2 Day 6x6 Workshop in CA this June

I'm going to be teaching a very cool 2 day class in Costa Mesa, CA this June.
It will be all about painting the 6x6" size, working from photo reference.
The venue for my class will be at the Randy Higbee Gallery.

It is part of a big weekend of art, classes, demos and lectures and I'm excited to have been asked to be a part of it.
You can check out all of the other top notch events on The Fine Art Collaborative web site.

It's going to be a great weekend. Hope to see you there.

March 12-16 workshop in Mexico

I just had a pair of cancelations for my painting workshop here in San Miguel de Allende.
So now I have a few spots in this class again. I can offer a last minute discount of $250. off the price for painters who sign up with the lodging. It's an awesome historic home just a block and a half from the main square. Fantastic rooftop views and Spanish colonial interior courtyard.
This is for all levels of oil painters. Small group size. There are 9 signed up right now and the max is 12.
Read more about it in my original post about the class.



Rooftop view



One of the places we'll paint for the day and be treated to an authentic Mexican Meal.

Fundraiser for Volunteer Fire and Rescue in San Miguel de Allende

"Bomberos" 5x7 Frank Gardner ©2012 SOLD
$475. Framed and 100% is donation for the volunteer Fire Dept.

I painted this as a donation to a fundraiser at my gallery. We are raising money for the Fire and Rescue of San Miguel de Allende.
This piece is still available and I will pay shipping to the US.

Our fundraiser was last night and despite the rain, lots of people came out to show their support. There was a sock monkey tree, with a whole clan of handmade sock monkeys by our friend Ruth. There was a sculpture donated by a local artist Terra Mezwa. And the featured event was our "Hearts on Fire" project where we ask 20 local artists and other people to decorate a heart shaped nicho that I provided. We had a great assortment of nichos, many with Valentine or Fireman themes. The ones that are left will be on display at the gallery until they are all sold and 100% of the proceeds are for the Bomberos ( Fire Dept.) Our whole family was there helping out and the old International Fire Truck in this painting was parked out front. Sold lots of Valentine's cookies, brownies and meringues too.

Here are a few pics of the nichos. Maybe I can post more. We decided to go with "suggested donations" instead of a silent auction because of the rainy weather etc.. some are still available. We will be purchasing things from the "wish list" of the firemen and hope to deliver the donations next week some time. We are over $2,000. Dollars now and still have some work to do to grow our total by the end of this week.

We are also taking donations via Paypal from out of town friends.


Entrance wall of the gallery with the sock monkey tree and some of the nichos




One of the favorite pieces of the night. Nicho by Alfredo, co-owner of Camino Silvestre, the awesome store across the street and my favorite store in San Miguel.




"Mariachi Loco Quiere Bailar" nicho by Ruth Rauh. Pull the string and he dances.




"My Heart's on Fire" one of my nichos




One of our friends that braved the rain in the afternoon to come show support. Well, braved is not the best word. He and his brother enjoyed playing in the rain on the fire truck and putting on all the gear. They actually geared up with boots pants, coats and helmets.



Nicho by Lee Carter, owner of Colors, a great store up the street from our gallery.

Will shoot more pics of the other nichos and posts some more in a day or two. Some of these are still available, so contact me if interested.



"Amore Eterno" nicho by our daughter Erin ( age 8)



Was real busy, so did not get many shots of when it was hopping in there.