"Hard at Work II", 14" x 18" oil on linen, Frank Gardner © 2008
Private Collection
What I was really missing in that grab bag was yellow. Now I was able to paint the yellow flowers along the back and the yellow bag. The first version really helped me get the design and drawing down. Working in series is always a good way for me to stay loose. I knew I had the other, so I was able to take some chances on this one. I did not feel like I needed to get into too much detail.
Detail, "Hard at Work II" , Frank Gardner © 2008
Detail, "Hard at Work II" , Frank Gardner © 2008
29 comments:
Oh yes, that yellow is so important.. I love how the back of my favorite horse is in the light.
This painting has that sunny feeling that really goes well with the subject. A hard day's work out on the sunny fields. Beautiful Frank!
Thanks Alicia. I was hoping the light of a hot sunny day would come across in this one.
That horse IS a beauty. Bet he would rather have me riding him around, giving him apples and carrots, instead of plowing that field.
Thanks, Frank, for the positive comments on my last portrait. I love all the white canvas "sparkle" you leave in your work and like that in others' work, too... but feel nervous to leave it in mine... worrying that it may seem, I don't know... unfinished? Will you talk about your thoughts on that? Thanks!
Frank, you have such a wonderful feel for what to put in and what to leave out. This is a masterful painting, full of light, movement and life!
Frank- I was taken in by the gentle beauty of this painting before the yellow but now it's complete.
Seeing your detail photos is so helpful to me. I can really study how it is you make detail out of sketchy and conversely, something loose out of detail.
Your work so conveys a place, and a time.
I'm going in to paint now. It's been too long- you've given me the impetus.
Hi, Frank. Beautiful painting. The detail shots show how you paint shapes and the shapes magically
come together to form the world!!
Love the reds and strong color concentration in the focal point.
Hi Susan. Sure, I'll try and write up a post with my thoughts on that.
It is a balance between leaving what may seem "unfinished" and over working and taking all the life out of a painting, just to cover all the base color.
A toned canvas helps, but I like the white on a painting like this. It helped pop the transparent color like on the horses back and the yellow flowers.
If I had used my sienna tone that I sometimes work with, the color of the horse would not have read so well.
Thanks for question. I have been thinking how to tackle that idea without rambling on so much that it gets boring. There are so many variables.
Don, thanks, that means a lot to me.
Bonnie, thanks. Glad you like checking out the detail shots.
Yes, go paint!
Thanks Dean. That is why I wanted to share those close up details Dean. It is just shapes. So hard for me to just leave them well enough alone. I have to always tell myself that the simple shapes, the right color, in the right place, will read better than a bunch of picky over working.
Thanks for stopping by.
Lovely loose strokes...and wonderful colours, Frank...def an air of tranquility in the painting :)
Thanks wildlifegardener. It's nice to hear from you.
Beautiful series of daffodils on your site. It looks like spring is in full bloom.
Such a lovely sensitivity to the horses. I adore horses, and wanted once since I was just little. I never get tired of seeing them, especially in your work.
Frank, that answers so much right there! I really get how the "right" color sometimes is easier to get over an untoned canvas. And the sparkle of white in and around objects, for me, lends a sundrenched, bright look that would otherwise be hard to pull off. Would love to hear what other thoughts you have on that, too. Ramble on! I don't think you could be boring if you tried.
Thanks Ambera. Me too, I still want one, or three.
Susan, I'll gather some more thoughts on that. It may not be in my next post, but I'll work on it.
This is a beauty. Loose but solid (does that make any sense?)
Hi Frank, I have tagged you for a different kind of meme. "A day in the life of.. Frank Gardner" Hope you want to play :o) You can learn more about it at my blog.
Gracias amigo :o)
Such wonderful countryside!
Loved the horse.
In Morocco it's the donkeys which do most of the donkey work!
A lovely painting.
Hi, me again :o)
I just saw a post over at James Gurney's blog (don't know if you know him but his blog is amazing, so much to learn from him) anyways, he has a post I think you'll find interesting. Here is the link:
http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2008/05/palette-project.html
BTW You should tell them that Terre Verte is stupid ;o)
Argh! Thanks Alicia. Aqui se dice "no manches". Supongo que en Venezuela no usan esta frase.
I'll do the best I can. If anyone wants me to tag them speak up. I hate tagging someone who does not want to be tagged.
Alicia again. Yeah, Gurney Journey is one of my favorites. Speaking of tagging someone who did not want to be tagged. I tagged him when I first started my blog and he did not pass it along. Sent me an email with his answers though, or a post, or something.
I thought the same thing when I saw Terra Verte on his blog. That post was written by another artist though.
Hi Elizabeth! Thanks. Here the horses, mules or oxen do the plowing. The donkeys pull the carts, carry the cargo,stuff like that.
Frank, funny I think you were writing a comment at my blog the same time I was at yours.
Awww thanks for playing along. You are such a good sport. Well I'm sure there is lot's of people who would love to know what a day in your life is like. I'm one of them :o)
So you already saw the post on Gurney's, that's good then. I read it and thought of you. And you are not alone on the feelings towards Terre Verte, I saw the poll and is the least favorite color of the list. Only has 3%! You were right all along. ;o)
Thanks onpainting. Bill or Lisa. I never know which.
Yes, "loose but solid" makes sense. I think.
In painting at least.
I like the details. Makes me appreciate your painting even more.
Paz
I'm glad that you enjoy the detail images Paz.
Thanks!
hot and dusty,it looks like hard work indeed,like this one as much as the other version Frank.
Thanks Rob.
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