I interviewed Frank in our home as he was photographing an abstract painting…a piece he thinks he might call “Good Energy”.  

Well, right now I’m working on taking pictures of recent artwork to upload to my site. It’s a piece I painted this morning. It’s untitled, turquoise, black, and gold. The good energy I had while I was painting it comes through in the painting…I might call it that…”Good Energy”. There’s a lot to stop and look at and it has a good overall presence. It also has detail that draws you in, draws me in, I should say….draws me in to view it on a deeper level. 

I enjoy being creative at 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning. Quiet, the earth is still. There’s nothing else to give my attention to, it’s just me and whatever I’m working on. At 3 or 4 in the morning it’s just easy to be aware and present with what I’m doing when I’m painting. 

(I’ve had) an interest in photography since high school or college. I think I saw some black and white pictures, news photos. Seemed like whatever it was told a story. Its like I could experience being there with the people…their emotions were palpable. Strange looking back…that’s a good question. I haven’t ever thought about that before. I also think it was sports photography and Sports Illustrated. The photographers had a power, an insight that they were able to share.

I like taking pictures when I’m traveling with my wife, Jane. The things that we happen across…there are so many pictures I’ve taken, and people say “Gosh, that looks like a post card.” It’s just really cool to see something and stand there and take a picture of it, and so many people think it’s just a post card…but to be able to see Venus de Milo, the Colosseum in Rome, the Colorado mountains…just makes….just a life I never imagined. Being able to experience, and having an experience. When we went to the Colosseum I was very contemplative, almost in a meditative state, thinking about all that happened there….but still being able to take some good photos. It’s like having my cake and eating it too. 

I think I’d like to try some news photography….some human drama that’s unfolding…maybe even involving a little danger. Painting is going to change as I paint more…there’s no getting away from that. How that’s gonna’ unfold, I have no idea. 

Frank’s vision of a perfect day when he becomes a full-time artist:  Getting up at 3 a.m., painting until I’m all painted out…my wife and I would walk to the coffee shop down the corner, get on our laptop to see how or site is doing, check our emails…hang out with locals in the community, probably someplace like Asheville or Taos…live in the mountains or in the hills somewhere. I’d like to gather with like-minded people and do something to give back to the community that I live in….eat good whole food, exercise, and walk in the mountains. I’d read, take pictures, paint. In the evening I’d think about the day…about how I could improve it, and what I enjoyed. I’d say a prayer of gratitude, kiss my wife, and tell her I love her.  That would be a good day!