Frank Gonzales is an American contemporary artist who is rapidly gaining recognition from collectors throughout the US and Europe. He explores classical subjects, organic and geometrical shapes, color theory and composition.
Gonzales was born in Mesa, Arizona where he received classical training in the arts. After four years of training under master instructors Darlene Swaim and Jim Garrison, his exceptional talent was rewarded with a scholarship to the Laguna College of Art and Design.
His work is “process oriented” which means that the creative process remains open to possibilities from the beginning of a composition until the final brushstroke is applied. In the process, he is at liberty to shift and merge conceptions that are abstract or representational, or a combination of both.
He is influenced and inspired by different sources ranging from the Old Masters to contemporary innovations in graphic design, as well as a wide range of musical compositions.
“My work is about taking reference from various sources including books, the net and photos to comprise and create my own imagery. By creating my paintings through reference or made up elements, there becomes a play between artificiality and realism. I like to combine elements that may seem believable picture wise, but wouldn’t normally thrive in real life. My compositions are never thought out much beforehand. I like the spontaneity of starting with a background color or single image as a jump off point for the rest of the painting. One image will spark another and the process takes shape from there. I find this way of working to be both exciting and uncertain. My various marks and color glitches mimic this uncertainty resulting in a visual stillness and movement.” – Frank Gonzales
