The exhibition of Richard Franklin's artistic photography was opened on the 19th of October in Kasser Rassu Gallery-Showroom in Marbella. Among the attendees were also Toma Amot (famous stylist from LA), Anette Qviberg (the wife of Dolph Lundgren) and many others!

"My career begun in my forties with glamour photography and with no particular artistic intent. After some years in this field the constant emphasis on the externals of body and face began to feel both boring and superficial. I began to encourage my models to try something different and more elevating. My work went from the predictable and mundane to the unpredictable and experimental. It was full of risk taking and rule breaking.

My work is constantly colorful and adventurous but I have an innate conservatism that also influences my work. This has played a major role in my artistic development. Some years ago I began to realize that many of my photographs resembled paintings. I have since sought to make this a hallmark of my stylistic approach and began to refer to myself as a "Paintographer". My exhibitions now refer to my work as "Paintography".

I pride myself also on working without assistants and creating all my special effects within the camera and not artificially in the computer. My artistic joy derives from the hard work of taking on complex challenges and exceeding my expectations.

There are constant defining characteristics in my work. Empowered by female models, classical themes and an extensive use of highly saturated colors. In order to convey these there is a frequent use of body painting, fabrics, and colored gels on strobe lights and special effects that are all derived from the camera and not in post-production. I also frequently try to create a fresh interpretation to iconic imagery. Examples of this approach are the Geisha, Harlequin, Intermezzo and Torso photographs.

When I review my body of work I am struck by the fact that I am constantly creating strong fantasy characters. Photography is perhaps more bounded by categories than painting. The obvious classifications are landscape, architecture, fashion, wildlife, abstract and portraiture. 

My work draws on elements within most of these categories but ultimately is outside of them."

www.rfphotoarts.com

Also a huge thank you to the KASSER RASSU GALLERY from LA VOZ ANIMAL for helping us collect money for this non profit animal organization that is dedicated to rescue abandoned, mistreated and about to be sacrificed animals.

La VOZ ANIMAL gives treatment and finds homes for animals here in Spain and in the rest of Europe.

Please see their web page become a member and help us with this humane cause. A small donation can make all the difference in preventing the atrocities that are inflicted in these poor unfortunate animals.

http://www.lavozanimal.com/