To Be Perfectly Frank . . , a new exhibition from US-born, Irish-based painter Frank Sanford will open this Friday, September 22, from 6 to 8pm, at the Courthouse Gallery, Kinvara. It’s being presented by local arts group, KAVA and reflects the painter’s love of nature, people and adventure.

Frank, who has lived in the Burren for 25 years, studied architecture at the University of Cincinnati, which included art classes such as life drawing. He then went on to study painting at the University of Oregon, as well as at the renowned Art Students League of New York. Frank took private lessons with some of the early members of what was known as  ‘California Scene Painting’, which flourished between the 1920s and 1960s. He also studied with some of America’s finest watercolourists and nature artists and says their influence helped him realise the importance of following his own path, exploring what inspired him.

He works in a range of mediums, (acrylic, oil, pastel, watercolour and charcoal), creating landscapes, life drawing and still life.

Describing painting as an adventure, he says he has always loved adventures, whether in the form of fishing, hiking, rafting in the Grand Canyon or, nowadays, rambling closer to home by  the Atlantic coast.

“When I begin to paint, I need to start not knowing where it is going. I work quickly and spontaneously, responding to what’s around me. When it is good, my painting is like a surprise,” he says.

“I let the viewer bring meaning to my work by going into their own memories or by creating their own world within my paintings.”

Frank’s art has received many awards and is in private and public collections worldwide.

The gallery will be open this Friday for Culture Night and daily between 11am and 5pm until next Tuesday, September 26. All welcome.

Pictured: The exhibition includes current and older work by the US-born artist.