Yep, I am still alive. In-fact never better!! The past few months have flown by and brought with them some big changes so as you can see by the date of my last post I have been busy. Starting my new job and moving made for a crazy few months. Anyway I am looking forward to getting settled and finishing off some new work. I hope everyone is doing well.

- Fran [+?]

A few weeks ago I turned in a Background Painting Test for “The Mighty B!” at Nickelodeon. A few days later I got a call that I got the job! I am really excited to start painting backgrounds for the show because it is a great mix of traditional and digital. The show is also really funny and has some great animation in it. Be sure to check it out on Nickelodeon it really is a great cartoon. Below I have posted the test I turned in for the show, enjoy.

- Fran [+?]

UPDATED!!!

Well I finally found the time to start a new painting. I am sure most of you have seen the sketch below and soon it will be my newest painting. It is (for now) titled “Your Truth?” but that may evolve as I continue to work on it. The hardest part is always staring a painting for me. Its nice just having these ideas stored in my head and knowing what they mean and represent. I literally walk around with my own little art gallery in my head as I am sure most artists do. The sketches may be rough and lose but I know exactly what they look like. They beam with color and emotion to present a perspective, thought, idea even a personal truth in motion. So when I finally pick an idea to pull from my head it has to perfectly represent the vision I have in my head in one singe image. One single frame is hard to pick when I usually see the idea in motion like looking out the window at the world around you. So over the course of the creation of this painting I am going to post every so often so everyone can see how it is progressing. Below is the start of what will be a very long post.

Enjoy- Fran

10.09.08 9:00 pm

10.10.08 1:00 am

10.11.08 5:00 pm

10.12.08 3:00 pm

10.23.08 9:09 pm

12.10.08 4:30 pm

12.19.08 1:30 am

Over the past few days as my wife has been reconnecting with her brother I have noticed a glow that shows no sign of fading. Its hard to explain all that she thought he would be compared to all that he is. For years she dreamed about what he would be like, look like, sound like and he truly is much more than all those dreams and wishes. “So much more that I ever hoped” as she has said to me over and over again the past few days truly describes how amazing her brother Chris is. I would try to explain it further but I think I will let the song below set the mood. It’s called “Breathe Me In” off the NEW Candlebox album INTO THE SUN and it goes out to my wonderful wife and her brother Chris.


 - Enjoy, Fran  





“Breathe Me In” - Candlebox

You came out of nowhere, and our eyes collide
Like a wall collapsing, a crushing tide
And I saw you laughing, and I saw your smile
It made me anxious baby, it made me high
You ask I answer no, that seat’s been removed
You’re a deep-rooted tree, an artist’s muse
I watch you listen, and I watch you share
You make me want more
And you make me scared
You’re so much more than I’d ever hoped

So won’t you breathe
Oh won’t you breathe
Breathe me in
So I am whole

Oh won’t you breathe
Oh won’t you breathe
Breathe me in
So I am whole

We’re miles from home, we’re one another’s tribe
An autumn season in a summer’s time
And I watch you circle
And baby I watch you fall
You make me feel what I thought
I could never feel at all
And you’re so much more
Than I’d ever hoped

So won’t you breathe
Oh won’t you breathe
Breathe me in
So I am whole
Oh won’t you breathe
Oh won’t you breathe
Breathe me in
So I am whole

Let it out, let it go, ok to breathe
Let it out, let it go, ok
So much more than
Oh, let it out let it go ok to breathe

Let it out let it go ok
So much more than

So much more than I had ever hoped
So much more than I had ever
So much more than I had ever
So much more than I had ever hoped
Oh won’t you breathe me in
Oh won’t you breathe me in
Oh won’t you breathe me in
Oh won’t you breathe me in
 

