Frank Baer’s Abstract Photography Is A Show Stopper, Capturing Light And Color In The Most Imaginative Ways! Meet Him February 23 & 24 At The Stuart Art Festival
When we saw Frank Baer‘s artwork, we stopped in our tracks! This abstract photographer captures light and color in ways in the most astonishing way! A lifelong creator, Frank will be at the Stuart Fine Art Festival on February 23 & 24 locally. The Rickie Report shares an interview with Frank, some sneak peeks, and his schedule, as he continues to exhibit around the country.
M E E T T H E A R T I S T:
February 23 & 24 Stuart Arts Festival Stuart, FL
March 2 & 3 Bonita Springs National Art Festival
Bonita Springs, FL
March 9 & 10 Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival
Albuquerque, NM
March 29 – 31 Tempe Festival of the Arts Tempe, AZ
“There’s Evidence” by Frank Baer
Frank Baer tells The Rickie Report, “I am an abstract photographer based in Denver, CO. While I started composing and selling my photographs in 2016, my career in art started much earlier. I began creating art when I was young, selling two multicolored tie-dyed pillows when I was 6. I sold them to my mother’s best friend and those pillows lived for years in their pool house. Now, the pillows have been handed down to their grandchildren and they are still around. That was just the beginning of my creative endeavors”.
He explains, “I’ve always liked color and organic shapes in nature. I loved cutting out odd and abstract shapes from colored construction paper and making collages as a youngster. Whenever I worked with clay, I invariably assembled some oddly multi-colored coiled clay cups and bowls that reminded me of snakes. When I was 10, I tried to learn to use a potter’s wheel and the only thing I made was a vase that resembled a coiled cobra and I made a separate head for the stopper. My mother kept that for me, (and all my other art projects), which I still display it in my home”.
“Ring of Fire” by Frank Baer
Frank speaks about the importance of exposing children to art at an early age, including visiting art museums. He was encouraged to create in school and at home. ” I started collecting coffee table art books in high school and still do. I learned about art and art history in college for my electives. I’ve traveled extensively all over the world and I always seek out the art museums and art attractions where ever I go. Art has always been and will always be a large part of my life”. Frank is inspired by a wide range of styles and mediums, including: Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Andrew Goldsworthy, Dale Chihuly, Victor Vasarely, Rene Magritte, Yaacov Agam, Pieter Breugel, Peter Paul Rubens, and especially Hieronymus Bosch. He says, “Don’t get me started on my favorites of classical art and architecture of France and Italy. I appreciate all art, but the more modern and contemporary resonates with me strongly”.
He has worked with many types of media. In addition to the tie dye, Frank has created through textile weavings, pottery, fused glass and painted frames embellished with polymer clay canes and stamped tiles. He generated a 35 square foot mosaic “made to look like a river running through cracked earth in my back yard and incorporated this mosaic into a larger stone patio and into the entire back yard”.
“Curvaceous Undulation” by Frank Baer
Frank’s favorite creative medium is the camera, as it allows him to capture light and colors in a way that is unique and inspiring. “I started taking pictures with a Kodak Instamatic with the square flash bulbs in the ’70s. I still have some of those old pictures. I always had a camera with me on any travels or adventures. While I’ve always enjoyed taking landscapes and sunsets and nature shots, I most enjoy taking abstract photographs of colored lights at night. I developed proprietary techniques using the camera to enhance what my eyes see, and this has been the focus of my passion”.
The focus of Frank’s photography is all about capturing and displaying light and colors. “I showcase the colors and movement and bring attention to various shapes and patterns that I capture in a moment of ‘color brilliance’. The streaks and patches of color are chaotic, ordered, patterned and calming. These images are an expression of how I see color and light. I imagine that if my thoughts were colors, they would look like this”.
“Wild Iris” by Frank Baer
His photographs also include contrast: the contrast of the colors, light and dark, smooth and textured, the different shapes and intensities of color, the thicknesses of the lines and the sharpness of the curves in contrast to the black background. The continuous movement in his work, with a variety of visual texture, and flowing patterns, give his work an organic and natural feel. The textures provide depth and movement while the color transformations are mesmerizing. The viewer feels the energy, dynamic movement, and flow, as if he or she were part of it. “One of my early water images, ‘There’s Evidence,’ was named because I immediately knew that I was meant to develop these techniques and capture these incredible images! I now travel all over looking for sources for my images. When I find colored lights, I am happy and when I find light reflected on water, I am ecstatic.”
Though art has always been a part of Frank’s life, he wasn’t expecting it to be his career. He studied business, worked in Information Technology for 35 years, and been a part of a dynamic nonprofit organization in Denver. ” I had taken these great new photographs and I had them printed and mounted on wood. I was excited to show them to friends and family. While I was displaying them all over the kitchen at my mother’s house for her to see, one of her friends dropped by to say,’ hello’. She asked if I would be interested in a one man show, introduced me to a curator, and I had my first SOLO exhibit at the Church Health Center in Memphis! I knew then I was not going back into IT and since then I’ve shown all over the country. My art has been on display in California at Stanford University School of Medicine, private homes, and corporations.”
“Monet Today” by Frank Baer
An outdoor enthusiast and adventurer, some of Frank’s favorite activities are hiking, cycling, mountain biking, kayaking, scuba diving, fly fishing, geocaching and zip lining. In the winter he telemark skis and snow bikes in Colorado. He’s happy to chat about any of these activities as well as his artwork.
Contact Frank:
Phone: 720 985-8436
Email: frankbaerphotos@gmail.com
Web: www.frankbaerphotos.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/frankbaerphotos
