Thanks Perry, all that detail is kind of important to the whole feel. It would be hard to get them same feeling with a broader stroke for this subject.
All of these paintings from the beach and of the roadside stand are just incredibly great. I can feel that relaxed mood of manana-land. I also feel some Gaughin and he's one of my most faves. My hat is off to you because these are top, top notch.
the palm is fantastic. after doing so many in the keys (read: struggling on em) i really appreciate your skill on the ones youve been doin! way to go amigo
I try and simplify the values and keep color changes to simplify the design some Marian. I just try and make it LOOK like it was simple to paint, you and I both know that it is not. Even though this painting has a lot of details to capture the feel of the actual scene, I tried to keep the loose and relaxed feel of the hot Mexican coastal roadside stands. Oh, besides, you don't see the frustrating, ugly and awkward stages here.
What I like about this painting is that if you've ever been to a roadside fruit stand here in Mex. you know that they are all EXACTLY like this. This painting is so good you can smell the fruit that's a little "pasadita," the earthy floor, the car fumes, the thick, humid beach air...Worth all the effort to get it just right. I would call it "Puestito."
What I like about this painting is that if you've ever been to a roadside fruit stand here in Mex. you know that they are all EXACTLY like this. This painting is so good you can smell the fruit that's a little "pasadita," the earthy floor, the car fumes, the thick, humid beach air...Worth all the effort to get it just right. I would call it "Puestito."
Oh - I had to wait to see this one on my studio computer - the interior of the stand was too dark on my home computer. I admit that it was that darkness that made me put my face right up to the monitor to see what was in there! And, even in the brighter light of my studio screen, I love the shadowiness of the stand's interior - I still have to look deep in there to see what's there. And, the shade is compelling, because you know it's like that to save those inside from the sun! What I most like, in addition to the low diagonal line of the askew row of blue shelves, is the way there are no palm trunks visible, but instead there are those yellow posts and the thatched roof (former tree fronds, I suppose). The posts and roof and then the palms above that in the plane of the canvas - love that. Such a rich depth enticement it makes!!! Love it, as always.
Hi Solveg. Yes, there values dark under there to give the feeling of a strong sunny day. There is plenty of subtle color if you look though. Guess the computer screen does not show it as well as in person. You always have an elegant way with words when describing my work. Thank you.
Frank-this is beautiful--perfect color, mood. I feel like I'm back there. I have one question which I feel will reveal my ignorance but here goes: why did you crop the piece so tightly at the bottom? I feel the composition would have been more "complete" if I could see more of the base of the front stand. I realize that beautifully executed palm tree may have been a factor, but I remain curious and anxious to learn something.
Hi Jack, that is a good question. Don't feel that there is any ignorance on your part. I thought about showing more foreground, but decided on this design more out of a value plan than anything else. I did not want a small sliver of light across the foreground. One of the big decisions is always how to compose and crop a scene. I can usually think of a few designs that will work for me. In this one I wanted to make that large shadow shape more significant up front. With more foreground the stand would be more centered and it would have a different feel. Think of how the design of the painting would look in black and white with a different crop. This is just one way of designing the scene. Maybe I will paint up another version with more foreground. That is always a good way to learn about composition. Variations on a theme.
thanks again for the link frank. poll is officially closed now.
again, love this painting...and i just noticed the lately sitting in there...WELL DONE! i was so intent on looking at so many other things she slipped by me. i love paintings i can come back to and always find something new.
Outstanding work, Frank! Love all the implied detail within the shadowed areas. I like the vendor's silhouette and the blue configurations at the bottom of the painting.
Hi Frank, Each of your detail images of this painting stand alone as complete paintings! I especially love the first detail..strong design and very abstract. Super!
Thanks Jennifer. I like cropping the paintings into good designs when I show the details. It is like getting 4 for one.
Thanks Paz. You can probably find a coconut to drink somewhere in that big apple.
Thanks Ambera. seems a lot of you think it is tighter. I have it here on the wall and keep looking at it when I read that to see how much tighter it really is. I think a lot of it is the size of the image on the computer screen. Those little brush strokes here and there imply a lot of detail I think. There are just lots of little shapes I guess. Had to get em in to make the painting feel the way I wanted it to.
I had to look twice to be sure that it was a painting. The values read so well I thought it was the reference photo. It's a slammin' painting. I really like the color harmony too. That yellow vibrates nicely against the neutrals. Nice one, Frank.
