My chosen artist model is Dale Frank who is a contemporary Australian artist, best known for his colourful abstract paintings that he constructed for 35 years. At the age of 19, he moved overseas to pursue his career as an artist in the United States and Europe. Franks artistic explorations consist of abstracted landscapes and collections. Since the late 90s, his method involves applying layers of thick varnish, oils, and colourful pigment on horizontal canvas and perspects and then tilting them to intermingle the liquids, to create pools of colour, which illustrate the behaviour of different painting materials, movements and colours. The varnish is the main component in Frank’s creations, as the chemicals expose the reactions when combined with wet paint and oils and other materials with the canvas that create the movements within his paintings.
Frank’s painting process is not one that is quick. Canvases are tilted at different angles every fifteen minutes, allowing the paint to move and leave its mark until the varnish is set and the Frank is happy with the final work. This can take anywhere from six to twenty-four hours of continuous attention to one painting. Dale Franks solo exhibition in Gow Langsford Gallery has large scaled paintings displayed, which allow viewers to experience the materials and colours used in his work. The gallery displays his work which range around 2000 x 1800 mm and 2000 x 2600 mm. Personally, I am interested in Dale Franks work as I am intrigued as to how the resin and varnish react with paint, dyes and oils to create these fascinating mixture of colours and shapes. I love how the colours contrast yet blend in with one another to create beautiful movements within the canvas.
“I like it when a painting can have an influence over the entire room; some of these paintings have open pieces of mirror so when you look at that painting fragments of other works in the room are captured in the mirror.” – Dale Frank 2014
Bibliography:
https://ocula.com/artists/dale-frank/
http://www.gowlangsfordgallery.co.nz/exhibitions/dale-frank?id=10945&eid=
The Colour Collective 