The Cabin    9" x 12"

This is a commissioned piece I just did for a client.  I worked off a photo she had taken of her brother in law's cabin that is on island up in Canada.  What a beautiful spot!  She wanted me to brighten the colors a bit, and put the two (very tiny!!!) walking sticks leaning up against the cabin wall.  A very fun piece to paint!

Salsa

"Salsa"      11" x 14"

I was part of a large fund raiser last Saturday called "Open Canvas".  80 artists in the area worked from 1:00 till about 9:00 to create a 36" x 40" painting.  Patrons came about 5:00 and watched all of us as we painted, and then the paintings were auctioned off at the end of the night.  The challenging thing was that we had to paint in acrylic paint, so the paintings would be dry at the end of the night.  I don't work in acrylics, and although it's good to try different mediums sometime, I'm really glad to be back to my oils!!  The night and the event was great fun!

This was a little study I did prior to doing my large painting.  I changed many things in the final large piece, but I liked how this one turned out too.  It was fun to work in really bright colors.

Slices

"Slices"    6' x 6"

                       I loved the light shining through these orange slices, and the contrast to the blue shadows.  This painting is available at my Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/GailFrankeArt?ref+sea

               

Orange and Blue      6"x 6"  
Just can't get enough of these oranges!!!  Love the orange and blue colors in this one!

"Lemons"   6 x 6  
Another little still life for my series.  I love setting these up so that the light shines through the slices of fruit, and then it makes such interesting shadows.  fun to work so small some of the time!

Oranges

" Oranges"    6" x 6"  Available

I love to set up oranges, limes, and lemons so that the light shines through slices of the fruit; creating such nice varieties of color.

This painting can be purchased at my Etsy Shop at:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/GailFrankeArt?ref+sea

"Red Onion"  6 "x 6"

I have  a commissioned project, where I did one large still life painting, and now will do 4 small ones like this one to go along side it.  I really enjoy painting these small still life's. Vegetables and fruits have such amazing shapes and colors!

The Summer Cafe     9" x 12"

I painted this little painting in summer in the 3rd Ward Cafe, on a beautiful warm summer day. I loved the colorful umbrellas with the large pots of flowers.    The seasons seem to change so quickly here.  I love them all, but no one is sitting outside to eat these days!!!
I actually just reworked this painting a bit, now that I put "fresh eyes" on it, and again, I'm happy with the outcome.

The Christmas Berries

"The Christmas Berries"   8" x 8"

I painted this little piece last year after Christmas.  I never felt it was quite done, so I put it aside and just recently got it out again.  I added warmer colors in the wall, and brightened the objects I painted in this still life; and now I'm satisfied with the painting, and feel it's done.

The Light Streaming Through

"The Light Streaming through"  7" x 5"

I feel so fortunate to have this beautiful little park by my house.  I go there often to walk, and cross country ski depending on the season.  This fall I really enjoyed painting out there, and did this painting later in the afternoon, when the sun was lower in the sky, and the light was creating interesting patterns and designs.

October

"October"   9" x 12"  Available

This painting was done when the trees were just beginning to change color, and the grasses already had their fall/winter colors.  The colors and the design of the branches is what drew me in to paint this scene.

Pears     16" x 22"     SOLD

This was an interesting painting to do.  Although I've painted many small still life paintings, I've never painted a still life this size before.  It was a commission, and the buyer had a specific "look" she wanted for this painting.  

October Color     8" x 10"      Available

I went back to the same park I painted in the week before, and the colors are really coming out now.  The color is changing so fast, and it's just beautiful here.

Bringing in the Bales

"Bringing in the Bales"    9" x 12"    Available

I'm loving this fall weather for painting outside.  The colors are changing so quickly, and are just beautiful right now!

Autumn's First Color

"Autumn's First Color"    12 x 16

I recently competed in the Shorewood Plein Air event in my area, and had a wonderful time.  I completed 3 paintings and was excited to sell them all.  Unfortunately I didn't take any photos of my painting from that event.  I usually do, but guess I was just so busy with the event, and forgot.  Oh well....
This painting I did last week.  The color is just starting to come out in the trees here.  I went out yesterday to the same park to paint, and it's amazing how much more color is in the trees.  Not quite done with the one from yesterday, so hopefully will post it soon.