Thanks Mary. Yeah, I really was attracted to those yellow poles. Great color harmony presented to me there. I knew this one would be a painting as soon as we drove by.
June 7, 2009 at 10:06 PM
I have been working on this painting for a few days. This is one of the many roadside stands near the coast that sell fruit, cold cocos, tamarind and other tropical treats. The yellow posts in this one with the coconuts hanging really attracted me to this one. Getting the value and the intensity of the yellow in light and in shadow just right was tough. I ended up printing the painting in progress out in black and white just so I could see the value correctly. I'm working on a title for this one still.
"New painting of a roadside stand"
36 Comments -
The care that you have exercised in ensuring that your values are correct has paid dividends. This shouts reality.
May 18, 2009 at 4:22 AM
I concur with Mike. Also nice job on the palm fronds in both the standing trees and the thatched roof. You have the touch.
May 18, 2009 at 7:26 AM
Sorry, for the typo-Mick.
May 18, 2009 at 7:26 AM
Thanks Mick, glad that it reads well for you.
Thanks Perry, all that detail is kind of important to the whole feel. It would be hard to get them same feeling with a broader stroke for this subject.
May 18, 2009 at 10:20 AM
All of these paintings from the beach and of the roadside stand are just incredibly great. I can feel that relaxed mood of manana-land. I also feel some Gaughin and he's one of my most faves. My hat is off to you because these are top, top notch.
May 18, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Frank, these are fantastic!
I am partial to fruit stands/market scenes myself.
You handled the palm tree brilliantly!
May 18, 2009 at 6:28 PM
Thanks a lot Camille! I appreciate that.
Hi Jennifer. I like painting stands like this or rustic market scenes a lot too.
Thanks for the compliments.
May 18, 2009 at 9:27 PM
How in the world do you manage to make such a complicated scene look so simple!!
This is another great painting, Frank!!
May 18, 2009 at 10:14 PM
You could stop right there, for my money. Wow. You ARE done, right?
Titles evade me. Elude me. I'm no help to you at all. All I can think of are song titles and NONE of them are appropriate, trust me.
May 18, 2009 at 10:35 PM
the palm is fantastic. after doing so many in the keys (read: struggling on em) i really appreciate your skill on the ones youve been doin!
way to go amigo
May 18, 2009 at 11:48 PM
I try and simplify the values and keep color changes to simplify the design some Marian.
I just try and make it LOOK like it was simple to paint, you and I both know that it is not.
Even though this painting has a lot of details to capture the feel of the actual scene, I tried to keep the loose and relaxed feel of the hot Mexican coastal roadside stands.
Oh, besides, you don't see the frustrating, ugly and awkward stages here.
May 19, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Hi Susan, yes, this one is done, I just have not titled it. Ha ha, yeah, I think we have discussed titles before.
May 19, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Thanks Mike. I guess you get to paint more palms than I do.
May 19, 2009 at 11:20 AM
What I like about this painting is that if you've ever been to a roadside fruit stand here in Mex. you know that they are all EXACTLY like this. This painting is so good you can smell the fruit that's a little "pasadita," the earthy floor, the car fumes, the thick, humid beach air...Worth all the effort to get it just right. I would call it "Puestito."
May 19, 2009 at 7:24 PM
What I like about this painting is that if you've ever been to a roadside fruit stand here in Mex. you know that they are all EXACTLY like this. This painting is so good you can smell the fruit that's a little "pasadita," the earthy floor, the car fumes, the thick, humid beach air...Worth all the effort to get it just right. I would call it "Puestito."
May 19, 2009 at 7:24 PM
Oh - I had to wait to see this one on my studio computer - the interior of the stand was too dark on my home computer. I admit that it was that darkness that made me put my face right up to the monitor to see what was in there! And, even in the brighter light of my studio screen, I love the shadowiness of the stand's interior - I still have to look deep in there to see what's there. And, the shade is compelling, because you know it's like that to save those inside from the sun!
What I most like, in addition to the low diagonal line of the askew row of blue shelves, is the way there are no palm trunks visible, but instead there are those yellow posts and the thatched roof (former tree fronds, I suppose). The posts and roof and then the palms above that in the plane of the canvas - love that. Such a rich depth enticement it makes!!!
Love it, as always.
