Monday, May 26, 2008

Ancha de San Antonio

This scene may seem familiar to you. It is based on a photo from the Day in the Life of Me post from a few weeks ago, a view heading into the center part of town.


"Ancha de San Antonio", 11" x 14" oil on linen, Frank Gardner © 2008
$950. Framed, Available at Windrush Gallery, Sedona, AZ

I'll be flying north tomorrow for a two week painting trip. I'll spend a big part of it on Cape Cod painting with some good friends Peter Kalill, Jerome Greene and Paul Schulenburg.

I can't remember the last time I painted up there in the spring. I usually go up in late summer or fall. It should be a good challenge to catch the distinct color and light of spring in New England.

The Hudson River Valley will probably pop up in a few paintings as well, you never know.
I'll be bringing "My Paint Box" with me, and hope to get at least a few posts up while I am gone. So please keep checking in.

33 comments:

Alicia Padrón said...

Ohhh I love how it turned out frank! Yes, I recognized it immediately :o) It's beautiful and love the foliage on the first plane makes everything feel farther and interesting. The warm lighting again.. is awesome. And like the "bug" that I know Mexico is full of them.. he..he.

How wonderful.. a trip to Cape Cod with some painting buddies!! Sounds amazing. Have lots of fun my friend and happy painting :o)

Stephen Magsig said...

Frank, The street in your painting looks so empty compared to the visual stimulation we are seeing on the streets of NY. Have a great trip painting and visiting. Will look forward to your posts!

Frank Gardner said...

Thanks Alicia!
Yes, there are lots of VW Bugs here.

Frank Gardner said...

Hi Stephen. Actually traffic can get pretty heavy here. I guess it is relative.
I switched the bus and taxi in the photo for a bug.

Thanks!

Vinoth Sivaraja said...

Recently discovered your blog, your painting work is amazing. very inspiring!

Anonymous said...

A great street. The bug adds to the feel of age.

Christine Mercer-Vernon said...

love the perspective of the town disappearing in this one, and that VW bug coming down the road! you could almost date this painting 30 years ago. very nice cool palette and the detail seems a little tighter in this one. i really like how each painting you do seems to 'change it up'. have a great trip!!!

Jennifer Thermes said...

This is lovely, Frank. Have a great trip... your timing is great... looks like summer's finally arriving in New England!

Anonymous said...

I knew that scene when the painting fully opened and then I realized it was your street photo where your gallery is.
The way you handled the sun and shadow is just so perfect and then it's too late- you get sucked into another beautiful work.

Cape Cod sunsets could be the best anywhere which means, so is the light there.
Other than cold Atlantic waters, you'll be in your own nirvana.

Pointless to wish you a great time- looking forward to seeing your impressions.

Frank A. said...

..Nice to be able to see your "stuff" again, Frank. : ) Great! as usual.
Have a productive, fun painting trip on the Cape. Looking forward to seeing the results.

Take care..

Dean H. said...

Beautiful painting, Frank. I like how the shadowed bldg. on right and the cast shadow in the street provides such a contrast and balance to the left side of the painting.

It will be good to see the art from your trip.

All my best, Dean

Susan Carlin said...

It's fun to see that photo you posted before used as reference for this painting. I was wondering over those branches coming in from above and went back to see how they could be in the scene, and sure enough, inexplicably, there they are. They do help direct the focus, don't they?
I did pastel portraits in Provincetown for three summers in my wild youth. Love that town. Will you go up that far? Have a wonderful time. Can't wait to see what you paint!

Frank Gardner said...

Thanks Scorpio, I appreciate your visit. I am on the road, but I will check your blog when I have a chance to do some blog surfing.

Frank Gardner said...

Thanks Bill or Lisa.
There are tons of VW bugs here. I think they sent every one in the States down here.

Frank Gardner said...

I thought I was keeping this one pretty loose Christine. Guess I need to go further. Always love hearing from you.

Frank Gardner said...

Thanks Jennifer, Timing IS great. The weather was pretty super today.
It is a great time of year up here when the weather cooperates.

Frank Gardner said...

Hi Bonnie, the light is pretty special on the Cape. I paint out there often.
Hope to start painting soon and get something for you to see.

Frank Gardner said...

Hi Frank, Thanks.

Frank Gardner said...

Thanks Dean, I like that too. I have been thinking of a painting of this scene each day on my walk to town.

Frank Gardner said...

Hi Susan. Yeah, that tree leans pretty far over the street and really frames the top of the painting nicely. Gives a nice dark to judge the shadow on the street against.
Yes, will probably hit P-Town.
Thanks.

Anonymous said...

I DO recognize it! Yay! Have a fun and safe trip!

Paz

Alicia Padrón said...

Heeelllooooo...How is Cape Cod Frank??
Have you seen Jessica Flecther yet? :o)

Elizabeth said...

This is a lovely painting. You don't often seem to do urban scenes - except of course the church some weeks ago.
Our son lives near the Hudson River and I'm sure you will find much to paint and delight you there.

Anonymous said...

Sweet piece. I like the pastel-like palette. Sounds like the trip will be a blast.

Frank Gardner said...

Thanks Paz!

I'm not on the Cape yet Alicia, still in upstate New York. Weather is great so far. Having a great time.

Thanks Elizabeth! No, I have not been doing that many street scenes lately.
I grew up on the Hudson and it is a beautiful area here in the Hudson Valley.

Thanks Simon. I'm sure I'll have a blast and hope to get some good paintings out of the trip.

Anonymous said...

Will you pass through the city?

Paz

Frank Gardner said...

No Paz, I'll be staying away from the big city this trip. I am up in Poughkeepsie.

Anonymous said...

Ahhh! Okay. Keep having fun in Poughkeepsie.

Paz

Ambera said...

It's spot-on Frank. Your painting of course has more charisma and familiarity than the photo you recently posted, but it's instantly recognizable nonetheless.

Anonymous said...

The photo was good enough, but you've "breathed life" into the scene that the camera-machine just didn't notice. ;-)

Nice work!

Frank Gardner said...

Thanks Ambera.
Thanks A., I try to add a little life to the paintings I do from photos instead of just copying them. I'm glad it works for you.

LuisNCT said...

This one have the feeling of some Sisley's paintings.
Great works

Frank Gardner said...

Hola Luis. Sisley is great, I'm glad to accept that compliment.
Gracias por tu visita. Agradezco mucho tus comentarios.

Tus dibujos estan muy energeticos. Algunos me recuerda un poco de Ralph Steadman.