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| 11x14 oil on linen panel |
The Gallery is really starting to take off. It's been a wee bit over a year and patrons are starting to come in and buy after seeing art on the walls. Some people just have to ruminate about a purchase before they make the offer.
Portraits are my bread and butter right now and the painting above is for a retiring Psychologist. I was given a photo which was pretty good and more and more patrons want to surprise the recipient with a present. I'm not a portrait purest. I've painted from life as well as photos and the trick is the proper use of photos. Did you know artists like Eakins used photos for their portraits? It would have been great to have him in front of me to paint but I think his personality really comes through with the image I was given.
This 11x14 was painted in about 5 hours time. The painting is started over a light grey which is allowed to dry overnight. That way the paint just slides nicely on the second pass.
Again for this job I use a straight Zorn palette with the addition of Alizarin and Veridian.
Recently, I was blessed to have power painting couple Julio Reyes and his beautiful painter wife Candice at the Gallery. They are the nicest couple and their careers have just taken off to the stratusphere . Julio recently won the very prestigious Art Renewal competition and that is no small accomplishment my friends. At a young age, they both have distinguished themselves as artists to take notice of. They both live here in Auburn.... boy do we have talent in this small town. I've invited Julio to go out painting with me .... so watch out for that ride soon to come.
I've been working on this 30x40 off and on between other paintings for awhile now and a patron just had to have it and bought it off the floor. She liked it the way it was.
Edgar Payne is in the house. Yes, the Crocker Museum in Sacramento has just launched a show of 70 paintings by one of my favorite landscape painters. I went on Sunday to preview the show and it was drop down spectacular. Awesome does not even describe the vitality and energy that explodes with each stroke on his large canvases . Here is a man that does not cheat on the liberal use of paint.
Last Sunday was the end of several exhibits at the Crocker and this painting was from a Rennaissance collection from some wealthy family. I was drooling over the frames of all of the pieces and the piece above was definitely a standout. Can you imagine this frame on one of your paintings. Just too cool.
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There are still spaces available to join me in France for 10 days of painting at my workshop. See the sidebar for the latest info.
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Bye for now...... Frank
Posts
What a very fine portrait that is, I felt almost startled by the expression, you caught so much LIFE in his eyes. I felt as though, "hey, I know that guy", ( but I don't.) I wish I could see your gallery and hang out there too. You made a smart decision to become a community member in this way.
ReplyDeleteI still can't believe how fast you knock these out. I think you must be channeling someone.
ReplyDeleteConnie...as it is said....it has taken me years to paint this efficiently.;v)
ReplyDeleteFrank!!! This is such an amazing portrait...Congratulations on this gorgeous piece!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is really great. I'm sure the client will be thrilled!
ReplyDeleteAlways amazing...
ReplyDeleteGlad things are going so well at the gallery... Well deserved!!!
Frank, Not only are your paintings great, but you make people, whether artist's or clients... feel welcome and comfortable. You take an interest in others and it shows in what you create. I'm glad to be acquainted with you, not only in art but in music too. Great music gives us inspiration. Hope to see you soon again!
ReplyDeleteHi Frank. Steered your way by Chris Volpe. You're a great find! While you're in France, enjoying clement weather, my students and I will be braving Scottish tempests. Perhaps you made the wiser choice. Have two croissants, and un grand cafe creme for us. That's for your blog.
ReplyDeleteYour work was absolutely stunning Frank!! What a pleasure to come see your gallery and many thanks for the warm hospitality!! Candice and I are lucky to have you as a friend and ally!
ReplyDeleteBest -- Julio
I'm so glad I stumbled into you via the Pastel Workshop Blog. I chose you at random and lo and behold you are a portrait artist. Small world or fate, I decided to major in portraiture a month a go after a lifetime of painting everything else. I did pencil portraits of my family--only because they all lived somewhere else; the drawing of them brought them closer. After reviewing the last two years of my blog last month, I noticed portraiture was where I had the most talent. Now I'm looking for masters to get a better handle on shading flesh tones. And here you are. I will follow. This is very exciting--as is your five hour portrait. Congratulations on the growing success of your gallery.
ReplyDeleteI love your portrait. He looks like an engaging person with more than a pinch of humor. :)
ReplyDeleteHow nice to see a "real" picture of Julio Reyes' wife.. I feel like I know her from his drawings of her. What an amazing amount of talent is packed into that guy.
I love your portrait. He looks like an engaging person with more than a pinch of humor. :)
ReplyDeleteHow nice to see a "real" picture of Julio Reyes' wife.. I feel like I know her from his drawings of her. What an amazing amount of talent is packed into that guy.