May 19, 2009 at 8:50 PM
Hi Kim, How are things in your part of Mex?
Thanks for your comments. I'm glad that you think I captured the authentic feeling in this one.
May 20, 2009 at 8:10 AM
Hi Solveg. Yes, there values dark under there to give the feeling of a strong sunny day. There is plenty of subtle color if you look though. Guess the computer screen does not show it as well as in person.
You always have an elegant way with words when describing my work. Thank you.
May 20, 2009 at 8:13 AM
Frank-this is beautiful--perfect color, mood. I feel like I'm back there. I have one question which I feel will reveal my ignorance but here goes: why did you crop the piece so tightly at the bottom? I feel the composition would have been more "complete" if I could see more of the base of the front stand. I realize that beautifully executed palm tree may have been a factor, but I remain curious and anxious to learn something.
May 20, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Hi Jack, that is a good question. Don't feel that there is any ignorance on your part.
I thought about showing more foreground, but decided on this design more out of a value plan than anything else. I did not want a small sliver of light across the foreground.
One of the big decisions is always how to compose and crop a scene. I can usually think of a few designs that will work for me. In this one I wanted to make that large shadow shape more significant up front. With more foreground the stand would be more centered and it would have a different feel. Think of how the design of the painting would look in black and white with a different crop. This is just one way of designing the scene.
Maybe I will paint up another version with more foreground. That is always a good way to learn about composition. Variations on a theme.
May 20, 2009 at 10:27 AM
thanks again for the link frank. poll is officially closed now.
again, love this painting...and i just noticed the lately sitting in there...WELL DONE! i was so intent on looking at so many other things she slipped by me. i love paintings i can come back to and always find something new.
May 20, 2009 at 12:22 PM
My pleasure Christine. I'll have to head over there and see how the results lined up.
Thanks again.... there is a LADY sitting in there too.
LOL
May 20, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Outstanding work, Frank! Love all the implied detail within the shadowed areas. I like the vendor's silhouette and the blue configurations at the bottom of the painting.
May 20, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Thanks Dean!
May 20, 2009 at 1:57 PM
This is really nice. Makes me want to move their. I expect your painting makes it seem more romantic than it is. Great painting!
May 20, 2009 at 8:58 PM
Hey Frank, sweet piece, looks tight in small view but nice brushwork in large view.
May 21, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Hi Frank,
Each of your detail images of this painting stand alone as complete paintings! I especially love the first detail..strong design and very abstract. Super!
May 21, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Very nice paintings.
Paz (who has a craving for coconuts, now)
May 21, 2009 at 8:15 PM
Incredible detail here Frank, this is a tighter painting than I'm used to seeing from you. Beautiful work, as always!
May 21, 2009 at 10:04 PM
Made me want to move here too Bill.
Thanks Dan.
Thanks Jennifer. I like cropping the paintings into good designs when I show the details. It is like getting 4 for one.
Thanks Paz. You can probably find a coconut to drink somewhere in that big apple.
Thanks Ambera. seems a lot of you think it is tighter. I have it here on the wall and keep looking at it when I read that to see how much tighter it really is. I think a lot of it is the size of the image on the computer screen. Those little brush strokes here and there imply a lot of detail I think.
There are just lots of little shapes I guess. Had to get em in to make the painting feel the way I wanted it to.
May 21, 2009 at 10:35 PM
We bought some saladitos for a bbq today, reminded me of your painting down Mexico way.
Great painting Frank -
May 24, 2009 at 9:22 PM
Thanks Eric, what is a saladito? Did you mean saladitas? the crackers?
May 25, 2009 at 10:54 AM
I'm pretty sure it was saladitos, but I could be wrong. Plums (mostly the pit with a little flesh still on it) covered in chile and lime.
May 25, 2009 at 11:42 AM
Never heard of those, but they sound very tasty. Anything with chili and lime on it is tasty.
May 25, 2009 at 12:01 PM
I had to look twice to be sure that it was a painting. The values read so well I thought it was the reference photo. It's a slammin' painting. I really like the color harmony too. That yellow vibrates nicely against the neutrals. Nice one, Frank.
June 6, 2009 at 10:40 PM
Thanks Mary. Yeah, I really was attracted to those yellow poles. Great color harmony presented to me there. I knew this one would be a painting as soon as we drove by.
June 7, 2009 at 10:06 PM