Frank Wilson

http://FrankWilsonFineArt.com

When did you first become interested in art?

People often ask me, “When did you start creating art”? The answer to that is from as early as I can remember. My father, the late Lawerence Wilson of Preston, England was employed as a sculptor in a large studio in Boston when I was a small child. I still have vivid memories of the huge statue castings he would bring home for detailing.

I was always “coloring” and drawing as a young child. Those were the times that brought me the greatest pleasure, when I was making something or drawing or painting. As I got older the desire to become a professional artist intensified and by the eight grade it was my life’s goal and I overcame many obstacles to reach my goal. By that time, I was thinking art, dreaming art and consuming all the information I could get on art.

What style of art do you use most?

Realism. With a healthy mix of a little impressionism in certain works. Early on in my career I made the determination that I wanted to share the things that brought me peace and serenity, things that filled me with wonder and awe. Cities and buildings, crowded streets and brown air filled with pollutants have never held any attraction for me. I have always been a hiker and especially have enjoyed the “High Country” Realism is the best way for me to communicate what moves me in the natural world. I‘m a juried member of the International Guild Of Realism.

“Starry Couple” Invisible in the light, glow in the dark wall mural 9 x 10 feet (2.74 x 3.05 meters)

Has your style changed from when you first began as an artist?

Evolving and maturing would be the way that I would describe the subtle changes that have occurred over the decades..

As my skills in observation increased that became evident in my work as well. I has always been about capturing the light. Some of my most recent work involves painting large murals with invisible rare-earth phosphors that cannot be seen in the light. Only when the room is completely dark does my work appear. Now I feel as though I am actually painting WITH LIGHT, as I have to paint these murals in total darkness. It is the only way to work with that which cannot be seen in the light. My paints are glowing as are the tips of my brushes. Turn on the lights and I cannot see what I have just painted!

What medium do you use?

For my fine art work, oils mostly and my favorite, gouache. In addition to using gouache paints imported from Great Britain, Italy and Germany, I prepare many of my own gouache paints. I begin by carefully selecting and blending earth tone pigments, umber’s, ocher’s and iron oxides. Then a thorough grinding of the pigments in a mixture of Gum Arabic and distilled water. The finished paint is then stored in jars.

I also use acrylics for my wall and ceiling mural work. And over the past few years I have added rare-earth phosphors that glow in the dark to my list of favorite mediums for my ceiling and wall mural work. That is a perfect marriage of “Science and Art” as my murals cannot be seen in the light… they are invisible. In total darkness my murals glow in the dark with a realism and depth perception that is astonishing!

What made you choose that medium?

I like the atmospheric possibilities with oils. No other medium allows such controlled subtle passages. The open working time allows for effects that are very difficult or even impossible with other media. These is also something very intoxicating and addictive in using such a versatile medium that has stood the test of time over the centuries.

Acrylics are a natural choice for murals because of their quick drying and durability. My favorite medium, Gouache, is like painting with liquid pastels, which my finished work often resembles. Totally opaque, gouache allows me to rapidly create “broken color” which is an important textural element in my landscape work.

As for working with rare-earth phosphors, what other media can be seen only in the dark? It is perfect for creating the incredible illusions that appear when the lights are turned off. I’m amazed by the incredible depth perception that I’m able to achieve using glowing phosphors. With many of my ceiling an wall murals it looks like you can see light years into space!

Do your ideas come from life or imagination?

Both. Many of my landscapes are “portraits” and faithfully capture the landscape’s physical features as well as capturing the sense of place. Many of my other landscape works are “memory recalls” or impressions of a place. In those works I’m more interested in creating a distinctive mood and atmosphere than I am in accurately rendering a certain place.

How do you choose your images and colours?

When a place moves me, touches a responsive cord deep within me in some way, then I feel compelled to preserve that for others. Early on in my career I made the determination that I wanted to share the things that brought me peace and serenity, things that filled me with wonder and awe. Cities and buildings, crowded streets and brown air filled with pollutants have never held any attraction for me. I have always been a hiker and especially have enjoyed the “High Country”. That is how my subject matter gets chosen.

There is psychology in the use of colors as every artist knows and my colors are chosen for their ability to create moods, temperatures and atmospheres. Colors can also have a symbolic attribute to them and I will use that factor as well in choosing colors.

Who is your favourite artist?

If I had to choose only one it would be Maxfield Parrish. No other artist I know of was able to create such a sense of place and time, atmosphere and mood as him. His paintings were composed like stage sets in a theater and one is forced to believe that that product of his imagination must certainly be real.

As I think back over my career, I can see how my love of certain works by certain painters has “colored” my way of expressing my vision of the world. Not that one “copies” a certain painter’s style but rather, each individual artist is moved, touched and excited by certain types of paintings more than those of others.

To be more specific, I admire the way many of the Pre-Raphaelite painters of Great Britain composed their paintings in such a careful way as to “lead“ your eye through their paintings. Although their work was almost always of a figurative and narrative nature whereas my work is landscape, I relate strongly to the illustrative structure of their paintings. They tell a story with the elements within a painting, leading the viewer’s eyes through pre-determined “eye” paths.

What is your favorite piece of work by yourself?

I have far too many favorites to list them all as I have produced over 2,900 original paintings in oils and gouache just since 1995. Some were harder to part with than others and some my wife and I have kept mainly for sentimental reasons not because it is a favorite painting. Probably, if I had to say what I’m most excited about it would have to be my glowing wall and ceiling murals because of the incredible illusion of depth in total darkness when no other art can be seen in the room!

How much time (on average) does it take to complete a work?

I really do not know as I often have over fifty works in all stages of progress going on at once. I use a lot of transparent glazing of subtle colors in my work and while some are drying I’ll be working on others. I really do not track the time it takes me on my fine art.