It is without question that there are things in this life that are out of our control. It is the events and moments when the only answer that can be found is “it was meant to be”. It is as if the person hiding behind the curtain pulling all of the ropes and levers is telling us there are things in this world that are bigger than us. Do you feel whole or complete? Do you wake in the morning and feel like something is missing? Like all the gears and pulleys are there except for one. One gear that you know that you should have or one that you think you may have. Perhaps the search is fruitless because it may only be a fable. Still deep down you wonder. Is it out there? Does it exist? because in your mind it should. The spot where it should be fills not only a space but does something far greater. It works with the other parts, all the gears and pulleys that you could never get to work. Now old and rusted with cobwebs of hopelessness that open the flood gates to fill the void deep in the core of your very being. The feeling of looking for a long lost sibling is one that I will only know by looking into the eyes of my beautiful wife. It has been 20 years of wondering and 10 of those searching for a long lost piece to her life. It has been a search that ended in one dead end after another and a growing loss of hope. Then last night a new piece to the puzzle was found and within seconds (I really mean seconds) he was found. After 10 years of searching the void in her heart and in her eyes has been filled. Just when I thought her eyes glowed so bright when I looked deep into them they burst out like staring at the sun. No more wondering, no more looking and no more sleepless nights thinking about him. We now have a face to the name that we typed so many times into internet searches. To all that she thought he would be he is more. To all that she dreamed he would be he is more. To all that she hoped he would he is.. her brother. I love you so much Sara and I am soo happy that we found him. There are only memories to be made now…

- Fran [+?]     

Below is a New Background Painting I have been working on this week. I feel like I am mostly done but may go back and make some small color corrections. I really tried to work the shadows and lighting to give a fresh depth for the perspective of the Painting.


Enjoy


- Fran  

Well last night I got to go see the Gin Blossom. They’re still together?…Yes, and they sounded amazing. Thanks to my wonderful wife surprising me with tickets last week I got to go see them at the House of Blues. I have always enjoyed listening to the Gin Blossoms when I need a good jolt of the modern rock 90’s lighter side. I was amazed how good Robin Wilson’s voice sounded live and still the same after all these years. With little effort he sang through all the hits that made the band so successfull in the 90’s as well as some new hits from their 2006 “Major Lodge Victory”. The band sounded great as well, even diving into some extended jam sessions while Robin walked off stage for a bit. As the set rolled on I sat waiting for one of my favorite songs “Follow You Down”. Then finally after an encore of playing “Rocket Man” by Elton John the Band played what I consider to be one of their crown jewels, “Follow You Down”. It was great to hear it live and with the intensity it deserves. Over all it was a great show and I am so happy that I got the chance to hang out with some good friends and listen to one of the great bands from one of the greatest era’s of music.

“Follow You Down” (acoustic)

“As Long As It Matters”

“Allison Road”

Well I took some time about a month ago to post some digital media projects that I did on my website. They are mostly banner ads, rich media and online games. I had a lot of fun working on all of the projects and it is nice to finally have them all in one place to showcase. You may just recognize some of my work.

Enjoy! - Fran



Click the Link Below to view my Digital Media Portfolio
www.francisgiglioart.com/digitalmedia

I walked in and would soon say my goodbyes. In my eyes I was far from the bottom but not quite at the top. The difference was that I did not just travel on the Y but also the X. That difference was always an asset and had always kept my head above the water even during the worst storms. It was that difference that brought me to these shores. It allowed me to set aside my true passions and polish other skills to survive. I was comfortable, perhaps too comfortable but still finally found what I thought I wanted. The biggest mistake one can ever make is to get too comfortable and think that they are an asset, that they stand out more than the one next to them and are immune from the undertow. Storms will come and storms will go. They are in fact my favorite thing in the world to watch. When I was younger I would sit on the porch for hours watching them with my father. There is something so captivating about them that connects me with something more than life. When there were talks that a storm was coming and that it was meant for me I was surprised. It was said that it would carry me away from the island I had called home for some time now. So, I walked in, I walked right into it and let it take me. I walked in and said my goodbyes as I watched the shore drift away. I now once again find myself in the water floating away from the shore. There is a calm and excitement in me that makes my body hum like it is coming undone, as though I am about to explode after years of counting down. When I close my eyes it feels as though I am floating in the air. This feeling of weightlessness reminds me of younger days closing my eyes in the pool when the air and the water were the same temperature, it truly is a refreshing feeling. I have no idea where I am going, but I feel as light as a feather and I have always enjoyed a good storm.