THE FRANKO
BOOK CLUB
From F. Scott Fitzgerald To Olive Branch β It's Been A Weird Journey
Here's how this weird thing happened.
The Book Club (because calling them "those weird book paintings" was getting cumbersome π) has become one of the most collected and recognisable original painting series to leave FrankoVille.
Looking back, it's been a strange journey.
It started with books.
Then came old pages, typography, nostalgia, Penguin covers, movie references, questionable life advice, fake authors, music sheets, comic pages and all sorts of other rabbit holes I probably should have avoided. π
Some pieces are inspired by classic literature.
Some are inspired by stories that never existed.
Some are painted directly onto vintage book pages that had already lived an entire life before they ever reached the studio.
And some simply make me smile.
Over the years, hundreds of Book Club paintings, literary-inspired artworks and original works created on old pages have found homes around Australia and overseas, evolving into a collection that somehow sits somewhere between literature, nostalgia, storytelling, design and complete fabrication.
One of the things I find fascinating about old books is that they often end up teaching you something completely different to what they were originally written for.
Most people pick up a modern book to learn about a subject, an idea or the world as it exists today. An old book often teaches you about the world that existed when it was written. The language, humour, values and assumptions are often completely different, offering a small glimpse into how people viewed the world at that particular moment in time.
Sometimes you discover ideas that feel timeless.
Sometimes you stumble across things that make you think, "Well... that probably wouldn't get published today." π
Before these books ever become paintings, they've already lived a life of their own.
From Twilight to F. Scott Fitzgerald, then Olive Branch...
It's been a weird journey.
LARGE SCALE BOOK CLUB COMMISSION β STUDIO VIEW
Where The Book Club Began
Like most things in FrankoVille, there wasn't really a master plan. π
The spark probably came in 2011 while watching The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn.
In the background of one scene sat a Tree of Life artwork by American artist Raine Bedsole, created on old book pages. For whatever reason, it lodged itself in my brain.
It wasn't a lightning-bolt moment.
More like a seed being planted.
I remember being fascinated by the idea that a book could become something completely different while still carrying traces of its original story.
TWILIGHT IMAGE OWNER SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT / LIONSGATE.
Around the same time I was becoming increasingly drawn to old books themselves.
Not just the stories. The covers. The typography. The ageing. The smell. The yellowing pages. The handwritten notes from previous owners. The strange things tucked between pages that had somehow survived for decades.
I started hunting through second-hand bookshops, charity stores, garage sales and anywhere else old books seemed to gather. Before long I had shelves full of them. They were in cupboards, under beds, stacked in corners and generally taking over the house. I was possessed... I mean obsessed!! π
The funny thing is, some of the books were already sitting on my shelves. Shakespeare, classic literature and a stack of books I had studied through Years 10, 11 and 12 were still hanging around from my school days. Technically speaking, a few of them probably should have been returned to school decades earlier. π
In fact, some of those original books became the basis for my earliest Book Club paintings and still find their way into artworks today.
Some contained classic literature. Some contained poetry. Some contained educational material that was probably cutting-edge in 1947 and hilariously outdated by 1972. π€
Others offered little snapshots of the times they were written in. The language, humour, assumptions and attitudes often reveal as much about the era as the actual story itself.
That's one of the things I still find fascinating.
A modern book teaches you about today.
An old book teaches you about yesterday.
Eventually those interests collided with another long-standing obsession of mine: typography. Book covers. Penguin books. Titles. Words. Design.
The challenge of saying something meaningful, funny or intriguing with only a handful of words.
One painting became two. Two became ten.
Then somewhere along the way, without really meaning to, The Book Club was born. π
What Makes A Franko Book Club Different?
At their core, Book Club paintings are really about ideas.
A title, a story, a memory, a feeling, a philosophy, a joke, a lesson or sometimes just a collection of words that seem to belong together.
The title is usually where the journey begins.
Unfuck The World. Good Things Take Fucking Ages. Romeo & Juliet. The Exorcist. The Great Gatsby.
Whatever the title happens to be, it starts a conversation.
