Monday, December 10, 2018

Simplicity


"In fact, the hardest thing is to be simple," Sergei Bongart



Of late, I have been in that well-known, yet totally frustrating process of "trying too hard" on several commissions...aargh!   Ideally, I take a break, several deep breaths, and start anew with a BIG brush, thus forcing myself into a simple statement of large shapes.   The old maxim of Look Twice, Paint Once always applies.

Often, as we all know, a loose, unfinished oil sketch is more communicative of truth and life than a "finished" work.  YET... often it's true that we painters do the exact opposite (especially on commissions): less looking and consideration, accompanied by MORE slinging of paint in a frantic effort and vague hope that something/anything will magically work! 

After looking at some of my paintings, both recent and past, it's obvious that many of the ones I still respond to are the pieces where I threw out "trying too hard," and focused!
  

Focus means sharpening the idea: simplifying shadow shapes, unifying background color and detail, eliminating rendering and accessing the gesture and feeling.  


Third take on the model in live painting session (14 x 11).  
First two studies were "too too."


Quick demo sketch (12 x 9); 
sassy angles tell the tale.


Larger sketch (24 x 24) from photo of a favorite model, Annie.  
I stopped before getting "finished"!


Recent painting (20 x 20), has nice flow,
with little to no detail or background info. 


Portrait Study (18 x 18), 
zoomed in and reduced the triangle, popping the lights with dark background.


Painting of two friends on Provence trip (9 x 12),
zero detail on faces, but the girls are recognizable from shape alone.


Class Demo (16 x 8), 
sketchy but sassy essentials carry the energy.


Bye-bye! A recent start (30 x 30), unfinished.  I went on to "finish,"
and ended up losing the soft and simple feel, causing a paint-over!


Commission painting (18 x 14), 
I was able to keep it simple, yet true....woohoo!
No details of beach or ocean were included behind; also, figure cropping and 
 minor suggestion of clouds make this one stay sharp.


To be able to paint simply, the painter must first find clarity of thought.. Clarity is accessible when one is confident in drawing accuracy, and when one is freed from real or perceived outside expectations.  Just Do It -- Eliminate or paint out useless detail and information copied mindlessly from photographs.   Decide what is most important to say and say that ONE THING. 


Workshop update:

In just one month (January 10 and 11th), it will be time for a painting tune-up! And, here it is:  Simple Focus on Figure Workshop (Painting any subject from your heart) at a new and gorgeous venue north of Atlanta in Alpharetta, GA (Art on Main). 

Some spaces available -- YAY --  we will have fun, while creating dynamic and simple studies with life and energy -- no slaving over detail!

Check it out on my website, www.nancyfranke.com, or email bonnie@bonnieflood.com.


Class Demo Sketch, 20 x 16






Sunday, October 21, 2018

Thanks and Giving Show and Sale



Love in the Abstract, 9 x 12, $ 950


The Brushwork Society, a group of artists here in Atlanta, is hosting a Home Show and Sale in Historic Brookhaven this coming week; they have asked me to participate, along with many other painters!    Lots of nice art and beautiful home accessories from Butternut Studio will be featured (www.butternutstudio.com).   Come if you can and support Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, which will receive a portion of the proceeds!




Here are a few of my pieces that will be offered -- if you are interested in a painting, call Mary Ferguson at the number above or attend the festivities if you can!   

Warmth, 14 x 11, $ 1450





Positive Vibe, 24 x 12, $ 1950





Softly, 28 x 22, $ 2350






Oh Happy Day, 20 x 20, $1950



And, finally, a nice tribute from the Brushwork Society -- I am delighted to be included!











Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Blue Hues and Summer News

Hydrangeas have been abundant and fabulous this year -- 
alas, the blue blooms have faded by now in our part of the South, 
but it's still fun to look at some different recent and past interpretations 
of a favorite summer inspiration...



June, 2018, Abundant blues in my garden




June, 2018, Fresh Cuttings in a tiny vase,
chez moi




And, also July, 2018, some Late Cuttings, 
in my studio:





Now to the painted ones --



Two recent semi-abstract interpretations:


You Send Me, 2018, 12 x 12,  sold




Lyrical Prose, 2018, 18 x 14, sold


Recent, more traditional hydrangea paintings:



Sweet Surprise,  2018, 16 x 12, sold




Abundantly White, 2018, 24 x 20, sold



Fairly Recent Workshop demo of hydrangeas and fruit:


Workshop Demo, 2017, 18 x 24, sold


This one is kind of fourth of July-ish!



Summer Blues, 2017, 30 x 24, sold


A Couple of Blasts from the Past:



Dance of Blue, 18 x 24, 2014, sold






Remembrance, 44 x 44, 2016, sold
(This one is acrylic)



Hydrangeas and Pears, 24 x 24, 2016, sold


The painting below,  done this spring,

 looked  to me like a bad hair day, so I painted over it!


No Name, 24 x 20

Re-style for my Bad Hair Day: 


Revelation, 24 x 20, sold
(no hydrangeas here)



And finally, below is a little study I recently did of Sarah and Eli 
from a photo taken when they lived in 
Sitka, Alaska!  
They are bigger now and live in North Carolina...


Sarah and Eli, Sitka Summer, 16 x 12, 2018

BTW, I am teaching two workshops in North Carolina next week --
got an email today that two spots have opened for the first workshop 
at the Bascom in Highlands, NC.
July 24 and 25th:  Modern and Free: Let's Paint from Life
If you want to join the fun, call Billy Love at 828-526-4949, ext 140.













Thursday, March 1, 2018

Easy Peasy





Oh, it seems so easy... Just Squint!

IF I can remember to do so, painting IS much easier!
Unbelievably, now that my work is more interpretive, I often forget to squint at the subject.
Michael and I just visited friends in FL whose home is dotted with my early work.  Tonight, he happened to mention how much more soulful my current work is in comparison -- yet the new pieces are far less detailed.
Squinting is an important key in making modern, less literal (but true) paintings.
Squinting also helps one to avoid TRYING TOO HARD, and to TRUST INSTINCTS.

Oh, it seems so easy...
But, as we have all figured out, nothing about creating successful paintings is easy, permanent, or fixed.  I guess that's what keeps us in the game:  the hunt, the experimentation, the search for the occasional successful "happy accident," the zinger!

My goal:  to achieve spontaneity and life -- through accurate, strong brushwork -- and to create simple, light-shot paintings.   Yikes!  Every now and then it works, which is life-affirming -- woohoo!


I'm teaching a cool workshop in Atlanta in May (11th and 12th), at the Atlanta Artists Center.  
We will play with different subjects, from life, and also a bit of photo interpretation.  
If you are interested in moving toward more free, personal, yet true work, 
call Zindi at AAC (404) 237-2324, (www.atlantaartistscenter.org) to reserve a spot!