'Portrait of a Young Woman' by Leon Franks, Grande Chaumiere in Paris, Chouinard Art Institute, Los Angeles Art Center

Description

Signed lower left, 'Leon Franks' (American, additionally signed and titled, 'Portrait of a Girl', on old label verso.

A bravura … more Signed lower left, 'Leon Franks' (American, additionally signed and titled, 'Portrait of a Girl', on old label verso.

A bravura brushwork study of a young woman wearing a floral patterned shirt gazing calmly towards the viewer.

A noted portrait and still life painter, Leon Franks studied at the Academie Julian and Grande Chaumiere in Paris and, subsequently, in Los Angeles at the Chouinard Art Institute and the Los Angeles Art Center. Franks additionally studied privately with Nicolai Fechin, Will Foster and F. Tolles Chamberlain.

Before settling in Los Angeles in 1936, where Franks continued his education and began designing for the movie industry, he did portraits and decorations for Vancouver theaters. The author of several 'How to Paint' books, including titles 'How to Do Still Life' (1952) and 'Leon Franks on Techniques' (1964), Franks was a teacher. He privately taught several artists, including Vernon Kerr, and publicly for Los Angeles City Parks & Recreation (1949), Los Angeles Businessmen's Art Club (1955-56), and Laguna Beach Art & Design School (1962-65).

Franks exhibited widely and won numerous juried awards and honors, including at the Palm Desert Art Center in Palm Springs, California; the California Palace of Legion of Honor, 1947 (honorable mention); Arizona State Fair, 1947 (second prize); Painters & Sculptors of Los Angeles, 1947, 1948 (first prize); California Art Club, 1954 (honorable mention), 1961 (first prize); California State Fair, 1958 (award); Friday Morning Club (Los Angeles), 1959 (first prize); Laguna Beach Art Association, 1960 (first prize), 1962 (second prize); Ebell Club (Los Angeles), 1964 (second prize). Franks was also the recipient of the Stacey Scholarship for European Travel (1952). Franks was a member of the American Institute of the Fine Arts, Los Angeles; Los Angeles Art Center; Laguna Beach Art Association; California Art Association; Painters & Sculptors of Los Angeles; Artists of the Southwest; San Fernando Art Guild.

Reference:
Who Was Who in American Art 00 Years of Artists in America, Peter Hastings Falk, Sound View Press 1999, Vol. 1, p. rtists in California hird Edition, Edan Milton Hughes: Crocker Art Museum, Sheridan Books 2002, Vol. 1, p. 397; et al. less