This month I took a detour from my Arizona Series and created the following “doodles”—they were more or less whimsical and spontaneous than thoroughly conceptualized and planned out. It’s a mix of abstract and highly stylized representational works, which I’m collectively calling the November series.
Just about done...
The painting is nearly complete.
Last night I added the silhouette of the two figures in the foreground, and also changed the foreground tone and color.
I have added lights in the background and reflections in the lake. Still to add are highlights and mist from fountain, the two figures in the foreground, and some more work on the moon, the sky and the lake.
This is work-in-progress of my latest painting, depicting a moon rise over Four Peaks by the Fountain Lake in Fountain Hills, Arizona.
Still to add are the building lights in the distance, the highlights and reflections in the fountain and lake, and a couple of figures in the foreground.
Moonrise over Four Peaks at Fountain Hills, 30x30 in, Oil on Canvas
Finished!
Fall Tranquility at Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, Arizona, 24x30 Oil on Canvas
Here's an update on my latest painting. I've added highlights and details on the trees on the middle and foreground. Still left to work on are the grass, the trunks, branches and twigs, and some ripples on the water.
Last weekend I traveled to Oak Creek Canyon north of Sedona to see the fall foliage and take some reference photos for future works. Unfortunately it was a bit premature as most trees were still green. Nonetheless, I did take a few great pictures to work with and in particular, came upon mesmerizing scene by the creek.
I'm doing this painting using a loose technique with palette knives, which is a bit of a departure from my usual tight detailing with small brushes. The fall colors are somewhat made up, as the trees by the creek were just barely starting to turn yellow/orange when I took the photo.
Right now it's a point where I have blocked in the major shapes and color. Development phase is yet to come...
This morning I went to Bulldog Canyon (east of Phoenix, Arizona) and painted this study on a 9x12 panel. There was a lovely tree on a tiny island in the middle of the river, with a few leaves already turning yellow or orange.
It was a rather difficult experience having the clumsy French easel standing on what felt like quick sand. Fortunately I did finish it.
Salt River by Bulldog Canyon, Plein Air Study on 10/16/2016, 9x12 Oil on Panel
In a previous post I called this work "finished", but after some suggestions I decided to add a trail to break up the wall of trees and create a path that leads into the background:
Here's the finished product.
24x30, Oil on Linen
Location is near the Cathedral Rock formation in Sedona, AZ. The painting is about 85% complete. There remains a bit work to do on the foreground.
24 x 30, Oil on Linen
By the Salt River, looking towards Four Peaks.
11 x 14, oil on panel
Here's a photograph of the scene:
8 x 10, Oil on Panel
On Saturday January 30th I painted this study at Saguaro Lake, from approximate 9am to 11am.
The scene:
The spot:
The painting itself:
Almost there--about 85% done. There's still highlights to be done on the Saguaro, Ocotillo and other shrubs, along with some details on the foreground.
The progress thus far. Major shapes and objects are drawn and blocked in, with the exception of two large plants (a Saguaro and Ocotillo in the foreground to be added later). The next phase is to paint the plants and shrubbery in the background and middle ground.
The shadow values of the rocks in the foreground are a bit too high, and will be adjusted lower to reduce the contrast.
I am now offering reproductions of my paintings at fineartamerica.com. Prints of various sizes, materials and framing options are available. Originals are not yet for sale, but will be for sale some time later this year.
Please visit my profile at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/jeff-franco.html
You can also go to these subject-specific pages:
After a hiatus of several months, I've finally resumed painting! In those intervening months I got a new job and moved to a new apartment, among other things, so I was pretty busy.
I recently hiked the slopes of the nearby McDowell Mountains and took some great reference photos. I've started this new project on a large 24 x 30 stretched canvas. Here it is toned and ready to go. I anticipate this will take about three weeks to complete.
