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"Fran Sweet successfully combines knowledge of the natural world, artistic sensitivity and flawless technical skill to produce works that transport the viewer."
| CHARLES
ALLMOND Award-winning sculptor - Past president of the Society of Animal Artists |
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"Francis Sweet's art has soul! That is to say he doesn't 'just paint animals', he touches upon the inner life of the precious others with which we share this planet. Beauty, after all, is also fur, scale, and feather deep."
| GARY BURGHOFF Radar O'Reilly of "M.A.S.H." - Emmy Award-winning actor, wildlife artist, and art collector |
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"One of the very best scratchboards I have seen is the hippo that Fran Sweet had in the 2002 Society of Animal Artists Annual Exhibition. Fran is the very successful president of that prestigious group."
| GUY
COHELEACH Award-winning L.Y.W.A.M. master wildlife artist |
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"Working with Fran in the world of art is a joy that parallels his exquisite artwork."
| JANET HEATON Award-winning artist, gallery owner and director |
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"Getting acquainted with Fran Sweet's artwork is a sensory experience. Every piece has drama and extraordinary beauty. What a remarkable and remarkably diverse talent."
| RICHARD
MCCABE Writer, Executive Vice-President (retired)- Wildlife Management Institute, Washington, D.C. |
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"I have always been an admirer of Fran's talent. He works in what I consider to be one of the hardest mediums for an artist, scratchboard, which leaves no room for error. His work is realistic, well-designed, and a pleasure to view."
| MARILYN NEWMARK Award-winning sculptor and vice president of The Society of Animal Artists |
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"Whenever I see Fran's work, either in exhibitions or catalogs, I always marvel at the talent and expertise that goes into his work, both in his scratchboards and oils. His highly accurate detail, in the unforgiving scratchboard medium, is truly amazing. I am always delighted to see his work."
| DINO
PARAVANO Award-winning L.Y.W.A.M. Master wildlife artist |
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"Although
I am a professional watercolor painter, I tend to develop very
strong sentiments for other artistic mediums, other than my own.
And over the years Fran Sweet has made me a true lover of scratchboard
in its highest form.
"There may be other artists out there who have also excelled
at this unique medium, that are equivalent to Fran's level of
excellence... but in the past 12 years I haven't come across their
work! And I see a lot of artist's work from all over the world.
"The scratchboard medium itself is striking and bold, yet
allowing for incredible subtlety in its midtones. For it is in
these midtones that one discovers Sweet's mastery. When you look
close and study his technique, it's flawless. And this is what
first attracted my attention and appreciation... his masterful
ability to capture unique lighting effects and shades of gray,
in a medium that is essentially black & white.
"And then added to this marvelous skill was his powerful
sense of design, and his thorough knowledge of the creatures he
chooses to work on.
"There simply are few artists who truly master this medium.
Fran sets the artistic standard's that anyone else working in
this medium would do well to study.
"Fran sweet is quite simply the best! He is on the top of
a very short list of artistic excellence."
| DAVID
RANKIN Award-winning professional watercolor painter and on the board of The Society of Animal Artists |
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"Fran Sweet's sensitive, yet powerful portrayals of the creatures he loves and knows so well have lifted animal art way above the ordinary."
| RICHARD SLOAN Award-winning L.Y.W.A.M. master wildlife artist |
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"Because scratchboard is primarily a black and white medium, it is highly dependent upon good composition and the effective juxtaposition of light and dark. Fran Sweet is a master in both these areas. His scratchboard paintings have the visual impact that characterizes the work of truly talented artists."
| JOSEPH
VANCE, JR. Award-winning artist, judge and past president of the Society of Animal Artists |
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