Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Happy New Year!

I have picked up the brush again after a bit of a break from painting. I am almost done with my projects around the house and we have been enjoying our holiday together relaxing and playing.
The New Year means it is time to get back to work though, and I have been itching to get back to painting. Here is the my first painting to post for 2008. It is not quite finished, but done enough to post here for you to see.
( It is finished now and I have changed this to the finished painting 1/15/08 ).


"Rastrojo", 14" x 18" oil on linen , 2008
Private Collection

Some of my favorite stuff to paint these days are local landscapes with people and animals. This man leads his loaded burro home with cornstalks that he will feed to his animals. This subject was just right for a loose painting with subtle color and lots of variety in the edges. I wanted to have fun with the paint and push and pull a few details out of a pattern of brushwork.

I wish you all a great year. I am not real big on New Year resolutions, but one goal I would like to aim for is to try a few things to push my comfort zone a bit with my art. We'll see what I come up with.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

I love this one Frank, The composition and the values are different from your usual pieces. I wish you and your family much success and happiness in the new year.

Mike said...

Glad to see you 'up and about', Frank! Can't wait to see whats comin off your easel!

Frank Gardner said...

Thanks Eric! Same to you and your's.

Frank Gardner said...

It's good to get back at it Mike.

Anonymous said...

LOVE the juxtaposition of cornstalk texture and tree texture, and the juxtaposition of the burro's face and the man's face. LOVE THIS!
Solveg

Frank Gardner said...

Thanks S.