Franky at Artsplosure, Raleigh, 2015

Artsplosure 2015 at Moore Square in Raleigh, North Carolina

Thanks to Kim Curry-Evans at Raleigh Public Art and my new best friends at “Go Raleigh / Raleigh Rides” for getting my bus to the event!  What a great time.  Lot’s of fun meeting people and saying hello to the other artists.  I have to say a special “Thank you” to Jeanette Neyman and her students with the West Johnston High School Wildcat News Team for spending a HOT Saturday coming to the event (looking forward to seeing that video.)  More thanks to: Penny Prichard, Josie Carter and Renee Moore for stopping by.  Thanks to Megan for taking a couple of quick shots of me and my family in front of the bus.

Franky at Artfields 2015

Wow!  What a weekend in Lake City, South Carolina!  Artfields 2015 was a whirlwind experience for myself, my family and our good friend, Marina (thanks for making the trip!)  First off, Darla Moore has some foresight.  She’s the founder of Artfileds, being from there originally.  After speaking with local resident (Mike) regarding the plight of Lake City, you can see first-hand what Artfileds means to this community.  It used to be a “tobacco town” and with the decline of that cash crop and its economic impact, Lake City’s been in need of a new “crop”, hence Artfields!  Later in the day, I spoke to one of the event coordinators and he gave me more context and it made me proud to be a part of that town’s new chapter.

The venues hosting all of the artwork were great spaces.  I spoke to one artist who was skeptical at first about showing his work in clothing boutique:  “At first when I saw the space, they had clothes on racks, blocking the walls and I thought, “this is not going to work”.  Boy, was I wrong! The Artfields staff did a great job arranging the space and when my art was up, it looked spectacular”.  I have to agree.  My Artfields representative, Sandy Cook was professional and helped turn the ROB into a great space to host art.

Grant with Jim Arendt’s “Jamie”

My son, Grant, had a great time meeting all the “cool artists” with daddy.  We spent most of the day gathering signatures of as many artists as we could find. I definitely enjoyed being with fellow artists.  It’s so easy to talk about the things we create and how we enjoy the creative spark.  Here’s special “shout out” to fellow R.O.B artists: Alex Podesta, Chris White and Emily Reach White. Hey Alex, “We need to collaborate and have that “Adult Circus” show”.  Chris and Emily: “Looks like you guys were the winners in the “I’m floored that I met Bill Murray” award category!” These and other stories, I won’t soon forget. Hope to see you guys soon.

Franky with Kirkland Smith “Steve Jobs”

I even met the Grand Prize winner Charles Anderson (before he was “the” winner) while we were at the Artists’ “champagne toast at “The Inn at the Crossroads”.  I got a kick out of the jacket he made for the event and I think he (and fellow Artfields artist, Tonya Gregg) appreciated the 3D glasses to view his jacket!  We saw the 2013 Artfields winners artworks:  Kirland Smith’s “Steve Jobs” and Jim Arendt’s denim piece “Jamie”.  We even got to meet Jim in person (very nice guy!)  Heck, every artist I talked to was awesome. Richard Mafong and I found out that we are fellow Alumni of San Diego State University and that we both had the same Jewelry Professor, Fisch ! What a small world.

Many more stories…too many tell in one blog.  It will have to wait.

Even though I didn’t sell, or win an award, I was a winner with the experience that Artfields gave back to me.  It is and honor to be shown with other artists: the “best of the best” from the South East.  I’m looking forward to entering again next year and already have a piece in mind.

Tune in next week (Sat. May 16th in Moore Square, Raleigh, NC) when “FRANKY RIDES THE BUS”!

SWR in the 21st Century-Driver’s Side

SWR in the 21st Century- Artsplosure, Raleigh, NC

It’s great to see “The Dark Chamber” on display at Artfields “Facebook” site, along with other artist and event photography by  Fred Salley of MEADE AGENCY,  Hope that there are enough 4D Glasses to go around!

