Questions and Artists: Gail and Thomas Franke

“Ready for the Beach” by Gail Franke

I first met Gail and Thomas Franke at an open house several weeks ago at the Bay Art Gallery at the Sister Bay Trading Company in Sister Bay. I noticed Gail’s work and was intrigued by her use of various warm and cool grays.

I introduced myself and we began taking a short tour around the gallery looking at her work. I then met her husband, Thomas Franke, and he showed me his three-dimensional functional work, clocks, that also serve as fine furniture.

As I talked to them I thought they would both be interesting to interview. They were, and I hope you enjoy this first, a wife and husband interview.

Randy Rasmussen (RR): Gail, in your bio on your website you describe yourself having an early interest in art. When you were young did your family support your creative endeavors?

Gail Franke (GF): Always! My mother was a very creative person and she painted in oils when I was young. She also used pastel pencils and those are the pastels I used when I was a child to do my drawings; and I still have them to this day. My mom took me to art museums, provided art materials for me to use, hung my drawings and paintings, and was my biggest fan. I always feel fortunate that I had her encouragement in all my early artistic endeavors, and feel that her support has been instrumental in my success today as a painter.

RR: Thomas, did you show an interest in design at an early age?

Clock by Thomas Franke.

Thomas Franke (TF): Just the usual tree forts and go-cart type of stuff. I do remember that a neighbor and I built an interesting go-cart out of a 55-gallon drum. The drum was horizontal and formed the front of the cart with your legs inside. The best feature was a huge white steering wheel from an old car that actually turned the wheels.

RR: Did your high school have design classes? I looked at your clocks as three-dimensional functional art. I think our readers would be interested to know how you evolved into your career as a furniture designer.

TF: My favorite classes in high school were mechanical and architectural drawing. I didn’t really discover design or art classes until college. I had an assignment in a Three-Dimensional Design class to make an original piece of furniture. My design and several others were featured in the Milwaukee Journal and I was hooked.

RR: Gail, I know you started out in several different mediums and now paint in oils. Why oils?

GF: I ended up an oil painter because I love the flexibility of oils, they stay wet and I can change things on my painting until I am satisfied that I’ve captured what I intended to paint. If I am in the middle of a painting and I can’t finish it I will put it in the freezer and it will stay wet until I can work on it again. I like being able to wipe out areas and re-work them if needed with oils. Finally I love the rich colors and the ability to apply thick and thin paint.

RR: Gail, what artists or instructors have had the most influence on your work?

GF: I think I am quite eclectic in the artists I like. I tend to be drawn into scenes that have boldly defined simple shapes, both in value and composition. To name a few artists: Edward Hopper, Robert M. Cunningham, and Nicolai Fechin. Probably the instructor that has the most influence on my current work is Tim Deibler. I took a weeklong plein air class with Tim in Colorado. This was my first experience painting outside and his encouragement was greatly appreciated. I can still hear his voice saying “find the big shapes.” I have also taken classes with Quang Ho, Tom Nachreiner, Shelby Keefe, and John Lasater, and their help and guidance has greatly help my development as an artist.

“Summer Garden” by Gail Franke

RR: Thomas, I had a chance to look at the beautiful workmanship in your clocks displayed at the Bay Art Gallery. One was described to me by someone who knows as “Mission Style” and another I would describe as “Danish Modern.”

TF: The “Mission Style” floor clock that you mentioned was one of the first that I did. It was inspired by the simple geometric designs of the Arts and Crafts Movement, Stickley furniture and Rennie Mackintosh. I would have to say the other clocks I have done were conceived at the lumberyard. The “Danish Modern” clock uses a beautiful slab of spalted Birdseye Maple. I wanted to display it to the best advantage, so I used it for the entire front of the clock including the clock face.

RR: Gail, you and I had a chance to talk about your work which I found distinctive. You use grays and subdued colors effectively. How did you develop this method?

GF: I feel there is an amazing range of beautiful gray and neutral colors from warm to cool. These grays add a wonderful contrast to the other colors in a painting. Subdued colors can create such a mood, or create contrast to brighter colors and make them “pop” more effectively.

RR: This is the first interview I have done with a husband and wife, both doing distinctively different work. Is advice offered and freely accepted between both of you?

TF: As an artist, Gail has a good eye for design and is a great asset as my readily available focus group (of one!). We both like designs that are clean and simple, and, as much as I hate to admit it, there are times when a clock has become a bit too busy or decorative. She has a subtle way of helping me realize the error of my ways. Gail has a positive affect on my career and on my life, always offering encouragement and support.

GF: In the past I have struggled a bit with perspective on the buildings in my paintings. Tom has studied architectural drawing and has given me good advice on how to render buildings in perspective. I listen to Tom’s advice as I do with my fellow painters. Tom is very enthusiastic about my painting career and I think it is great that we can both be involved in each other’s artistic careers. We understand what is needed to grow and move ahead and we provide each other the encouragement and time to do so.

Clock by Thomas Franke

RR: Thomas, do you miss working as a furniture designer and seeing your work being reproduced and sold in mass quantities or is it more satisfying to do one piece and see it sold in a gallery?

TF: Actually, I’m still working as a design consultant, and I just received word that a unique bookcase I designed will be sold in every Walmart store. That could not be further from working as an artisan to design and build original one-of-a-kind clocks. I find both experiences equally satisfying.

RR: Gail, how has your work changed over the years?

GF: I think the biggest change I have seen in the last several years took place three years ago when I started painting outside. At the time I was doing only studio painting and a teacher I had at the time said if I wanted to improve I should try painting “en plein air.” Doing this took me out of my comfort zone but my work really improved and today I find myself more drawn to painting outside, even in the winter. I see a beautiful subtlety of colors and light when painting directly from nature. I love the excitement and challenge of painting the landscape with its quickly changing light.

RR: Lastly, Thomas, can you describe for our readers the distinctive faces on your clocks, something I have never seen before.

TF: My clocks fall somewhere between contemporary and rustic with most designs based on simple geometry. Just as fine jewelry can accentuate the features of a woman, I use the equivalent of jewelry to accentuate my clocks. My “jewelry” comes from the local hardware store. I have used square headed nails, upholster tacks, rivets and drilled holes to represent the hour markings on my clock faces. Most of the faces are copper and I have just begun experimenting ways to apply a patina to the copper. It may sound strange but I love the color of rust. I have just ordered some Corten weather steel to use for upcoming clock faces.

RR: To both of you, thank you.

Gail and Thomas’ work can be seen at the Bay Art Gallery located at the Sister Bay Trading Company in Sister Bay. Gail’s work can also be seen at Rivers End Gallery both in Waukesha and Elm Grove, Wisconsin. Gail’s website is GailFranke.com and Thomas’s site is TFrankeDesign.com.