"Peppers"     6" x 6"

I'm really having fun painting these bright veggies.  Tomorrow I will be participating in the Shorewood Plein Air contest, and it will go through Saturday. Hopefully I will have some of those paintings to post after Saturday.  Think this is the last contest of the season for me, a bit bittersweet.  It's always so fun to paint and hang out with other artists all summer at these events, and then I don't get to see many of my painting friends till next summer.  But I also look forward to heading out on my own this fall to paint the season!

Oranges

"Oranges      6" x 6"

This is the first of 3 small still life paintings I'm going to do, and then I will be putting them together on one long black panel.  Hope to post the next one tomorrow.

Black eyed susan's and snap dragons

Black eyed susan's with snap dragons       5" x 7"  Available

I am trying to get out and paint the flowers before they are all gone.  Did this little study yesterday, and  I'm finding I really enjoy painting this size!

Hot Sauce 2

Hot Sauce # 2          6" x 6"

I actually did this little still life in the January challenge, but never felt it was really done, so I reworked it, added much more vibrant colors, and like it much better now.

Hot Sauce

"Hot Sauce"  6" x 8"

Another little still life for my painting today.  I love this bottle of hot sauce, and have used it in a number of still life paintings.  It's been fun to use really bright colors for these.

Tomatoes and Peppers

"Tomatoes and Peppers"  6" x 6"

I need to finish a few small still life paintings for a gallery I'm in, and it works out well to be down in my studio right now, since the hot, humid weather has moved in!  I love all the bright colors of these vegetables.  I usually put a redish/yellow wash on my painting before I start, and then as I paint it gets covered up.  I decided for something different, I would just leave the wash this time.

Summer's End

"Summer's End"   9" x 12"  Available

This is the second painting I did at the New Berlin Plein Air contest.  I was actually at the same farm as yesterday's painting, and in fact, I was just facing the other way to paint this one.

The Old Farmstead

"The Old Farmstead"  11" x 14"  Available

Okay, I know I haven't been keeping up with my daily posts.  Oh well....  I've been busy participating in a Plein Air contest in New Berlin, Wis.  I painted for 2 days there, at this beautiful farm.  The owners have lived here all their lives; and they are now 86.
They were so nice and welcoming, once they realized that we didn't want to actually paint their barns, but rather wanted to paint a picture of their farm.  I even got to sample the cucumber and onion dish the farmer's wife was making.  It was great!  I really liked the variety of shapes of buildings, and enjoyed painting this view.  It was perfect weather to paint!

"Golden" #3

"Golden"     7" x 9"   Available

I started the day painting in the downtown area of where I live.  After about an hour,  I realized I picked way too complicated a view for my daily paint for today.  So I packed up, went home and had lunch (always a good thing to do when things aren't working out as planned), and started again, this time in my garden.  Only a few flowers are left, but they just glowed in the afternoon sun.

Oranges and Limes # 2

Oranges and Limes   8" x 8"   Available

Well, the plan for today had been to get up early and paint outside before our neighborhood block party.  I got up, but the sun did not!!  Not raining, but no sun, so the party will go on, but I had to paint in my studio today.

The Garden #1

The Garden     8" x 10"  

Well, here we go again, the 30 day challenge.  I did this in January, and really enjoyed it.  That time I did small still life paintings; mostly 6" by 6".  I painted from life, not photos, and I plan to do the same this time.  This time, since the weather should be quite good, I hope to paint outside each day, and I want to work on painting lights and shadows.   I also think I will probably try and paint flowers while they still are around.  We'll see......

Waiting to Sail

Waiting to Sail   8" x 10"

I was painting with a group of artists in Madison last Saturday.   I went to UW-Madison, many years ago, so it was fun to be there visiting again.  I spent a lot of time just bumming around, hanging out in the Union on Lake Mendota, and in the Rathskeller.  Then when I finally set up, I had only about an hour left  to paint before we met up again, so I did this little study.

