This article is from page 106 of the 2008-07-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 106 JPG
EVERYONE hates the rain, right? Well, almost everyone. Since settling in north Clare more than 10 years ago American painter Frank Sanford has been enjoying all that the Irish climate offers – wind and rain.
‘T paint outside and in particular in the bad weather. I do a lot of land- scapes, often times featuring build- ings or maybe some objects. They are all painted early in the morning or late in the evening,” said Frank.
‘“T’m usually out there in the wind and rain – the light is so much bet-
ter. If you even go out on the Bur- ren rocks after some rain, it’s almost like there has been a snow storm, the rocks turn white and there are a lot of reflection but if you go out there on a sunny days it’s completely dif- Koa
Frank’s latest exhibition, entitled ‘Lashing Rain’, opened at the Russell Gallery in New Quay last Saturday and will continue until July 27.
“I prefer painting at that time of the day and in that sort of weather – the colours are more intense, the light 1s more interesting. It’s about getting low angle light instead of light that’s
coming from directly above. For me it’s more about painting the quality of the light than the objects them- selves.”
Frank has been a working artist for over 40 years and in that time he has exhibited in many galleries and shows across North America and Ireland.
‘The Burren has been a great source of inspiration. I look at the mountains and this great long curvy shapes that look like naked ladies lying on the landscape. It stunning – absolutely beautiful,’ continued frank.
‘IT remember a writer, a poet, once
said about my paintings that you don’t look at them, you look into them. That’s exactly the feeling that I am trying to create.
“I don’t want people to look at my paintings and to say that it’s just like a photograph. I’d like people to get lost in the painting, to be able to grow into the work and find something new for themselves in the painting.”
The Russell Gallery is open every day, Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm and on Sunday’s from 12noon to 6 pm. For more information con- tact the gallery on 065 7078185 or visit www.russellgallery.net.