Monday, December 30, 2013

Demo/Workshop

Join me January 25th! - FULL

Laguna Beach is ideal for painting,  mild temperatures
and it's almost summer like weather,  even right now.
I really enjoy painting seascapes and sharing what
I know about capturing it on canvas. 

Join me for coffee and a morning demo and then
I will guide you through your own painting
in the early afternoon after lunch. Class is limited
so plenty of attention will be given to each
attending. Limited to 10 students. $95 per student.
 To sign up email me by January 20th at
frankserrano@sbcglobal.net
or call 310-869-3200.


Wednesday, December 11, 2013

New Studio


Moving my studio and home has been a very exciting experience.  
I hate to leave such a great town,  but I'm going somewhere
that has many new opportunities,  especially some new subject
matter to paint.  I have some really great memories to take with
me and especially those of the people I made great friends with,  
I'm sure those friendships will always be there. 
 

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Sierra Cottonwoods
 
SOLD

Cotton woods in Round Valley at the beginning of Fall

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Yellowstone Bison Sketch  oil  8"x10" NFS

I'm primarily a landscape painter but sometimes a subject
will hit you in the heart and you just have to paint it.

I travel a lot to paint and Yellowstone is a favorite
destination especially in the Fall.  The wildlife at that time 
of year is abundant and scenes like this a must to capture.
Think I will do a few more!

Friday, August 2, 2013

"Pacific Glare"   oil on linen   9"x12"

SOLD

Since I live near the Pacific Ocean,  it is one of my favorite
subjects to paint at any time of the year.  From the
windswept cliffs of the Pacific North West  to the sandy
beaches of California,  there is such a variety of scenery.

Above is a scene in Santa Barbara,  CA.  It is
a beach I love to paint.  On this particular day the
sun created glare on the water in the mid afternoon.
The intense light created such a great mood and
I had to paint it.

Price on request

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Painting in Wyoming

"Haze at String Lake"   oil   13"x12"

SOLD
Legacy Gallery,  Jackson Hole

Nothing compares to painting up in the mountains
on location.  I have ventured all over the states,  but
my favorite by far is Wyoming,  specifically the
Jackson, Wyoming area,  home of the Grand Teton 
mountains.  

This was painted at mid day on String Lake,
probably my favorite of the group of lakes at 
the base  of the mountains.  I can get up early 
from camp and paint all day without hiking 
too far.

Fall is my favorite time because of the mild
temperature and beautiful color.  Most people have
ventured back home as well,  so no crowds,
except maybe artists since it's usually the fall arts
time in Jackson Hole!

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Painting the movement of water

"Winter Surf"   oil   6"x10"


SOLD

Friday, July 5, 2013

Eastern Sierra Painting

"On the way to Pine Creek"   oil   10"x12" 

SOLD

One of my favorite places to paint the mountains
is the Eastern Sierra Mountains about 4 hours north 
of my home. This range runs some 400 miles north
to south and 70 west to east.  To the south is  Kings 
Canyon and the Giant Sequoia groves and further 
north you will find Big Pine Canyon with some of
the prettiest glacial lakes anywhere.  

Painting is abundant here and no matter what 
time of year it is pretty easy to get around to 
some of the great spots,  although winter
may be a bit of a challenge since some higher
elevation roads are closed. 

Monday, July 1, 2013

Field Studies

"Reflections of Fall"   oil   8"x10"  NFS

Field studies are an important part of the painting
process.  Like a portrait painter paints from a model,
the landscape painter needs his.  Yes,  you can paint
from a photograph,  but the real life experience of
being on location infuses the work with much more
than just an image.  Only after being on location with
easel can you honestly portray to the viewer exactly
what you felt and saw with much more sensitivity.

Friday, June 14, 2013

"June Morning"  oil  8"x16"

Private Collection

Monday, June 3, 2013

"Cliffside, Laguna Beach   Oil   12"x9"

Private Collection

Thursday, May 16, 2013

"Early Summer at the Falls"  oil  12"x12"

SOLD

One place I love to paint is Yosemite National Park.
It is abundant with gorgeous views if you get out and
explore.  Of course there are the iconic views,  but 
many of the sweet spots are a days hike or less.  

In order to paint there you must pack accordingly,  you
will most likely be caring your own gear and staying 
light and compact is essential.  A small pochade box
like the Open Box M is what I carry with a few light
weight panels from Canvas Panels.  Everything fits
in a school sized backpack,  so Im not carrying a ton, 
it's just for the day.  Also, the weather can change on
a dime,  so don't forget a jacket, rain slicker and 
other important items  in case you get caught.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

"Golden Mist,  Butterfly Beach"  oil  8x12

I just love days like this.  This was one of 4 paintings I
did that day in Santa Barbara and of course mother 
nature saves the best for last. 