“Deep in The Forest” an original oil painting 8” x 12”

How well do you take criticism?

Who is giving it? Is it constructive or destructive? Is the intent to correct or tear down? The answers to those questions determine how well I “listen” to criticism. If the criticism comes from an artist whose work I admire listen very carefully.

What do you do to overcome a ‘block’?

I really do not know what a ‘block’ is really, as I have never experienced one. I need 10,000 years to paint all the ideas and images that are swirling around in my mind! I may stumble over a certain passage in a painting but just move onto the next piece until I literally “Dream” the solution to the problem in my sleep. I call myself the “Painter of Dreams” because I often paint in my dreams and use those dream landscape images in my work. Nothing has ever blocked me from working!

How do you know something is ‘finished’? Is it easy to walk away?

When the painting states clearly everything that I want to express and relate the work is done. Of course it’s easy to walk away…..I have dozens more to work on!

Have you had exhibits in galleries?

JURIED and INVITATIONAL EXHIBITS and ONE PERSON EXHIBITS: (partial listing)

New York State Museum, Invitational Art Exhibit, South Hall Gallery, Albany, NY 1988

New York State Museum, Invitational Art Exhibit, Terrace Gallery, Albany, NY 1989

Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences, “International Wildlife Art Exhibit”, Woodstock, VT 1986-1997

Vermont Council on the Arts, “State House Art Exhibit”, State Capitol Building, Montpelier, VT 1988

Chaffee Art Center, “Wildlife Art Exhibit”, Rutland VT 1990

Montshire Museum, “Art & Science Exhibit”, Norwich, VT 1991

Helen Day Art Center, “For Art Sake”, Stowe, VT 1990 – 2000

Flat Rock Brook Museum, “Wildlife Art Exhibit”, Englewood, NJ 1991

New Hampshire Art Association “Annual Exhibit”, Sunapee, NH 1991-2001

Vermont State Craft Gallery December 2001 – January 2002 “Moonlight In Vermont” the Work Of Frank S. Wilson

Avenue 9 Gallery “From The Garden” Chico, California May 2004

Northwoods Gallery, Chester, California ‘Featured Artist’ for month of November, 2005

Doiron Gallery, Sacramento, CA March 10 to April 1, 2006 “The California Wilderness – A Preservationists View “

Arte Junction Gallery Of Fine Art, Winters, CA, Featured Artist month long showing; November – December 2006

Avenue 9 Gallery, Chico, California ‘Chico Icons, Waterworks’ group exhibition December 2008 to January 2009

15. Have you any exhibits in galleries planned for the future? (details if possible)

CURRENT GALLERY AFFILIATIONS: (partial listing)

Gallery On Merchant’s Square, Historic Williamsburg, Virginia

Gallery On The Green, Woodstock, Vermont

Osterville Fine Art & Design, Osterville, Massachusetts

Doiron Gallery, Sacramento, California

Gallery Alta Vista, Valle Crucis, North Carolina

Blue Heron Gallery, Burlington, Vermont

Northwoods Art Gallery, Chester, California

Helen Jones Gallery, Sacramento California

Avenue 9 Gallery, Chico, California

“Forest Road” an original oil painting 20” x 24”

What are your plans for the future?

To keep producing better and better work as long as I’m able to and to further my exploration with creating images in murals and fine art with glowing phosphors. I also feel that I have barely scratched the surface of what can be done with rare-earth phosphors on my ceiling and wall murals!

What advice would you give new artists?

Find an artist or two whose work you really admire and learn all you can from them. Focus. Being a student is a fine time to experiment but then a career in art requires discipline, direction and lot’s of hard work. Be prepared for the sacrifices that come from being an artist. Stick to it.

Have you done any courses to help you?

Being a full time student at the Art Institute of Boston from 1968 to 1971 exposed me to a lot of different mediums and techniques. As soon as I finished school I opened my own art gallery in Gloucester, Massachusetts which I operated for a few years. I have not taken any workshops or courses sine ending my formal art education at the Art Institute Of Boston.

What do you do to market your work?

I stay in close touch with the fine art galleries that represent me, some of which I have had an ongoing relationship for 20 years now. I also let everyone I meet know that I’m an artist and I always have by business cards ready. My website also give me worldwide exposure as do affiliated websites. I have also been a featured artist in the media including newspapers, magazines, radio interviews and six television features which can be reviewed on the “Press & News” page of my website; http://FrankWilsonFineArt.com

Most recently, on January 23, 2009, I was a featured artist on CBS Action News as reported on by Nitin Lal of CBS’s KHSL TV in Chico, California.

Do you use social networking in your day to day life?

Yes, every day. I’m a member of several online groups for art’s professionals;

International Guild Of Realism http://www.realismguild.com

Art Institute Graduates

Art Institute Of Boston Alumni

Art’s Professionals Worldwide

Lesley University Alumni Association

Chico Art Association http://www.chicoartcenter.com/

Art Studio 54 http://en.artstudio54.com

Great Falls an original oil painting 12” x 24”

Are you available for work (commissions)?

Yes, commissioned work is an important percentage of the work that I produce … I‘m available for fine art commissions, ceiling and wall murals, licensing of my images, and design services. I also travel extensively to do commissioned work.

Have you got hobbies?

The cultivating and training Bonsai Trees which I do not sell. Hiking in the mountains and canyons which gives me most of my painting subjects.

Where are you based?

I’m now based in Paradise, California, USA That’s right… I said Paradise! It really is for an artist! Such a diverse landscape! For 24 years I lived in the mountains of Vermont, USA and before that I resided 40 feet from the open Atlantic Ocean in Gloucester Massachusetts, USA. I painted lots of seascapes back then!