Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Untitled Work In Progress-Step by Step

I am about done with this 11" x 14" studio painting. It still needs a few adjustments. The main thing is that I want to put a little foliage back onto the main tree in the middle. I'll let it sit for a day or two before I mess with it.
Here are a few step by step photos from along the way. They are pretty self explanatory, so I am just going to post them without rambling commentary. I'll post the finished painting once I've had a chance to wrap it up.
Some people have ask about my painting supports. This one is on a Raymar, single oil primed linen, panel. I use these, or Sourcetek panels a lot. Sometimes I use gessoed masonite boards that I prepare myself. For anything bigger than 24" x 30", I use stretched canvas.








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

14 comments:

Elizabeth said...

Really interesting how all this comes together.
You make me want to try painting again - which I did a long time ago.
May I add you to my blogroll?

Christine Mercer-Vernon said...

your process really astounds me frank. there is such a freeness to your brushstrokes. you make it look so easy!! about how long do you think it took you to get this far?

Frank Gardner said...

Elizabeth, you can ad me any time you want. You must mean for your N.Y. blog. I am on the Marrakesh
one.

Frank Gardner said...

Hi Christine, I try to keep it free and easy looking. Some days I am a little freer than others.
How long? you mean on this painting, right?
I have about 6 or 7 hours on this. I would hope to wrap it up in another half hour to an hour session.

Ambera said...

A treat to see your process, Frank! I love the way you do trees, really amazing how a few strokes represent something so well.

Christine Mercer-Vernon said...

a completed painting in about 8 hours, that's amazing. you have a talent for making every brushstroke count, and the photos make it look like you know exactly where every brushstroke goes before you lay them down. quite impressive. thanks for sharing your steps!

Frank Gardner said...

Thanks Ambera.

Frank Gardner said...

I thought that I was dragging along on this one Christine. Stopping and taking photos and all.
I DO think about most of the strokes before I lay them down. It's those thoughtless ones that get me in trouble.

Jennifer Thermes said...

Frank-- I love seeing your process. Wonderful that you can think about each stroke- and yet your work appears so nice and loose.

Jack Riddle said...

Frank--I now remember your showing this progression at one of your workshops and it certainly helps to have this reminder. The brushwork is extraordinary and the result is (or will be) another wonderful piece. Hope you post the finished product!

Frank Gardner said...

Thanks Jennifer. I'm glad to know that some people are enjoying these step by step posts.
That balance of planned looseness is something that I really work at. That looseness is real easy to lose if you pick at it too much and you can't get it back after that. Don't you think?

Frank Gardner said...

Hello Jack. I'll post the finished goods when I wrap it up. Probably not until next week.
I'm glad that you find these helpful.
I'll try and do some more. It helps me get in the mood for the upcoming workshop.

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

Loved watching that come together. I like it.
Yes, there is a point where you loose the freshness if you fiddle too much with it.

Frank Gardner said...

Loosing that freshness is hard. You can make it worse trying to get it back. Like a cat chasing his tail.