The challenge of painting scenes like this attracts
me so much and of course it's because of the mood 
I feel and wanting the viewer  to see and feel
it too.

SOLD

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

"Fall River Color"  oil  12"x12"

Available at Mission Gallery, Utah

Monday, April 8, 2013

"Shore Break"    oil    8"x8"

Painting for me, is not just putting to canvas what exists,
 but what comes out of it's existence.
 
Price on request!

Thursday, March 28, 2013

"Wyoming on my Mind" oil 10"x11"

Last Fall I traveled to Wyoming and painted my heart 
out.  I painted almost 30 studies in 8 days camping near 
the Tetons.  The painting above reflects some of the
work I produced.

Available at Mission gallery,  Utah

Saturday, March 23, 2013

"Dream Lake Shoreline"  oil  9 1/4"x9"

SOLD

Thursday, March 7, 2013

"Afternoon Russian Hill" 

SOLD

Wednesday, February 27, 2013


Taking registration for my Fall Sierra Workshop for September 13th -16th, 2013. 4 Day Workshop, plenty of demos and one on one instruction. All levels welcome. We will be painting around Bishop, including the Beautiful Buttermilks and Owens River. Lodging is abundant and reasonable. Cost per student (not including lodging) $500. For more detailed info email me at: frankserrano@sbcglobal.net

Friday, February 15, 2013

"The Rockies in Snow"   oil   10"x10"

Available Price on request.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

"Rocky Mountain Stream"  Oil  12"x12"

SOLD

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

The Finished Painting

"Above Big Sur"  oil on linen  16"x20"

Available,  price on request.

Monday, February 4, 2013

"Above Big Sur" 
A step by step from study to studio painting
 
Step5
 
Finally close to being finished!  Now it's detail time, last
minute adjustments to color and some design elements.
In this step I'm adding details in the grasses and distant 
cliffs.  Also,  adding another rock near the cliff
and changing the foam direction near the bottom of the
painting.  I'm adding just enough detail  for realism,  
letting the viewer add the rest!  

Tomorrow a final look at the finished painting!

Sunday, February 3, 2013

"Above Big Sur" 
A step by step from study to studio painting
 
Step 4
 
From step 3 to 4 I start building up details in the foreground 
little by little.  Again, the backgroud is still virtually untouched 
and the middle ground is slightly detailed.  Besides actual
details added by the brush,  color plays a huge part in creating
depth,  or what I like to say atmospheric perspective.  Remember
Not all distant values become bluer in the distance that's why 
it's so important to paint on location.  Accuracy of color and 
value comes with experience painting outdoors from life!


Thursday, January 31, 2013

"Above Big Sur" 
A step by step from study to studio painting
 
Step 3

I decided to give you a wider view of what I'm working
on.  In this step, about 3/4 of the way through,  I have started
to add more paint and slowly build up areas working all
over the canvas.  Working this way for me breaths life into
the whole, all at once,  not a section at time which tends to
make a painting look stiff as if you were copying directly 
from a photo.  Of course,  areas in the distance don't need 
that much detail compared to the middle ground and fore-
ground areas.  Color and value aren't much of a concern 
since I established that during my block in,  but minor 
adjustments are made during this step.  Also,  edges at 
this step are well thought out keeping most of my crisp 
edges in the foreground.
 
Hint:  I do not soften any distant edges,  they are 
left alone since painted rather loosley early on 
in my block in.


Tuesday, January 29, 2013

"Above Big Sur" 
A step by step from study to studio painting
 
Step 2
 
In this step you can see the canvas has been completely 
covered with paint,  approximately one hour into painting.
It is only at this point, when I can see everything as a 
whole, that I can start to compare and adjust all 
my values and color to my liking.  You can see I've
kept all my shapes strong and haven't done too much 
detail work yet.  It is very important  not to lose 
yourself in detail,  remember what you are trying to 
convey and put down only the necessary brush marks.
 

Monday, January 28, 2013

"Above Big Sur" 
A step by step from study to studio painting

 Step 1

The first step is the block in with transparent washes 
of similar colors to the finished painting,  keeping in
mind the values that must be established.  The white 
of the linen will serve as my lightest value and the 
darkest value will be the forground bush on the left.

Hint: completely covering the canvas with paint 
during this stage will give you a better chance
 at nailing down your value.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Happy New Year everyone!  It's been a bit 
since my last post.  The holidays were busy 
and I was wrapping up last minute sales,  no
pun intended!  

I plan on posting demos soon,  but the 
weather was a bit tough,  lots of wet rainy
days and very cold.  It's now starting to 
warm up and hopefully in a week or so I 
have the first step by step demo posted.

Also,  If any of you are on Facebook and
would like to see more work go ahead 
and send me a friend request.  It's a great 
way to see what many artists are doing 
these days.