When did you realize you loved art and wanted to be an artist?
It sounds cliché, but it seems like I have always loved to draw. One of my earliest memories is waiting for my father to finish the Sunday newspaper, so that I could sit down and start copying the funnies.
Who has been your mentor, or greatest influence to date?
I was fortunate that when I started creating art (in my 30’s, kind of a late start) I met three people that were very influential in my early art career. The first was Joan Reid who taught an adult education art class, she introduced me to Ron Peer, a local portrait and landscape artist. He was always very patient with my early attempts, and managed to find something good in them while giving me constructive criticism. The third is Trudi Smith. She is a signature member with Pastel Society of America and she pushed me to apply for membership with the group, even to the point of selecting the pieces that I submitted for jurying. I was thrilled and surprised when I received signature status on that first application.
Who is another living artist you admire and why?
I have several artists that I admire today and follow their work on social media sites. Anthony Waichulis for his tromp l’oeil still lifes, Robert C. Jackson for his incredible still life set ups and the interplay of his subjects, Teresa Fischer for the incredible still life paintings of old toys, my favorite subject matter. I also follow the work of Patricia Tribastone, a fellow pastel artist with incredible skills. All of these artists, along with being accomplished painters, have the ability to inject a sense of humor and fun into their work, along with telling a story.
What is your favorite surface to create work on or to work with? Describe it if you make it yourself.
My favorite surface to work on is Pastelbord, made by Ampersand. It is a Masonite board with a surface of gesso and marble dust. This surface holds a lot of pastel and holds up well to blending, and multiple layering techniques. I love the fact that it comes in standard sizes from 5x7 to 24x36 and that when a pastel is finished, you can frame it immediately, using spacers between the artwork and the glass.
What are your favorite materials to use?
I have been a pastel artist for the last 30 some years. As most pastellists, I am not brand loyal. I look for color, hardness/softness, and availability. So, currently on my work table are Rembrandts, Giraults, Unisons, Terry Ludwigs, and Derwent and Conte pastel pencils.
Do you have a favorite color palette?
I don’t really have a favorite palette. It really depends on the subject matter and it changes from painting to painting. I do tend to favor a lot of the earth tones for backgrounds and whatever my still lifes are sitting on.
How often do you work on your artwork? How many hours a week?
I try to work a little bit every day. Some days it might only be an hour, other days (and these are my favorites) it might be 7 or 8 hours in the studio.
What is the one thing you would like to be remembered for?
I would like to be remembered as an artist that gave to younger beginning artists the same support and encouragement that I received when I was starting out.
There are many culprits that can crush creativity, such as distractions, self-doubt and fear of failure. What tends to stand in the way of your creativity?
I find that the biggest obstacle for me is myself. Having a studio in my home it is too easy to be distracted by things going on in the house. I have dealt with self-doubt and the fear of failure thing, too.
How do you overcome these obstacles?
For the around the house stuff, I have tried to set a schedule that from when I get up, (usually around 6:00 AM) until noon is set aside for my studio time. My wife has gotten pretty good at accepting this.
For the self-doubt and fear of failure, I’ve made a conscious decision to just keep submitting my work to shows and when the rejections come in, I glance at them and toss them out.
What are your inspirations for your work?
The inspirations for my work are all around me. As I have been focusing on old toys and games, I go to a lot of garage sales looking for those little nuggets that get my interest going, but other people see as something to get rid of.
What is your favorite way to get your creative juices flowing?
I love to look at the new work by artists that I follow, I love to go to shows and openings, and in general just looking at art gets me going.
Which work of yours is your favorite?
The trite answer would be “the next one”, but I actually have a couple. One is called “In the Bag”, which I’ve entered in several shows, but has never been accepted, and another is my newest one, called “To The Rescue”.
Getting to know you Q&A
What is your favorite color in your closet? n/a
What book are you reading this week? Game of Thrones (second time)
Do you have a favorite television show? Several, CSI, Criminal Minds, Big Bang Theory, Walking Dead, Sixty Minutes
What is your favorite food? All of them, but true favorite Honey Glazed Ham
What color sheets are on your bed right now? n/a
What are you most proud of in your life? My wife of 44 years, Linda, our three kids, Lori, Dave, and Dan, and our six grandkids, Paige, Jared, Mina, Alexander, Asher, and Emma.
Who would you love to interview? James Gurney, Anthony Waichulis
Do you have a passion or hobby other than painting? Music, I used to play and perform; now I just love listening.
Who would you love to paint? Michelle Obama, any of my artist friends.
If you were an animal what would you be and why? n/a
If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take three things, what would they be? n/a.
Share something with us that few people know about you. That I sometimes dance in my studio when I’m working.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Sedona, AZ. Beautiful part of the country and incredible colors.
David Frances
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