Interview
Frank "Chip" Mayes
Frank “Chip” Mayes is a native of Pensacola, Florida. He was influenced early in his childhood by the National Geographic magazines and the pictures he saw. Classical Greek, and Roman art fascinated the youngster. Then, he discovered art history. He found the Renaissance and Baroque periods of art most exciting and entertaining because of the stories the paintings told. He began serious oil painting with a local art teacher while in Junior High, now called “Middle School.” High School provided a better opportunity for experimenting in various media. In college he was an Art Major and one of the creators of Acme Aesthetics, a long and funny story that shall remain un spoken to protect the members. His real education as an artist began after college, when he went to Europe to explore and see what it meant to be an artist. In his many trips to Europe, he has been fortunate to be able to study art at the National Gallery as well as the Tate Gallery in London, the Louvre in Paris and the Uffizi in Florence.
There were many hours spent in the MET in New York, even the Whitney, and the Guggenheim Most of his influences came from the renaissance masters obviously, but as his education expanded, there came the impressionist, Monet, even Van Gogh. After that came The American romantic painters Cole, Church, Albert Bierstadt. And later, the works of Maxfield Parrish, Norman Rockwell, and Andrew Wyeth. Frank averages around two major shows a year., and has had shows in Texas, Alabama, Florida, North and South Carolina and has shown in many juried show as far west as the Cheyenne River Fest, and as far north as Canada. Frank Mayes, the traveler, is a painter of Realism, and is better known by some, as Chip.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I grew up in a provincial little town in the panhandle of Florida. It was and still is a navy town, and we promote and sincerely enjoy our Blue Angles. My parents noticed me at a very young age, that I loved to draw on things. I was somewhere around 4 years old. A Sears Salesman came to our house to sell my parents an art kit. They didn't buy the kit but the salesman did show me how to shade with the side of my pencil. In Elementary school, I was in the 5th grade and won the Pan-American Art contest. I won a $50 savings bond which I later used to buy a surfboard. In Junior High, I started taking art classes from a local celebrity artist, until I went to high school. My High School career centered around Art class and Band. College came and went with a degree in Fine art. That is when I started my real education in Europe. In the years that have passed, I've studied in the MET, The TATE Galleries, The national Gallery in London, and the Uffizi. I have traveled all over the world even spending time in China.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“There are five genres that I work in. Western, Landscape, figure studies, straight portraits, and finally what I call "my deviant art." I produced political art works in college, and some years after. One genre of my work still does embrace a cultural movement. That work is Western, my paintings of members of the Lakota Sioux. I've spent time with members of the MNI KOJU , and have been given a Sioux name: Etah Iniechupi. One of my painting won a high honor in the Cheyenne River Reservation. Another of my paintings recently won a honor in the Chelsea International Art Show in New York. There have been other honors and I shall leave it as that. My work most always tells a story. The viewer may not know the story, but that's okay. The painting will lead the viewer in making their on story. I tell people that I am a visual story teller.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“A lot of times I'm in bed trying to go to sleep, and in pops no sheep, but another idea for a painting. I lay there visualizing the painting and the steps in the creation. Other times, I'm on a trip and a scene says "paint me," this happened recently during one of my overseas trips in the Jordan historical site known as Petra. The idea for a painting can come from anywhere like walking down a street in Soho in New York. From some of these spur of the moment mental pop ups, comes a series of paintings.”
Are there any art world trends you are following?
“I was going to say no, I try to make my own trends. But alas I discovered AI. And I've been working with an AI site. which falls right into my "Deviant art." It is truly amazing, and I enjoy the surprises that appear. I think back to High School when mimeograph was high tech.”
What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?
“I use most of the standard tools and processes. There are times when I get on a kick, and build my own stretchers, and stretch Linen or canvas. There are other times that I will buy expensive Birch plywood, sand it and then gesso. I use a wide range of media, from lensed, to Galkyd and hardware Turpentine. I wear out brushes very quickly. It isn't unusual for me to wear out a brush on one painting. I hate throwing away brushes. I had a big plastic box that I would keep brushes in and at one time I had so many they were falling out of the box. I went through the box and now I only have maybe 40 or 50 old brushes. When on a trip I usually take several hundred photos. From the photos I paint. This includes figure studies, and portraits. I use photos for reference for subject matter, to get the correct look.”
“The viewer may not know the story, but that's okay. The painting will lead the viewer in making their on story.”
What does your art mean to you?
“Art has always been with me, so has my music. I like being known as an artist and musician. Did I mention that I play the bagpipes. What's the definition of a gentleman? One who knows how to play the pipes, but chooses not to. In a stretch, I could say I am creating something of a legacy with my paintings.”
What’s your favorite artwork and why?
“I have so many favorites. Some of the contemporary work on Instagram, some of the masters paintings. I walked into the Uffizi one time and just as I walked in to the first gallery hall was sitting on an easel, Norman Rockwell's self portrait painting his self-portrait. I do have one painting I created many many years ago, in a far off land (Florida), of me sitting on top of the alps looking at the Matterhorn. It was my first really professional painting. So, "Self Portrait In The Alps" is the candidate for most favorite of my works.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I've had shows all over the southern states. The last important show I had was at the Spartanburg Community College, this past November. I showed my collection of Western paintings. Specifically the paintings of the members of the Lakota Sioux Tribe. In addition to the paintings presentation, I flew in My friend Ron Eagle Chasing in to be a part of the show. Ron is a Vietnam veteran, and also a beading artist. His bead work is amazing. He is also a spiritual leader in the tribe. Together we presented to an audience, the paintings and the Sioux culture and even some about the Sioux religion. Earlier this year I had a one man in Mobile, Alabama. In that show I made many friends and said farewell to more paintings.”
Website: acmeaestheticsfrankmayesart.com
Instagram: @artistchip