The Raleigh Public Art FACEBOOK page has more Art on the Move Visuals.  It’s great to see the other artists’ work posted and I can’t wait until we see them in person on May 16th.  I got a “sneak preview” of the other images while using the 3D glasses that they are giving away…they all have some type of 3D effect, so you won’t be disappointed.

So, I’ve got 2 big events coming up in the next couple of months:  Artfileds  and Art-on-the-Move / Artsplosure.  Both of them are pretty exciting and should be great to see what the public thinks of my artwork.  The image above is an in-process piece using a new application technique: toothpicks!  Now I can understand the need to go larger with my artwork..it’s all about the details (which is what I tell my students.)  If I can only conquer all those details to get the painting finished.  I’m working on the resin piece to go along with the Bus Wrap for next month’s Artsplosure event in Raleigh,NC (May 15th, 16th and 17th).  Saturday, May 16th will be the day they will reveal the buses to the public and I’ve started painting and signing CHROMADEPTH 3D WHITE HD glasses.  They will be given out FREE to the public and I believe there will be some unpainted ones that kids can draw on there.  The white HD 3D Chromadeph glasses have one lens that is clear to get a better look at the artwork, although the 3D effect isn’t as strong as the Black Pair, it still works as long as you take some time to relax and look at the artwork.  The colors still “shift” in and out.

The Artfields glasses are already in Lake City, South Carolina.  These are the Black Frame 3D Chromadeph that have both lenses with the filters, making the 3D effect really POP.  There is a limited amount there, so you may want to go (April 24th-May 2nd) for a signed pair.

Both glasses are fun to look at with a friend (wearing another pair) since the colors painted on the glasses go 3D.  ALL the paint for the glasses is the same paint I use on my artwork.  Painting these glasses has given me a thought about some future artwork…I’d like to work on that piece soon.

It’s off to painting again!  FRANKY

Blue Raleigh (CAT) submission 2014

Far right side of the banner for the CAT submission, 2014

Sorry, it’s been a while again.  Staying in front of my computer more than putting the mask on these days.  Hopefully soon I’ll return to the enamel painting.  Until then, I came across a neat contest that I hope to win:  Capital Area Transit (CAT) has artistic banners on the sides of their city buses.  Next week was the deadline for the proposals.  The two panels that you see above are portions of the “driver side” banner.  It’s a “digital sketch” that I can use in the future to create a painting (in the same style as my previous paintings).  I know that the public won’t be walking around with 3D glasses, but who knows, I could get the city to commission the pieces for  city hall?  Worth a shot.

These files were HUGE!  City of Raleigh needed them in 100% full size (450″ wide x 45″ high @ 100 ppi)…these were monster sized and took my computer a while to save

Lots of Oak leaves (it is the “City of Oaks”), old English lettering and a compass rose or two… Lots of color!  So, break out your Chromadepth 3D glasses!

Franky

Steroids, Poison Ivy and a glimpse of “The Big Bang”

“The Doctor is Here, Let Him Come” Stage 2

No, this is not a future episode of “The Big Bang Theory” (although, now that I think about it, I probably should write it up…Sheldon helps clean the neighborhood).  It’s about 4am and I can’t sleep.  Not really sure if it is the itching, the medication I’ve been on, or the fact that I have to complete four paintings in about a week.  I’m in the final stages of completing my ten painting series “Before There Were Heroes”.  There is a sense of urgency.  I am applying to Artspace in Raleigh for their “Regional Emerging Artist-in-Residence” program.  Lots of things have got to fall into place for this to happen.

Wait, back up.  I forgot about the poison ivy for a moment (itch, itch)…  So, I did a neighborhood clean up of a jungle of brush about 2 weeks ago.  I came to find out that most of the brush that I was hauling in my arms and walking around was laced with poison ivy.  That was not too smart.  I definitely have bad, allergic reactions to the stuff and hence the need for steroids.  I guess all artists have their issues: Hemmingway had his drink, Van Gogh his mental state, and me…Poison Ivy?  Well, it may not be the “romantic” affliction you may have guessed from this artist, but that’s the way it is.

