Garlic & Eggs

Garlic & Eggs on a modern background. No deep thoughts here...

Garlic and Eggs
Oil on Primed Board
8" X 10"

Sold

A New Day

I finished yesterday's painting. Then I discovered the camera's battery is dead and the canvas is too large to scan. I'll post a picture as soon as I get a battery. Just wanted to post this since I promised I would post an image of the painting.

Thoughts for Today

I am obsessed with painting. Sort of like that first love that keeps you awake and then starts your thoughts when you wake up. Except that I have been with this love since I was a todler and drew portraits to dazzle family members. Last night was one of those nights where you can't wait for the next morning to begin painting. Morning came and I stood in front of a blank canvas for minutes. Then I choked. Something like missing a two foot putt in golf to win the hole. I had my mind set into being faster yet deliberate in my brushstrokes, freer. Sometimes we get too caught up in keeping the colors clean, in sticking to a color scheme, in forcing the subject, even in adding gimmicks to make the painting look pretty. We get caught up in that pretty sells. Yet even the most romantic and traditional of painters want to sell their art. There is no other way around it, you want to paint full time and have a family, a home, car, etc., you have to sell your art. Art schools need to teach the marketing aspect of being an artist.

Back to my morning. The truth is that not every painting I start is going to be successful or even worthy of selling. There are some in my studio that I wouldn't even give away. That is a fact. And then there are those that I don't want to see go. Well, I couldn't start the new canvas so I decided to go to my dried out oil paintings and I picked one that was cute but soul-less. One of those where you don't say "what was I thinking" but "what was I feeling".

I started painting with an all or nothing attitude, fast and uninhibited. Within the first hour I already created a major change in color perspective, color scheme, and mood. As the time went by the strokes got better and the painting got better. And I am liking it. Now, I'm taking a little break and making a few comments on this blog.

I must continue. Tonight I will post a picture of the final painting. See you later!

Ballet Shoes

My daughter has been dancing for 12 years or so now. She is on her 4th pair of ballet shoes. I like the worn out, torn, and dirty look of the old ones. Thought I paint a pair of faded out pink ballet shoes.

Pink Ballet Shoes

Oil on Canvas Board

6" X 8"

Not for Sale

Pink Bridge

Heavy impasto landscape of a bridge over a creek in early spring.

Detail work:

Pink Bridge

Oil on Luan Board

6" X 8"

$85 Ebay

Mystic Red Vase

Today I felt somewhat mystical. Painting these soft vases in different colors is always soothing and a good practice too. All simple, a vase of one color vitreous glaze on a flat table top or shelf and a monochromatic background. Can it get any simpler than that. The execution may be simple but the thoughts during the process are not. The thoughts are like a never ending jazz piece or crossing the Dakotas by car.

Mystic Red Vase

Oil on Canvas Board

6" X 8"

$65 Ebay

Ebay Sales

Today was an exciting day. Four of my paintings went up for auction on Ebay and three sold. I get attached to some paintings and these three were very special to me. As an artist it is always hard to see your work go knowing that perhaps you will never see them again. Then there are those special moments when years later you come across one at a friend's home or a collector's home or office. The other day I went to a house to do a job and I completely forgot that they bought two of my acrylics years ago. I have to admit it was very emotional to see them again proudly hanging in their lovely dining room walls. Very special indeed.

Cobalt Blue Vase

Today was a great day! A day of meditation and prayer...and painting. There is so much to paint and so little time...

Cobalt Blue Vase
Oil on Canvas Board
6" X 8"

$65 Ebay

Past Paintings A Day

Thought I should include some of my past Paintings A Day. Of course the ones that I took pictures of or I still have with me. Thanks for Looking! Franck

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Wine Bottle & Glass

Small still lifes are always fun to paint. The good thing is that you don't have to go deep into philosophical "why" and just enjoy the "how" of this painting. Simple, I like simple. The older I get the simpler I want things to be. There is less chance to make mistakes and less to keep track of. The tile is one that I bought in Spain about 12 years ago. It was from a set of three and only one remains (there are no grapes on it though, just flowers).

Wine Bottle and Glass
Oil on Canvas Board
6" X 8"

Sold on Ebay
Commission work for a like piece accepted.
Email me to make arrangements.

Faux and Murals, Design

Some work I have done as a designer and faux artist working for Dallas Design, LLC. Just want you to know me a little more and what I do to finance my painting passion.

Yellow Vase

Sometimes I feel like painting something quick and simple. This one is a product of those moments. Yet there is something mellow and peaceful about simple vases. The Chinese dynasties knew this. Some of the most beautiful porcelain and ceramic pieces were minimal in design and glazing. I enjoyed painting this piece and hope that you too find a calm attraction to this yellow vase.

Yellow Vase

Oil on Primed Board

8" X 10"

Sold on Ebay
Commission for a larger piece can be arranged by Email.

Still Life, abstract

I finished the work in progress, previously posted. It is not easy to make changes to an oil already in progress. However, some things need to be changed, reworked. I have that tendency to keep working my paintings as long as they are in my possesion, even if it is years later. I can't help myself. Well, this one is left to dry now for awhile??? To see previous painting click here.

Still Life Oranges Blue Window

Oil on Canvas Board

16" X 20"

$250 Ebay

Tomatoes and Lemons

A Painting-A-Day of tomatoes and lemons with a minimal background and table top. I put pink on the table top just to make the painting pop. I am not color biased and frequently you will see me using unconventional colors in my paintings. I once had about 6 paintings in a local gallery (it was more a gift and framing shop with a gallery front)and they hung on their walls for months. The gallery owner called me one day to take them back. Her reason was that my colors were "different, too bold, not for this area." Perhaps that was true. She was nice about it. I took them back. Well I sold a few of them through a design company. Maybe I should send the other three to Miami or LA. Oh, back to this small painting,

Tomatoes and Lemons
Oil on Italian Canvas Panel
6" X 8"

If you would like a larger version of this painting
please email me to make arrangements.

Calm Corner

As a designer and as an artist I find corners to be special areas inside a home or office. Mirrors work well close to corners creating another dimension in the environment. Walls in two different tones but adjacent in value gives the corner a soothing feel. The accent in this case is a mahogany antique console table. Many like to clutter all the flat tops in their homes and this is fine if what they are grouping with are collections. I prefer a minimal approach, in this instance a candelabra and a picture of my daughter.

Calm Corner

Oil on Canvas Board

11" X 14"

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$120 Ebay

Four Apples

Nice oil painting of four apples. I wanted to keep this Painting-A-Day simple without overworking it. I decided to be somewhat bold and paint the background in teal and the table cloth in pink. Why not?

Four Apples

Oil on Canvas Board

8" X 10"

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Sold

Lake Shore

Landscapes are my true passion. I try to not be too detailed with them leaving an element of fantasy, a place that could only exist in our minds...

Lake Shore

Oil on Canvas Board

6" X 8"

Sold

Details Are Important

These are details of my work where you can see the brush strokes, impasto, texture, contours, modulations, etc.