Monday, October 27, 2008

Recent Work

Here are two recent paintings from here in Mexico lest anyone think that I have moved to Maine or anything.
Both of these were done on location this month.
The color in the landscape is starting to turn, but there are still pockets of flowers hanging on here and there.



"Tree and Flowers", 11" x 14" oil on linen, Frank Gardner © 2008
$950. Framed. Available at Galeria Gardner



"October Morning", 11" x 14" oil on linen, Frank Gardner © 2008
Private Collection


A friend of mine, Jack Riddle, is in town and we have gone painting together a few times. Some of you know Jack from his blog and may have been wondering if he actually made it down. Here is a picture of him painting the other day at a friend's ranch.


Jack Riddle Painting

24 comments:

eLIZabeth Floyd said...

I love how you capture atmospheric haze, be it in Mexico or Maine! Thanks for posting the paintings!

Alicia PadrĂ³n said...

Wonderful Frank. October morning takes my breath away! Those far hills with those colors... just lovely :o)

Anonymous said...

Yup- it's the haze factor and how the background recedes and still glows in October Morning.

These are so fresh and free, Frank. Really wonderful, again.

The way you interpret warms and cools is a signature of your painting.

Maines' loss, Mexicos' gain.

Jean Victory said...

Wonderful landscapes...love the color.

Christine Mercer-Vernon said...

great landscapes. love that tree in the top one. really liking the values and brushstrokes in it. very warm and sunny. and nice pic of jack, i like the hat.

Stacey Peterson said...

It's good to see you back at it with the local scenes, Frank. Love the atmosphere in "October Morning" (and from the comments above, looks like everyone else does too!).

Anonymous said...

very nice soooo I would like to invite you to visit and become friendly with me at my art blog.

I hope you will come by and enjoy the variety of labels, and music videos and experiences as lived here in San Diego.

Great and hope to hear from you soon... see ya

mike rooney studios said...

love 'october morning'. the light you captured is wonderful!

Marian Fortunati said...

More beauty!!
Love the way the bright colors of the cactus' in the front catch the eye, but lead into that hazy background...
So nice.

Frank Gardner said...

Thanks Liz.

Oh Alicia..gracias!

Thanks Bonnie. Glad you like the warms and cools.

Hi Jean... thanks.

Thanks Christine. I thought you might like the tree.
I'll tell Jack that you like his hat.

Hi Stacey. Thanks.. yeah... that one seems to be a fav.

Thanks Jesse.

Hi Mike, thanks, I love the scenes where I am looking into the light. Bad for my eyes though.

Thanks Marian. I tried to keep the bright colors up front to send the rest of it back into it's proper spot in the distance. I think most of that "stuff" up front is just plants, weeds and flowers, but I really just painted it as "spots" and "daubs" of paint anyway, so thanks, it's hard to tell what it is.

Kelley Carey MacDonald said...

Oh, these are beautiful. I've enjoyed your Maine paintings, but was looking forward to the beauty of Mexico again. You make the colors so rich, it makes me feel like I'm there!

Anonymous said...

I want to go to that blue, cool place over yonder. I'm sure it's nice there.

solveg

Anonymous said...

I've missed a bunch of good paintings! Especially like October Morning.
Looking at the photo of where Mr. Riddle is painting I see your desert is so different from mine. You have grasses and cacti. I have red sand and junipers.

Eric Merrell said...

Isn't that a lobster boat over in the bushes behind Mr. Riddle?

Very cool, Frank. I'm looking forward to the day me and the lady can visit you down there and paint the Mexican lobst- I mean deserts.

Frank Gardner said...

Hi Kelley. Thanks!

Hi Solveg. I liked that blue too! Draws my eye in.

Hi Silvina. Thanks. All that grass is starting to dry up since most of the rains are over. We do have a lot of Cacti and mequite/ huizache trees.

It would be great to have you around to paint with Eric.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pieces.

Paula Villanova said...

I have been fortunate enough to have visited beautiful San Miguel on a few occasions and these paintings take me right back. You really capture the Mexican landscape.

Frank Gardner said...

Thanks onpainting.

Thanks Paula. Next time you are in town you'll have to stop by and say hello.

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

Love the atmospheric haze and the distant buildings. Soft colors.
Looks like something new in your brushwork. I like it.

Frank Gardner said...

Hi Mary, thanks. I don't know if it is something new or not, but I tried to leave the fresh strokes in that one without too much picking.
That is one thing about painting on location. Not too much time for picking.

cindy lee jones said...

I really love the atmosphere you painted in " October Morning" very very pretty.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for showcasing a bright green in the foreground, and muting the rest. It gives me hope.
Green can be used selectively.
As I grapple with my own choices.
You show me it CAN work.

Best to you.

Frank Gardner said...

Thanks Cindy Lee.
Thanks for visiting. You have some beautiful photos on your blog.

Frank Gardner said...

Hi Karl. Green is tough when there is a lot of it. One of the reasons I like this view is the way the greens lose their yellow as they go back in space.
I did a scene with lots of greens the other day that I totally failed at if it makes you feel any better.