Adonis that will spark a new style. The painter completes a portait of Dorian which is perfect beyond description.Then enters Lord Wotton who intellectually overwhelms Dorian and plants the thought in Dorians mind that the World will worship his beauty. He whispers in his ear  that Beauty is sovereign  ( his word not mine ) and that doors will open to him because humanity is weak and genuflects before the Altar of Beauty ( sound relevant? ). Dorian emotionally detaches himself from the painter and becomes a " devotee" of Lord Wotton. Lord Wotton wants to buy the painting but it is not for sale.

 So here is the crux of the book. Dorian realizes that he will never look as young and beautifully omnipotent as he does in the painting. As he grows old, the painting will haunt him as a reminder of his godlike status. He thus makes a Faustian deal to remain young forever. The painting then takes on the " sins" of Dorian. How so? Dorian is given a book by Lord " Harry " Wotton and it chronicles the hedonistic adventures of a man who gives in to ALL his desires. Dorian decides to live out that book. As he does , he notices that the painting , which he now owns , takes on the disfigured appearance of his soul. He however remains young. And here is the twist in the book ... because he remains YOUNG and BEAUTIFUL his social group sense that he must be GOOD! Soon he is corrupted and is the corruptor. He becomes a collector of beautiful objects and art and is an archtype of William Randolph Hearst and his palace in San Simeon.

 The new movie capitalizes on Dorians sexual exploits, but frankly , the book only hints at it. Mostly he is a sociopath. The best part of the book  happens when the painter visits Dorian after several years. He is amazed that he looks the same as when he painted his portrait. Dorian reveals his painting andits grotesque disfigurement is overpowering.

 Dorian screams that the painting has been a torment. He proclaims like a preacher " Each of us has Heaven and Hell in us!". The tempo is heightened and the Painter pleads with Dorian to PRAY. "Lead us not into temptation. Forgive us our sins". Let us say that together he begs. The painter confesses that he worshiped Dorian and as a result he also is punished. We are both punished he confesses.

He asks Dorian if he is concerned about his soul and judgement. He pleads with Dorian to ask God for forgiveness. Dorian has become hardened and tells the painter that he can no longer be redeemed. The painter said... The Lord says though your sins be as scarlet I will make you as white as snow ( a reference to the book of Isaiah ) . Dorian refuses God's grace. He then murders the painter.

 The painting becomes more and more hideous until Doran cannot stand the sight of what his soul looks like. He is wrapped in guilt. Why? Even his attempt to do something good is still self centered and self motivated. Why does his conscience bother him so? Is it  the sociological  baggage of  Christianities Good and Evil. That is... Sin? He clearly is wrestling with big questions and answers . He wonders if he is forgiven , can he indeed remove all the guilt and shame? I was amazed that Wilde tackled these issues. You do not get that in the movie.

 What makes the book so fascinating to me is how the WorldView of the Church collides with the Hedonism of the Romantics of this time. Oscar Wilde was all too aware of the culture War and his book uses different personality types of varying temperaments who have interaction with Dorian and illustrates how they use him and likewise how he uses them.

 Romanticism was a reaction against all things Rational such as the Enlightenment and established Authority such as the Church. Romanticism essentially flurrished in the Arts. It espoused Feeling and Intuition over Reason. Lord Wotton embodies the Romantic spirit throughout and famously quipped ... I eliminate Temptation by giving in to it!


 The painting above was used in the first movie rendition of the book. I think its a darn good portrait. Here is what I tracked down about the painting from wikipedia...

The painting entitled Picture of Dorian Gray^[1] used in the film was painted on commission during the making of the film in 1943-1944 by Ivan Le Lorraine Albright, an American artist who was well-known as a painter of the macabre. Created specifically for use in the film, it is now part of the art collection of The Art Institute of Chicago. Albright had to paint the picture while the movie was being made in order to show Dorian Gray's physical transformation as his evil actions changed him into a horrid image in the painting while his actual physical appearance remained that of a young man. At the film's climax, Gray "killed" the painting by piercing it through its heart with a knife, thus killing himself when his physical appearance changed to that of the painting.

 Above is the new star portraying Dorian and he is creepy close to looking like the same actor ( Hurd Hatfield ) . Could it be the same man?

 At the end of the day , the book still rings true as Oscar Wilde , although a freethinker for his time at least understood that all actions have consequences and sometimes we are reminded of 2 axioms...be careful for what you pray for . You just might get it ..... and ... What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul. There once was a man who was so overwhelmed at what he had become and what he had done. He realized that as a merchant of slaves that he had sinned against God and Man. He accepted God's forgiveness and repented. Unlike Dorian who in self pity and loathing ends up killing himself , the real life former slave merchant wrote about God's saving Faith. We now many years later sing his song.Amazing Grace.

 There is some controversy , but it is reported that Oscar Wilde gave his Life to Christ at the end of his Life.


And that's a wrap!

On making Connectivity

 Today was probably the most exhausting emotional day I have experienced in a long while. As I opened my eyes this morning I realized that I had to connect with other artists.

