David Franklyn is an eccentric, creative, and whimsical genius living a quiet storybook life similar to a recluse in Sleepy Hollow. I might expect to find him in a tavern frequented by Long John Silver or as the main character depicted in a Norman Rockwell painting. Had I attended a summer-stock playhouse located in the foothills of the Appellations, he might have been playing the leading role. Had I attended an off-Broadway Shakespeare play in the 1970s, I would have expected to see him on stage as well. David Franklyn is a man of many creative talents - especially his beautiful art.

   I talked to David about the amazing intricacies of his art as I carefully held one of his finished maple leafs in my hand. I inquired how long it took to complete the leaf. “Not long,” David calmly replied, “Only 40-50 hours.” David wasn't being flippant, for to David 40-50 hours of artistic creation seems like a few moments. His unbridled, creative juices inspire his genius and simultaneously gather the needed patience for his craft.
   I then tried to find the remarkable hidden source for David’s inspiration. I was told that he uses art as an outlet for his energy. David does not seek fame or admiration through his art. Instead he seeks to quell the rampant creativity within him and to give it some rest and peace before it awakens again. A true free spirit!

David is a man of many contrasts. His quiet demeanor is offset by an enchanting sense of humor and a contagious laugh; he has an amazing attention to detail in his art, yet indifference for regulation and protocol.
    My conversations with David often resemble what it might be like to address Ernest Hemingway. I was impressed. I was made to feel warm and welcome. I laughed many times, and I was secretly in awe!

   When collectors first see a piece of David Franklyn's art, overwhelming feelings of both wonderment and caution often occur. "How could this be?" and "Dare I touch it?" are common reactions followed by a prolonged silence as an intense study of the beautiful, macro-detailed creation ensues.

   Each piece of David's art enshrouds the mystery of the creative technique used to gradually transform ordinary objects into masterpieces of wonder. Beautiful, yet whimsical; delicate, yet bold - they must be seen to be believed!

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   A fallen leaf has the extremely good fortune of being selected by David Franklyn from all the autumn colors in Warwarsing, NY. David, one of the most unique artists alive, slowly transformed this leaf into a three dimensional festival of colors and design. As you ponder close-up photographs of David's finished art (click on photos left and right), know that the hills and valleys on the leaf are not built from putty, clay, or epoxy, but only paint. One layer of paint at a time painstakingly applied for over 50 hours gradually transformed this ordinary leaf into a one-of-a-kind creation bejeweled with elaborate detail. As each layer dried, David visualized how additional layers of paint, some only micro dots of color, would ever-so-slowly build up the unique intricacies needed to give each piece an exquisite character of its own.

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Click the navigation buttons on the top of this page for more of David's exquisite art.