Frank Craven

I’m interested in art because...

Because it is a productive and permanent past time. Asthetics turns normal into extraordinary. We are creative beings and our souls yearn for expression and expansion. I am an artist driven by the illogical irrational odd thing that drives Groovy rythm for funs sakes. I also explore my philosophical quest & inner turmoil... explain the quagmire bombarding US All with politics and pseudo "news". Illustrate and elucidate the problem(s) in a therapeutic expose. I grew in colorful Barcelona, Spain.

My first childhood memory of art is...

My Mama at the MoMA could not tear me away from my fascination of "The Eternal City" by Peter Blume. A surreal depiction of a war-torn crazy place. A comical cartoon oil painting that told many stories. I felt transfixed by a series of tales on a single canvas...also we repeatedly past through the '64 Worlds Fair exhibit of La Pieta by Michelangelo...wow, one solid block of marble sculpted out an amazing scene that brought home a heartfelt mercy that goes on forever, but occurred 2,000 years ago

My favorite place to see art is...

Is on the blank canvas infront of me; the next masterpiece. Elijah; the unknown guest,who will make your dinner party so special. A message to share with self and the world...Never ending supply of creative, witty, fun, scary images to share in a new style and form that eliminates world/community concerns & time. Suddenly a tiny simple stroke of a wet paintbrush takes on a tremendous importance that out weighs all other matters. Eating, shopping, TV or social engagements are completely forgotton

An art experience I loved...

Salvador Dali (1973) in a see through toga serving pink champagne telling me to go swim in his pool "Nakid! The lobsters like it that way" & "You must master realism before attacking sur-realism". Carles Briega Bombon (1975) shouting at me "Its not finnished!" When I saw his huge colorful abstract (over a year) still on the easel. Channeling Pablo Picasso in Vauluris Golfe Juan with local pyschic artist Etienne di Grati (when we made a documentary: Conversations Sur Picasso) in Cote d'Azure,2001

Art is important to me because...

Because I am victimised by it. A prisoner/captive that must serve the calling. I don't do ART; ART does me! I find my self jumping out of bed & attacking a canvas in the middle of the night. Or forgoing my lunch money to buy a peculiar/particular hue...or carrying a huge board across town because it speaks to me and I must cover it in paint. Forgetting some date or casting call because my dreamy silly self is holding a wet paint brush & some good suits got spoiled because my flash couldn't wait!

A theme in art that I gravitate towards is...

Flag series of political corruption exposed. Funny caracature faces. Land scapes. Sea scapes. Flower power micro organisms akin to the astral travel cosmos of the macro orgasm in vast creative universe...put unto my five fingered tool exploring another abstract frankydoodle dandy daisy proclamation! I can let the piece go with my final voila & signature/title (the main thrust) yet add further touches. I often prefer a reverse art show of the titles to elucidate ideas, poetry & philosophy. Fun