Wednesday, July 22, 2009

"Peregrinos", a color and composition study.

There was a fiesta in Atotonilco this past weekend that we spent some time at. The combination of smells, sounds, colors and action was just amazing. The splash of colorful tarps and umbrellas. Vendors selling. Smells of mesquite smoke, roasting corn and carnitas. Banda music and the drums of traditional danzantes and the rattling metal on their costumes. Small bells ringing and women singing as their procession of pilgrims arrives at the church. Men on horseback. Costumed locos dancing. And all of this going on at once. What a sensory rush.
I am going to work on some smaller paintings as studies for larger pieces of the fiesta. This one is a color and composition study. I will probably try at least one other variation on this scene before I work up a larger painting.
These ladies are heading to the church upon arrival in Atotonilco. They were singing and one of the women was ringing a small bell. They traveled by bus from their home state and will spend a week on a religious retreat in this town before returning back home.



"Peregrinos", 6x8" oil, Frank Gardner © 2009
the enlarged image is about actual size.




Detail of "Peregrinos". Frank Gardner © 2009
The enlarged image is larger than actual size.

16 comments:

William R. Moore said...

Frank,
I like it all. I am amazed at how you have accomplished the parade of people on such a small(6x8)support. They look like they are active and moving toward the foreground.

Marian Fortunati said...

Amazing, Frank!!
There's no more to say.

Jack Riddle said...

Frank--this is wonderful, the colors--wow! I can so well visualize the scene even in the quiet empty square I visited with you when I was there. Can't wait to see the large one.

Dean H. said...

Great, Frank! I especially like the contrast between the sunlit grouping of people and those in the shade. Nice stuff!

Christine Mercer-Vernon said...

since you already know i like this one, i'm going to say that i can't wait to see the larger version. there are so many wonderful areas in this scene. :)

Bruce Sherman said...

Hi again Frank!...A beautiful collection of story-telling...colorful and animated figures in this one...and on a postage stamp format really! Seeing it reminds me of my childhood days when I was a much younger "stamp traveller".../collector. Stamps were vehicles for me...and never failed to transport me to exotic...and for me then...unreachable places and events. Thanks for giving me that feeling about this festival...and Mexico! Bravo!
Bruce
PS Good luck with the larger version!

Solvay said...

I've gotten FB lazy............so sorry.
But, it's interesting the way your paintings look different in the two places.
Anyway, this is "home" so I decided to stop being lazy and come back here.
:)

So much public activity, so much enthusiasm and vibrant energy in such a small painting - each stroke's potency, each stroke's full essay on what was going on, what was about to go on, and what had already gone on (a little verb continuity..........). I can hear this painting!
It's lovely!

Daniel Corey said...

This is a fiesta of color and yeah I can kinda hear it to..

Susan Carlin said...

I'm completely baffled how you manage such a huge painting on such a small scale. Wonderful! I'm eager to see how you could possibly improve on this....

Marc R. Hanson said...

6x8!!! I didn't even look at the size until William mentioned it. Wow... never would have guessed that.
Great painting Frank. The figures have weight, I can see them looking down, their pace... outstanding.

Anonymous said...

Man, your work is incredible! I would love to be able to capture life the way you do!

http://www.onpainting.wordpress.com said...

Hard to believe you can get so many natural looking people with such simple strokes in this small area. Lovely piece.

Unknown said...

Beautiful, the light and texture is incredible.

Marian Fortunati said...

Whatcha been doing, my friend.......?????

PAINTING???????

I see you on FB but no more posts here... Whatzup??

Holly Van Hart said...

Frank, what an engaging piece. it's amazing that you fit so much action in this tiny format. bravo! Holly

Frank Gardner said...

Thanks everyone for your comments on this painting. I've been away from the blog for a while. My family was down visiting and I am catching up on things. New post soon.

Dean, glad you noticed the figures in shadow. That is an important part for me.

Bruce. I am a stamp lover too. My Dad always had boxes of stamps of envelopes for me to check out in his office. I still have a box that I stick cancelled stamps into.

Marian, I'll post something soon. I have paintings, but I am still on this broken down laptop and it's hard to get a blog post together.