Annie, Take One

Annie, oil sketch, 16 x 12

Last Wednesday was a lot of fun.  Several local artists gathered at my friend Dianne's spacious studio, where she had a beautiful model in a beautiful pose, accompanied by beautiful music -- causing me to comment : "If there's a better way to spend a morning, I don't know what it could be!"
Then we moved on to a delicious light lunch, and un peu de Cotes de Rhone, supplied by my husband, who found a great one after we returned from Provence last year.

Lunch!

Just a lovely pose

Dianne's sparkling impression

Deanna, with clear focus, so painterly ...

We are invited back this week to paint again, with the lovely Annie as our muse...can't wait!

Bits and Pieces

Detail,  "Nuance, " 44 x 44

Sometimes I just love a bit of a painting -- in this larger piece, this is the bit!  I am into a soft palette lately, with just touches of contrast.  I like the play of colors here.

The set - up was tulips with the bulbs attached, which at first I attempted to include in the painting.

Set Up of parrot tulips

In-progress photo in my studio with bulbs in the water (sorry about bad lighting)

Nuance, 44 x 44, bulbs in the water are gone!

Michael came into the studio when this was in progress and said that the bulbs were competing with the flowers.  I agreed!  So they were painted out and now I do like the focus being up on the flower shapes and below on the shimmer --  proving once again that fresh eyes can be invaluable.

Spring Thoughts

Colors of May, 16 x 12, 2012

Well, last fall zillions of acorns rained down on our house and property in Atlanta -- more than I can ever remember.   So, of course, this spring I have been constantly pulling out little oak trees.  Now, however, forget The Year of the Acorn:  2012 is surely to be the Year of the Hydrangea!  We have many mature hydrangeas lining the street at the front of our home, and this spring they are laden with more blossoms than ever!!  YAY...the colors in early May are great, soft greenish whites and blues and purples.  Over the years, I have painted hydrangeas in various ways, always trying to simplify the form, yet suggest the detail.  Below is a shot of my new crop and a few old paintings of a favorite.

CURRENT PHOTOS

Best ever!

Pastel Close-up

PAST PAINTINGS

Blue and White, 16 x 16, 2008

Summer Story, 14 x 14, 2009

End of Season, 12 x 12, 2010

Thoughts

"Patterns," Detail

Well, I've been gone to Alaska again; this time we enjoyed surprisingly good weather, and great fun with our kids.  Now I'm back home and back to painting -- which is making me happy too!

Above is a detail from a painting I finished before we left; it is called "Patterns" because what I liked about the subject was the light and shadow patterns, on the hair, dress, and the sand.   In process is a big piece ( 44 x 44 ) for my favorite gallery, Huff Harrington, who really sell my paintings and who are THE nicest people.  The joys of a good gallery deserve an entire blog post.  I can not overstate the importance of working with those who are enthusiastic about one's work, and who nudge, ever so politely, the painter to see in a new way (say, like painting in a large format ).  Am teaching a one-day workshop at HH this Sunday - a spring "tune up," which will help me tune up too!

"Patterns," 30 x 24

Resurrection!

First Take - Tulip Demo, before I over-worked it (should have left it alone)

I taught another really fun workshop last Thursday and Friday at Chattanooga Artworks, where Lisa Seago has created a wonderful painting venue.  Also, the people who attended were terrific -- good painters, eager listeners, and game for anything... Meanwhile, I started out painting a demo for about 1 1/2 hours, which was going along pretty well, then I decided to over-analyze and over-work, after which I decided to totally Wipe Out (that's a first for me at a workshop).  It started with my erasing one or two tulips, then I only had one remaining, and then I thought - What the Heck- it's outta here!! As I told everyone, this artwork didn't exist two hours ago, so once it became a mess, I cut my losses.

Another Look - 2nd Day Tulip Demo, 12 x 12, won by Rena Malone 

When I was attending a workshop in Vermont 10 -12 years ago, the instructor said to NEVER wipe out a painting -- resolving problems helps the painter to learn.  This IS true, but sometimes for me, it's so liberating to start anew : )

So I did just that the next day for a short re-demo; the tulips had moved, and I shifted the composition; still not sure if it is any better, but at least it came back to life, a resurrection of sorts on Easter weekend, no less... 

Over the Airwaves - Good Vibes

Juicy Fruit, Shiny Bottle, 30 x 20

It's been very nice to be home this month:  I've had plenty of time to paint and to enjoy this amazing Atlanta spring and to just BE, rather than worrying about commitments.  I still have a few, but I've found the joy again; for me, that's what this painting journey is about.  YAY

Tomorrow, Thursday, March 29th, I am going to be interviewed on the radio, actually Blog Talk Radio, by fellow painters Leslie Saeta, from California, and Kathy Cousart, from Athens, GA, the hosts of "Artists Helping Artists." The show airs live at 12 noon eastern time, and can be accessed as follows:

Go to this link and listen to live streaming: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artistshelpingartists. The link to go directly to the show is http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artistshelpingartists/2012/03/29/a-conversation-with-artist-nancy-franke and this can be used anytime. 


I am going to try to talk slowly (my friends know what a challenge that is) and I will try to think before I speak (my husband Michael says that would be another challenge).  Anyway, it sounds like fun, and I am excited to be part of it all.  If you get a chance, tune in, and let me know what you think.

Spring Things

Detail from Shimmering Roses, 36 x 36

Well, I keep painting these white shapes on textured, muted backgrounds (here the "shapes," of course, are roses).  The pattern and movement, the dance of the linear and round forms -- all of those things represent my current challenge.  The weather has been really wonderful and spring-ish here in Atlanta for about 2 weeks... Below is this painting outside on my deck, accented with some slanting sun shadows!  

Now I'm wanting to paint with some COLOR and feel the spring vibe in my work -- so I'm off to the studio to see what develops...