Recent Happenings

Study of Sarah, 12 x 10

Last weekend, I taught a really fun workshop at Atlanta Artists Center on Capturing the Essence...painting studies of children, or really, the figure - from photographs.  My usual workshop format is alla prima - doing studies from life set-ups, but I love this one too.   Fifteen participants were game and we had lots of fun, great lunches at the restaurant next door, and maybe a sip of wine as well.  Below are some shots of the proceedings!

 

Photo Source for Quick Demo on Saturday

Linear Placement Sketch of figure

Color Sketch of subject, placement of value shapes

Below are some of the quick studies done by the class, who used a limited palette and big brushes...

I think they are really good - wish I had taken some close-ups!

I also wanted to post a few photos I took at the Portrait Society of America Convention, which was held here in Atlanta a few weeks ago.  Went on Friday only, but I did get to attend a Michele Dunaway /David Kassan demo.  Also, in the morning, I was lucky to see the fabulous watercolor painter, Mary Whyte and accomplished portraitist, Michael Shane Neal do demos too!  

There was great energy all around -- AND I  met Rosemary of the Rosemary Brush Company.  (She and I created a "Nancy Franke Brush Kit" which is available at www.rosemaryandcompany.com, and which has lots of the synthetic flats and brights that I prefer).  

Nancy's Brush Kit, 

left to right # 10 bright, series 274, # 6 Ivory Filbert, # 8 Ivory Short Flat, # 10 Ivory Filbert, # 10 Ivory Short Flat, # 10 Ivory Long Flat, # 12 Ivory Long Flat

Next are some photos I randomly took of various paintings on display, both from the demos and from the paintings selected as finalists in the International Portrait Competition.

Here is one demo from Thursday Night's "Face Off," where 15 artists painted different models for two hours, setting the tone for the weekend of painting to follow!

Joseph Todorovich demo (of model Annie Jefferson) from the"Face Off"

Jeffery Hein demo from Face Off; 

this one won the People's Choice Award

Quang Ho demo from  Face Off

Michele Dunaway Demo (on right) from Friday breakout session

Close up of Michele Dunaway's piece.. wonderful value shapes and sensitivity to the pose.

Some portraits I liked from the Finalists in the International Competition, which were on exhibit:

Chang Lian

Kate Stone

Seth Havercamp

Life is but a dream...

Memories, 40 x 38, sold

Busy, fun times abound.  Last week, my exhibit at Huff Harrington Fine Art in Atlanta, called Franke, Foltz and Friends (featuring the wonderful painter Doug Foltz, along with me and other gallery artists) opened on Thursday, April 25th.  Lots of my painting buddies and friends attended - I was truly uplifted by the vibe of it all.  And, I must say once again that I so totally appreciate the value of a good and supportive gallery, personified by Ann, Linda, Meg and Sam who help me in all ways at Huff Harrington.  Their enthusiasm, kind comments, hanging skills, along with honest critiques and praise keep me flying.  

More fun: the Portrait Society of America national convention, held this year in Atlanta, was last weekend too, so I attended on Friday the 26th - I was amazed by the fine paintings and the top artists, who did quick studies and demos for all to see.  To cap it off, I painted with some friends and fellow students on Sunday the 28th -- doing studies of children... in just a few days, so many amazing connections in this art life we share.  

 10 days ago: paintings stacking up outside my studio

Sing to Me, 24 x 24, Sold

Bright Morning, 12 x 12, Sold

Sun and Showers, Paris,  24 x 24

Follow Me, 30 x 24

Chez Huff Harrington last Thursday

Doug Foltz and Me

A beautiful painting by Doug

... and a beautiful time all around!

Windows of Paris

Window Shopping, 10 x 7,

Oil on Arches Rough Paper

Oh, we have but two more nights in our little apartment.  Yes, it is time to go back home, and yes, we are ready, but...what an experience, just to live here for a month!  Walking walking all over Paris each day, swerving into all sorts of beautiful spots, getting drenched, wearing ski hats and mittens in a snowstorm, and warming on the sunny days.  We went to the Eugene Boudin Exhibit on Tuesday at an elegant musee which was the former home of M and Mme Jacquemart-Andre. It was a wonderful collection of Boudin's work (one of the first "plein air" artists, he painted with, and some say mentored, Monet).  His colors inspired me, especially the luminous skies.

Pecheuses sur la Plage, 

1881, 10 x 15

Trouville,

1891, 11 x 9

Speaking of luminous, look at this gorgeous little painting below which I spotted in a Parisian gallery window,  and check out the antique head sculpture in a nearby window as well...I find both to be so gentle and true.