Quiet Times

"Quiet Times"  12" x 12"     Available

A friend and I were driving around the lakes in my area, and spotted these chairs and wildflowers by the side of one of the lakes.  The sun was shining on these chairs in such a nice way and it looked so peaceful, that we just had to stop and paint this scene.

Summer Blooms

Summer Blooms     6" x 6"    Available

I decided to get out and paint a few flowers in my garden the other day.  It's been such a busy and fun summer painting in Plein Air Painting Events, that I haven't had too much time to attend to my garden. Actually still didn't do any weeding in it; decided to paint it instead!!!  Much better choice!

Grandma's jar

Grandma's Jar    6" x 6"  Available

I have these old canning jars, and I thought it would be fun to put one in a small still life painting.  I like to use a variety of objects and colors when I set these up.  I don't know how to "can", but I do remember my grandma did it.

Milwaukee Ale House

Milwaukee Ale House   9"x 12"     Available

I started this painting during the 3rd Ward Plein Air event, and never finished it till now. I did 2 other paintings that I entered for the contest.  It is so fun to paint in the 3rd Ward, so many cool buildings and places, and a beautiful river front!  This painting is a little busier of a subject than I usually paint, but it was fun to try and stay loose, but add enough detail to represent the scene.

Limes

Limes  6" x 6"  SOLD

I have recently painted 6 small still lifes for a client; and she is going to put them in between her kitchen cabinets and her counters in her new condo.  This painting of the limes was the last in the series.

The Sun Streaming Through

The Sun Streaming Through    9 x 12 "  $235.00       Available

I sold 3 of 4 paintings in Cedarburg, and this is the only one left. Actually, this was one of my favorites.  It was such a nice day to paint, and this garden had the most amazing light and shadows in it.  The tall Japanese Iris were blooming, and the sculpture was glowing.  The sculptor was in his studio nearby playing all the old tunes that I love, so it was a perfect place to paint.

Wildflowers

Wildflowers    9" x 12"         Available

I was out painting with a friend in Lapham Peak this past week, and came across this area that was planted with wildflowers.  It is amazing; and even though it was a bit overcast this day; the wildflower colors were beautiful.

Summer Retreat

Summer Retreat  8" x 10"  Available

I was up in Door County over the weekend, and participated in the Quick Paint contest.  I did this painting for that event.  I loved this little old cottage; tucked away behind the dock and the stores.  It reminded me of when I was really young, and we would go to a little cottage like this in the summer time.  And  this cottage  had the little motor scooter parked by it, so of course I had to paint it!!!

The Wicked Hop

The Wicked Hop  8x10        SOLD

Here is another painting from the 3rd Ward in Milwaukee.  I did this one late afternoon, as evening was approaching.  I always loved this area, old warehoused that have been converted to cafes, and shops.

Summer Cafe

Summer Cafe 8" x 10"  Available

Here's my painting from yesterday from the 3rd Ward in Milwaukee.  We had beautiful weather, and I was able to do this painting in the afternoon.  So many cute cafes to eat at, and paint!!

Summer Cafe

"Summer Cafe"  9" x 12"

I did this little painting last year in the beautiful 3rd Ward in Milwaukee.  I head down tomorrow to participate again in their Plein Air Contest.  I will paint 2 days there, and then head up to Door County to participate Saturday in their "Dockside Quick Paint" contest.  Should be a really fun week!

Last year, I loved seeing  these red paper lanterns hanging outside of  this cafe.  It reminded me of when I was young, and these paper lanterns were really popular!

"Retired"

"Retired"  12" by 16" 

It is sizzling hot here, so I am working in my studio this week.  This is a painting I started a little while ago, from a photo I took in Augusta, Missouri.  I took the photo when I was participating this spring in the Augusta Plein Air contest, and this old car was behind a barn at one of the local wineries.

"Odd Man Out"

"Odd Man Out"   6" by 6"

It's fun to be doing some little still life paintings again.  I love the wide variety of colors and shapes in pears, and use them often in my paintings.

