[Image] "Done for the Day", 30" x 40" oil on canvas, 2007 Private Collection
I have been working on this painting off and on for a while and just finished it and took it down to my gallery. I had done a small one in the spring and thought that it would make a great large painting. The light on the front of the church in Atotonilco and the shadow in the foreground make for a dramatic composition. It took me a while to finish it up because I would bring it down from my studio and hang it in different parts of my house to see how it would look. Then take it back up into my studio and make small corrections. I'll often hang on to a painting like that for a while so I can look at it in different light at different times of day. It's easy to make a painting look good with a light on it down at the gallery, but I want them to look good when some one walks into the room and the lights are out. Then when a light goes on it it just looks even better. It's real important to get your values right for a painting to work well in a darkened room. That is Alfredo walking in front of the church on his way home with the stuff from his wife's food stand down the street. I've known him since I moved to Mexico about 18 years ago. He is a real nice guy. You can see the smaller version of this painting and another painting of Alfredo on my web site. frankgardner.com
""Done for the Day""
4 Comments -
Really amazing. You can sense the atmosphere and the smells. I've never been to Mexico, but this picture helps me imagine what it's like.
November 5, 2007 at 4:21 PM
Thanks Eric, and thanks for visiting my blog. I look forward to seeing your next drawing.
November 5, 2007 at 6:04 PM
Hey Frank,
Ted here. Great stuff man. The shadows and sunset hues make me want to kick back
November 7, 2007 at 4:05 PM
Thanks Ted.
November 7, 2007 at 5:36 PM