 Let me explain.. About a month ago , Beth Rohlfes ,Curator  of Blue Line Gallery in Roseville asked me if I was interested in suggesting possible artists to be included in a group show  at William Jessup University in Rocklin Ca. I was busy doing my thing but I said yes ... because I am in that philosophical space of saying yes right now. As I got out of bed, and wiped the sleepy crust from my eyes , I leaped into the shower stall and turned on the hot water over my greasy black hair and thought about the show for a short spurt. I thought about the past 3 years and all the artists that I have come to know in the blogosphere. What if I suggested we do a show about traditional artists who discovered the connectedness of the internet and as a result opened up a boulevard of new possibilities and venues to showcase their skillset and knowledge.

 I got on the phone within minutes and  still naked and wet  , I called Beth to tell her what  water on wet brain cells could reveal. After several minutes and excited stuttering she affirmed that I had come up with an interesting hook.  All I needed to do was contact some established Bloggers who also had Art Cred and get them to sign on. I was overwhelmed by the positive feedback.

 I called Don Hatfield today as he had promised to paint some spectacular something for me for the show. He is an Art God to me. He knows his stuff and craps art better than you or I can paint. He is the real deal. He lives and breathes art. As we talked he mentioned that he had talked to Stapleton Kearns in the afternoon. I had asked Stapleton to be in the Show last week but he lost his daddy this week. Life happens to you while you are making other plans. I asked Don if Stape sounded okay. He said he did. So I called the Stape man today and we talked about his Father and how the internet had brought us together.

 I was really touched by his online memorial to his father. I choked up as I read it. As we talked I told him at the end of the conversation that I was honored to know him and that at some point that he and I would meet face to face. I wanted him to be in my Show but I knew that this time was for him and his family. Mr. Kearns and I met in the digital universe when he first started his blog. I was in instant fan.

 I will post more on the SHOW but for now I am in that sad group of fellow travellers who are losing their parents right about now. We are now becoming the adults.

I love Art. I love everything about it. But I also know that at the end of the day I would be nothing without my wife beside me. Seeing death closeup helps you , if you are sensitive , see Reality as it is.

 Love the one you are with. Time is too short. Joe Cocker said it best .... this is for you Jana....

such joy and happiness you bring .... heavens gift to me ....



this is a better youtube ....below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UpDDukLwjY

On painting April , my new intern

 

 Its been a crazy stretch since my Father in law passed on to the pearly gates . I feel like I just finished a marathon and I have been kinda scattered and absent minded lately. I took off walking to work the other day and I thought... should'nt I be driving? So here I am yesterday, relaxed and ordering a burrito at La Portal, which is the best Mexican in Auburn, and my cell phone rings. Where are you Frank and are you coming? I ask ... Who is this? The voice said ... I'm calling from the Rocklin Art Association and you were supposed to do a Demo for us at 1. It's now 2 and We are waiting for you. A flash of panic ran through my whole body. I forgot! Somehow in the back of my mind I thought it was next week. Have you ever felt so childish and foolish that you just want to climb under a rock and suck your thumb? I cannot believe that I forgot. Well, I told them , let's reschedule and I will do the Demo for free. That seemed to satisfy the voice at the other end.

 So at 2:30 yesterday in walks my new intern. Man, do I need help with scheduling and just plain office work. Her name is April and she saw my painting of Gilbert at the Placer Studio Tour Show and asked if I wanted an intern. She's and art student at Sierra College and has applied to Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, my Alma Mater. I hope she gets in. So I told her what had happened and I felt really rattled. I hate not fulfilling an obligation. Forgetting is so weak of an excuse . Anyway I told her I needed to relax and a margarita was for later and I was hoping if she would be so kind as to pose for a portrait. She said she always wanted a portrait of herself and she agreed to pose. Just as we started in walks Larry who teaches Art at Placer High. He wins the award for being one of the most liked teachers at Placer as well as being a real character. He taught April art and there is a wonderful collegial spirit in the air. It was just what I needed. Larry asks April, Have you told Frank that you sing in a band? She said no.... so now I find out that April has some classical singing training, plays the keyboards and fronts a Viking Metal Band of her own. Her boyfriend is the drummer . What is Viking Metal I ask and I also ask that she seems so clean cut to be in a metal band? Where are all the piercings and tattoos I ask? Well... we are starting to get to know each other and she has turned me on to EPICA... one of those Viking metal bands she likes. I like it. Its like beauty meets the beasty nordic metallic decapitators.

 She posed for about 2 hours. I told her if it was okay if she posed again next week so that I could finish her hair and clothes and background and face and ... and ... and ..... She said yes. I like working with the PLANES. Its a very sure way to capture the construction of a face. The planes of every head are different and they expose and explain the character of the sitter. April also posed with her chin raised. Its an attitude that belies a Viking Minstral.

 Paints include  Titanium White , Yellow Ochre , Cad Red Light , Ivory Black and Veridian . You can get alot of neat colors with just this simple palette. Try it out!

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I give you EPICA ... 10 million viewers have seen this ... where have I been?