Still Life Panel

Still Life Panel  30" by 8"

I have been experimenting with putting together my small still life paintings in different groupings.  This set I started with a dark background, and built up paint, leaving some of the dark under-painting showing through.

Pear Shapes

6" by 8"    Pear Shapes  SOLD

I haven't posted for a while because I was traveling out west for several weeks.  I had hoped to do some painting out there, but there just wasn't time.  Now I have a few small still life paintings to get done for a new gallery I'm in, and this is one of them.  I hope to have several more done tomorrow, and then it's back out plein air painting!!  Looking forward to it!

"Vintage"

"Vintage"  11" x 14"   SOLD

This was one of the paintings I did at the Cedarburg Plein Air Painting Event early last week.  I came across this old antique store that had these great bikes and sleds (that I actually remember using as a kid; yikes!  I used things now sold in an antique store!!!) I really liked the composition of how they had them set up in the year, and it was really fun painting them.  I painted 4 paintings for this event; 2 sold and 2 are still available at the Cedarburg Cultural Center until August 4th.

Winter's End

Winter's End  12" x 24"  $650.00    SOLD

This painting was juried into the Oil Painters of America show that was held in Petoskey, Michigan at the   Crooked Tree Art's Center.  It was an amazing show, and I'm pleased that I sold this piece, and a small plein air painting I did while up there.  The photo of this painting is not very good; there is a lot of color in the winter trees and scene; and you can see it better on my website; Gail Franke Fine Art.  I actually painted this one outside, and was drawn to all the subtle colors that exist in the wintertime.

The Sculpture Garden

This is one of my paintings for the Cedarburg Plein Air Contest.  We had an artist's social at a beautiful home in Cedarburg that belonged to a Sculptor and Author.  They have a wonderful yard filled with sculptures, flowers and natural plantings, so of course I had to paint there. The light was just streaming in, creating all these interesting patterns of light and dark. What a beautiful setting to paint in.  

The Sculptor's Garden    9" x 12

Waiting out the Storm

Waiting out the Storm   9" x 12"     SOLD

This is a painting that I just did up in Port Washington, for their Plein Air Painting event.  It was a beautiful foggy morning, with possibilities of big storms coming in.  I was able to get out early and do this painting.  I loved the atmosphere and light.  The high cliffs behind were a wonderful muted color, and I like the contrast of the little dark evergreens up by the boat.  Turned out that the storm didn't hit till that evening, and by then I was in a safe spot under a huge roof.  Always fun to paint by the lake!

Pathway to the Arts

Pathway to the Arts  12" x 16"

This is the second painting I did at the Beloit Plein Air Contest last weekend.  It was a beautiful day up on the Beloit College Campus, and this sculpture and scene just pulled me in to paint it.  I loved the color of the building next to the greens of the trees and lawn, and the deep greens next to the sunlit greens.
This is such a fun event; wonderful people running it; and each year I find more things that I want to paint next year when I go.

Saturday Market

Saturday Market  11" x 14"  SOLD

Spent the weekend in Beloit, Wisconsin for a Plein Air Painting Contest.  Charming little town, with a beautiful river and park along the river, as well as a beautiful  College up on the hill overlooking the town.  I decided to paint the Saturday Farmer's Market, which was so much fun; lots of activity, color and people to paint.  This is not a very good photo of it; a bit of a glare; sorry.

Two of a Kind

Two of a Kind    9" by 12"

Here is another painting that now hangs in River's End Gallery in Waukesha, Wisconsin. I started to paint more still life paintings this winter, although I did continue to paint outside too.  But the more I painted different fruit and still life objects; the more wonderful colors I saw in each object.  Its fun that ordinary objects we see everyday can become beautiful parts of a painting.

Fall in Nashotah Park

Fall in Nashotah Park    12" x 24"  

I'm pleased to announce that this painting, along with some of my still life pieces are now in River's End Gallery, in Waukesha Wisconsin. It's a beautiful gallery, and I'm very happy to have my paintings exhibited there.
I painted this painting "plein air" (outside) on a beautiful fall afternoon.