Tuesday, November 30, 2010


Autumn Sugar Shack ..11" x 14" ..o/p

I think that this is a deserted sugar shack. I can not imagine it being used next spring in the manufacture of Maple Sugar. These old buildings are fast disappearing from our rural landscape. I am sorry to see that.

I used my limited palette for this painting. The support was the usual under painted Masonite panel. Certain areas of the painting were painted using a palette knife. But, I must admit that most of these areas were gradually reworked with the brush. There is just something that I like about the texture left by a good oil painting brush.
Rain is forecast for the next couple of days, gradually turning to flurries. This is not a good sign for near future plein air painting.

'til next..

11 comments:

Shirley Marshall said...

Hello Frank .... I've often wondered what a sugar shack was ...and now I know ! The painting is very appealing, thankyou, for preserving one of these buildings in your art, for the world to see. :)

TJ said...

Wow, love the vibrant feel of this painting. I, too, hate to see the old buildings go. Glad you painted this!

Frank A. said...

HI Alice ! A pleasure to hear from you again.

."... I've often wondered what a sugar shack was ...and now I know ! "

.. :) Wish that I could e-mail a sample of Maple Sugar or syrup to you.

Thank you for the lovely compliment.

I guess painting the old buildings is about all that we as artists can do to help preserve and keep their memory alive.

Take care..

Frank A. said...

Hello TJ...Thank you . :)
I appreciate your compliment very much.

There is just something that I find naturally warm about most older buildings. You must feel it also.

"Glad you painted this!"

Thank you !

Mahesh Ashok Sutar said...

Great ! each and every artwork is superb!
thanks for the inspiration :)sir......

Frank A. said...

my line..Thanks ! Glad that you post your comments.
As an aside, " Frank" will do, that is my name..no need for the "sir". :)

Love your "stuff" !..

jesusest@gmail.com said...

Very good Frank,nice harmony of color and very nice the sugar shack

Jack Riddle said...

Hi Frank--I don't comment much but I visit often. Question: How do you get such great photos of your work? I'm sure your other followers would like to know as well. Thanks, Jack

Frank A. said...

Jesus..Thanks for mentioning that observation.
I think that I may have been pushing the envelope a little on this on ! Well, paint and learn I guess !
Hey, Best of the Season to you!

Frank A. said...

David..Great to hear from you ! It is always nice to read another voice from "across the pond". Thank you very much for your charitable compliments on my blog. I am happpy that you enjoy it.
I shall visit your blog for sure ! Perhaps it will be like a 'second visit' to your country. :)

Stay well..

Frank A. said...

Jack..I have been rackin' the old grey matter trying to come up with some clever reason for my, as you say,"great photos". I am happy that you think they are so.
I think that some of them are better than others, and quality control from post to post is hard to maintain.
Right or wrong, this is my method.

I have a dedicated digital camera that I use. It is a Canon PowerShot A510, 3.2 MP set at auto.
My method is place the artwork in the shade and then strattle it so that it is between my legs while holding the camera steady above it (hand held) , ready to shoot once the image of the artwork squarely fills the image area in the back of the camera. No flash !
..'click'.
The image in the camera is then downloaded into my computer using the camera's software which is set to put the picture automatically into, 'Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0'. The downloaded picture usually has a white cast to it. I think that the 'white balance' may be off in my camera.
Anyway, I use the 'quick fix'in elements to adjust the colour, all the while comparing it to the original to get the colour as close as possible. Then sharpen!
I then save it to a file on my desk top until I can work on the blog.
I hope that this is of some help to you, Jack. Hey, works for me ! I think..
My apologizes for taking so long to get back to you.

"Top of the Season to You."