Steroids…hmmm? I’m pretty much done with the set I was given.  The nurse practitioner (it’s the 21^st century.  I went to “Minuet Clinic”) said that there could be side effects to the steroids.  Was all this surge of energy from the steroids?  I’ve been going full throttle painting and thinking of my next artworks for about 2 weeks (which is about the same time that I’ve been on the steroids.)  Coincidence?  What happens after I run out?  Will I lose the creativity?  I hope that I get more sleep, but I can tell you that something is different.

“The Darkened Chamber” Stage 2

I’ve had a lot of time thinking while painting: Working on “The Darkened Chamber”, “The Doctor is Here”, “3, 2, 1” and “No Escape” has been eye opening.  It seemed the more I wanted to complete the series, the more complex my artworks have become.  I remember sitting in front of the computer saying, “Ok, keep this simple, so I can get on with the next idea.”  Well, only the opposite occurred…Way more creativity coming out.

The sleepless nights I’ve had and “frantic” waking hours are a lot different than my wife’s sleepless hours.  (She, also an educator, has had many a sleepless night, but for different circumstances.)  My head has been throbbing and chest pounding from all the stuff I need to do, but not worried sick way.  I want to get this stuff done and it is a pleasure to think about it.  It’s hard to shut off the creative spark in the middle of the night. It’s also frustrating to try and get my day job accomplished while knowing that there’s so much art that has to be made.  The 80’s pop/graffiti artist, Keith Haring, once said something about this:  he mentions that he created a lot of art, but that the creativity never ceases.  There’s always art that has to be made and that in any artist’s lifetime, you’ll never have enough time.  He died in 1990 at age 31.

Like the ever, elusive Higgs-Boson particle has thought to have been found…I think I may have had a glimpse of: “The Creative Spark”.

Deep Six Danger 3D Resin Painting In-Process

“It’s been a long, long…long time.” George Harrison

Hey, I’ve been up to my nose in enamel paint (with a nice new respirator…I can breath easier now!)  Been busy trying to complete my first series of 3D resin paintings for a show.  I just don’t know when (and where) I’ll find a venue /gallery for them.  The Visual Art Exchange in Raleigh is booked solid through July 2015, so I’m in definite need of finding more galleries that may have the space and the marketing to get my show off the ground.

In the mean time, I’ve been producing several new artworks and running low on resin.  “Deep Six Danger” (above) is complete.  This shot was taken about mid-way through the process.  Probably the largest piece completed to date.  I’ve also finished “Dive!” and “The Treasure Ship”; all scuba diver themed works.  I guess all that diving at Sea Word in San Diego really made an impact on my artwork.  “The Treasure Ship” is also another large piece and probably the heaviest (@ 40 lbs)!  You can see the digital sketch that I reference using the tablet on the kitchen table.  A lot more color involved with these pieces since “Google Me” and “Primal Scream”: green, yellow and blue.  Trying to keep the colors bright and basic…”comic book-y”!

“The Treasure Ship” in process, July 2014

“Dive!” by FRANKY, 2014

Also completed “Ready for Launch”, another smaller piece like “Dive!”  This was a good “prep piece” trying to see what colors work well and how far I can push the “abstract” component  in each.

“Ready for Launch” by FRANKY 2014

It was a GREAT FEELING to receive the first place award for the Region 3 North Carolina Art Educators Association.  To finally get the recognition for the hours of work I’ve done is very awesome.  After speaking with the judges, I found out that “Primal Scream” was in the running, but having the “google me” included with the painting really made that piece stand out.  I’m in process on several other paintings which I hope to get to a gallery (which I also need to find) in Raleigh.  More to come soon… FRANKY