Liz Frankland

STATEMENT

I paint with oil and acrylic in a loose technique that seeks accuracy. Finding the point where an image feels authentic and well defined by using the least amount of brushstrokes is a common thread in all of my work. Mid-century architecture, cars, vintage photos, classic TV shows and movies are my main influences. Themes of time and place are consistently explored. It is not a longing for the past, but rather embracing nostalgic imagery as familiar shared experiences that people can relate to within the present. Pop culture has become a large part of everyday life and it reflects our joys and sufferings. Classic TV and movies are stories told over and over and become recognizable ways to connect with people who are otherwise strangers. It occurred to me that they are modern mythology. 20th century pop culture represent themes worth being painted not unlike the historical or biblical themes from previous art periods that we see in museums. I felt silly thinking about this at first, but it feels accurate. For example, I painted scenes from The Brady Bunch. I painted them in a traditional style exactly the way I paint every other subject matter. It just happened to be the Brady living room. Mixing authentic colors and being mindful of edges and values is always my top concern in painting. Doing these technical things loosely but accurately is where the heart and the connection happens. This is when the shared familiar memories kick in and I feel like I've created something that brings people together.

This same philosophy applies to my work created from vintage photos. Most everyone can relate to an old photo and emotionally connect to our own families and experiences while viewing them. Photos from the 1940's-70's are the everyday, mundane and often beautiful versions of classic pop culture. Painting from old kodachrome photos was a passion of mine since being an art student at CCS. I began by referencing my own family photos and over the years began to work from abandoned photos elsewhere and also from friends.

The two painters I admire most are John Singer Sargent and Edward Hopper. Its the brushwork and color from Sargent, and the composition and subject matter from Hopper that I study the most and get inspiration for my own voice as a painter.

BIO

Liz Frankland is a painter in Berkley, MI. She works primarily with acrylics and oils on canvas in a loose but realistic style. She studied fine art at the College for Creative Studies and graduated with a BFA in 1996. Currently teaching painting at Articipate in Berkley, and also at the GPAA, in Grosse Pointe, MI. Liz is an award winning artist who exhibits regularly in art galleries and competitions as well as commission work.

EXHIBITIONS/SHOWS/COMMISSIONS

2020 107th Gold Medal Exhibition, The Scarb Club, Detroit, MI

2020 Soul Searching, Grosse Pointe Artists Association, Grosse Pointe War Memorial

2020 Lockdown Art, Two person exhibition, Articipate, Berkley, MI

2019 Craftsmanshipping, Detroit Shipping Company, Detroit, MI

2019 Solo Exhibition, Canton Village Theater, Canton, MI

2019 Snowden Exhibition, Scarab Club, Detroit MI

2018 Rear view mirror. Two person exhibition, Beaubien House, Detroit, MI

2018 90th Regional Exhibition, Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, MI

2018 Past Time, Solo Exhibition, Articipate, Berkley, MI

2018 Art and About, Berkley, MI

2018 Solo Exhibition, Berkley Public Library

2018 The Snowden Exhibition, Scarab Club, Detroit MI

2018 Michigan Annual XLV, Anton Art Center, Mt Clemons, MI.

2017 After the Sun Goes Down, Grosse Pointe War Memorial, Grosse Pointe, MI. -Third Place

2017 Scarab Club Gold Medal Exhibition, Detroit, MI

2017 Annual Exhibition, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petosky, MI- Honorable Mention

2017 Silver Medal Exhibition, Scarab Club, Detroit , MI

2016 East Side Art Show, St Clair Shores, MI. -Third Place

2016 Regional Exhibition, Muskegon Museum of Art, MI -Honorable Mention

2015 All Media Exhibition, Ann Arbor Art Center, Mi

2013 Power of Portrait, Ella Sharp Museum, Mi

2008 Our Town, Birmingham Community House, MI

2005 Michigan Fine Arts Competition, Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, MI

2003 All Media Exhibition, Ann Arbor Art Center, MI

1996 Swords Into Plowshares, Detroit, MI

1995 Essence of Character, Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor, MI- Tom Coates Memorial Award

Teaching/Workshops:

2018-2020 Acrylic Painting. Articipate, Berkley, MI

2018-2020 Painting. Grosse Pointe Art Association, Grosse Pointe MI

Public Art
2002-2007 Cranbrook Institute of Science, Murals.

1995 Art On the Move, Artist Residency

EDUCATION

College For Creative Studies, Bachelor of Fine Arts, 1996

AWARDS

2020 Honorable Mention, Soul Searching Exhibition, Grosse Pointe Artists Association
2019 Honorable mention Scarab Club Snowden exhibition
2018 Honorable mention MI annual XLV, Anton Art Center, Mt Clemons MI
2017 Annual exhibition, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petosky, MI
2016 Third place, East Side Art Show, St Clair Shires, MI
2016 Honorable mention, Regional exhibition, Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon MI

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Art instructor Articipate, Berkley, MI - 2018-present
Art instruction GPAA, Grosse Pointe MI 2018-present

TAGS

Figurative paintings, mid century, pop culture, representational painting