Another window, a perfect little dress...

And a gallery window on Avenue Montaigne - check out that frame!

Speaking of fancy frames, look at these ornate ones,

spotted through the window of a purveyor in business since 1927:

 Here is a cool sculpture that we saw in a window in Honfleur,

which totally reminded me of a Sherrie McGraw painting I had seen online.

Maria, 12 x 15,

by Sherrie McGraw

Below is the Exhibition Poster on an outside wall of the Musee Marmottan, where we went to see the work of Marie Laurencin, a painter from the late 19th-early 20th century.   

 More fun for me to see were works on permanent display at the Marmottan:  late Monets, lots of paintings by Berthe Morisot, and a few Manet's as well.

I

 And right there, all by itself on a beautiful wall was this tiny piece... 

one of my all-time faves!

Berthe Morisot Reclining (1873), 10 x 13,

by Edouard Manet

I hate to put my work anywhere near these other paintings, but I am just including this as a farewell to Paris and all of the nice experiences and walks we have enjoyed.  We return to "real life," but to me this life has been more than real!  

Strolling, 14 x 11, 

Oil on Linen Board

Packing up my little paintings today:

 Yippee!

This is how I have felt each day here...

Au revoir, Paris

It's About the Butter

After the Rain, 12 x 12

Well, it IS!  We have been in Paris for a little over 2 weeks, enjoying all of everything on our one-month holiday here.  Not a bad bite of food yet, and I have really gotten into the swing of things, in many ways, but especially dining.  Even for breakfast, the creamy French butter is so nice on a piece of my favorite type of baguette, called "baguette aux cereales," which has lots of seeds and things.  And then there is the petite sandwich, which always has butter and jambon with fromage, etc.  Later on, at le diner, usually most dishes are cooked in, sauced with, and taste so good because of:  butter!   It's been said that oil paint is like colored butter, though the few studies I've posted here look like I might have just used butter itself, as pale yellow predominates!

Cler Fleurs, 11 x 7

I am enjoying my mini Coulter easel, as it sets up quickly in our tiny apartment.  The apartment seems larger, though, since it has a huge north window, high ceilings, lots of mirrors, and best of all, just a wonderful view of the Eiffel Tower, all sparkly at night!  La vie est belle....

Getting Ready to Paint

Night Time Magic

Sweet Dreams

Sweet Dreams, 12 x 9

Exciting times for me lately - I've been painting a LOT from life, some going easily, some taking (way) more time and thought.  I always prefer the ones I can catch "alla prima," or in one session, but not all of them cooperate!  Still, my intent remains to let it flow with ease.

Painting large work from life for an upcoming show has been honing my eye, so when I painted "Sweet Dreams" from a photo of Sarah today, things went well.  Yay!  Practice and experimentation are continuing; I am open to anything or any tools at this point.  (There are some nifty new paint pushing wedges, and spatula-like tools in the Catalyst line by Princeton Brush Company.  I've been waving them around at my workshops, though not actually using them that much in the studio yet).  

The fun continues; I have my first-ever Nashville workshop Thursday and Friday, and am tres excited to be heading for Paris in a week on a fun jaunt with Michael.  Yes, I am taking a tiny easel - the Art Box and Panel mini set-up from Jim Coulter (www.artboxandpanel.com).

Below are two quick demos from my workshop at Atlanta Artists Center on February 8th and 9th; I like the pears lined up on the 8 x 16 format...that is a cool shape for verticals, too.

Pears, 8 x 16

Lenten Roses, 12 x 10

Winter Possibilities

Lake Morning, 20 x 10

The painting above, truly summer remembered, was fun to do at this time of year.  Love painting the figure in all seasons - I try to keep it free, yet true, often a difficult line to dance.  Here the goal was to use chunks of paint to describe form -- still have a way to go on this, but experimenting is fun!  (Meanwhile, we love these cozy winter evenings in front of the fire, with soup and a bit of wine)...

A Touch of Lemon, 14 x 11

Also, I'm continuing my texture studies, including some scraping, thick paint re-application, and other "paint-moving" techniques to increase surface interest.  Familiar subjects and set-ups make the experiments easier for me, as above.  

Bottle and Fruit, 6 x 6, example of a workshop set-up

Tomorrow is opening day for the 2013 workshop season!  I'm teaching a 2-day alla prima workshop to a group of 14 painters at Atlanta Artists Center;  my new name for these workshops is "Ease and Flow."  Focus will be on painting simple things, so we can respond to the subject matter without freaking, letting it flow and letting it go!  We use big brushes, paper towels, sponges, whatever, to loosen up and to break the ice of winter - YAY.