It was back in 2017, while I was experiencing a long artist block that had been going on for about two years, that I had gone to a local classic car show. It was there that the lights finally came on for me.
Edsel, oil on canvas, 24 x 40" (60 x 101 cm) I was really taken by the strong bug-like features of this classic car. It’s an iconic car for all the wrong reasons.
Box of Hammers, oil on canvas, 28 x 22" (71 x 55 cm) This piece shows off how each object has its unique wear and tear marks, dents and scratches. I liked how the handles are randomly jutting out of the tool box. I was attracted to the rhythm and flow of the objects as a group.
I loved the subject matter of these stylish machines, and more importantly, I allowed myself to go with my natural desire to do more detailed work. Up until then I was trying to be more of an impressionist painter but wasn’t feeling satisfied by the process. I was resisting my desire to get into more detail. After I completed my first car painting 49 Road master, I knew I was onto something. A short time later, I came across the term “photorealism,” and I said, “yes, that’s me!” I’m a photorealist painter because it best expresses how my mind sees and interprets the world around me.
Breakfast at Norm’s Place, oil on canvas, 30 x 24" (76 x 60 cm) The dappled light in this piece really set off the green emerald-like quality of the truck. The scene as a whole feels like a nice time out with your faithful dog (ie., the truck) sitting next to you.
Kitchen Craft, oil on canvas, 22 x 28" (55 x 71 cm) I love these old cast iron meat and vegetable grinders. I wanted to emphasize the beauty of the metals juxtaposed with the warmth of the wood handles.
My subjects have expanded from classic cars to include antique objects like toys and tools. My aim has always been to bring the viewer in and take a closer look to see the story that’s in the details. I believe these old objects have a history—they have a story to tell about who used them, which gives them a kind of life of their own. —
About the Artist
Frank Soenke Haseloff
Frank Soenke Haseloff grew up on a dairy farm in central Pennsylvania. It wasn’t until he went to community college in 1984 that he took his first art class and was hooked. He moved to San Francisco in 1988 to study art at San Francisco State University. After college he and his wife Laura bought a house in Concord, California. He put art aside to focus on running his massage practice and being a father and a husband. It wasn’t until the early 2000s when he was coloring with his kids that he realized how much he missed art. Since then, Haseloff has taken numerous workshops and watched countless hours of instructional videos and read many books on art theory and practice. He is now winning awards in national and international art competitions and has been featured in multiple magazines. He is also a member of the International Guild of Realism, National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Society, Oil Painters of America and American Artists Professional League.
Represented by
Valley Art Gallery, California, USA, www.valleyartgallery.org
Contact at
www.soenkefineart.com