But the title only gets your attention.
The painting has to do the rest of the work.
These aren't prints. They're not posters. They're original paintings built with texture, layers, typography, colour and all the little imperfections that come with making something by hand.
Some are modest in size.
Others are enormous.
The giant Book Club piece featured at the top of this page stands over 2.6 metres tall and was commissioned by a building company using their own corporate values, culture and slogans as the foundation for the work. π
You'll also see two massive Book Club commissions further down the page that were created for WHSmith's new venture, The Book Seller, at Gold Coast Airport. Fittingly, the books chosen were Gulliver's Travels and Around the World in Eighty Days β two classic travel stories for a business built around travel itself. βοΈ
Over the years I've created Book Club paintings inspired by classic literature, movies, family stories, business values, life experiences, personal milestones and completely made-up ideas that somehow escaped into the world.
Different subjects. Different stories. Different journeys.
Weird authors such as John Citizen, Olive Branch, Bill Payer and Wade Longer.
Books like Unfuck Yourself, written by Sigmund Freud... despite the minor inconvenience that Sigmund Freud never actually wrote Unfuck Yourself. π
I'm sure he always intended to get around to it.
Are you confused yet?
Welcome to The Book Club. π
UNFUCK THE WORLD β CORE BOOK CLUB SERIES
ROMEO & JULIET β CLASSIC STORIES, FRANKO STYLE
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Painted On Real Book Pages
One of the questions I get asked all the time is whether the pages actually matter.
Sometimes they do.
Sometimes they don't.
And sometimes they become the entire reason the painting exists.
People often assume I go searching for the perfect book to match the perfect subject.
Occasionally that happens.
More often, it's the other way around.
A particular page, illustration, paragraph, piece of typography or strange little discovery catches my attention and starts pushing the artwork in a direction I wasn't expecting.
I've found old poems, school lessons, forgotten advertisements and handwritten notes to loved ones for birthdays and Christmases... back when books were often given as gifts. So different to today. I've found names written inside covers, dates from decades ago and little pieces of history left behind by previous owners. Even the names feel like they belong to another era β Judith, Betty, Clarke, Fred. π
Tiny little reminders that these books belonged to real people long before they ever found their way into the studio.
Sometimes I spend longer reading the pages than I do painting on them. π€«
The books don't always get a say in what they're about to become. But they often have a surprising influence on the journey.
That's one of the reasons no two page-based works are ever quite the same.
Every book arrives with its own history. Every page arrives with its own story.
And every now and then, the pages end up contributing something I could never have planned myself.
CASINO ROYALE β BOOK CLUB PAINTED AT SCALE
PAINTED ON PAGES β STORIES BENEATH THE SURFACE
THE EXORCIST β STORIES THAT STAY WITH YOU
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Late Bloomer Books
At some point along the journey, The Book Club took a strange little detour. π»
The original Book Club works had always revolved around titles, stories, nostalgia and the occasional questionable life decision. Then one day I found myself creating books that didn't exist... but somehow felt like they should.
That's how Late Bloomer Books was born. "For those that got there eventually."
A completely fictional publishing company (that I have trademark pending and the .com.au for... stay tuned! π) producing highly questionable self-help books for people who may or may not have their lives together.
Authors such as Herb Green, Wade Longer, Olive Branch, Hope Springs, Romeo Cupid, Bark Twain, Justin Case, Frank Lee and Poly Anna slowly started appearing.
So did books like Good Things Take Fucking Ages, Hope Is A Stubborn Little Fucker, The Year I Started Talking To Plants, Things I Said For Sex, The Year The Dog Became My Therapist, Plan C, Advanced Beginner and The Last Fuck I Had To Give.
The funny thing is that people instantly seem to understand them.
They laugh.
Then they stop laughing.
Then they read the title again. π
The books may be fictional, but the ideas behind them usually aren't.
Patience. Hope. Starting over. Resilience. Learning things the hard way. Talking to plants.
Okay... maybe not all of them. π±
Unlike the original Book Club paintings, Late Bloomer Books are built from fragments of many different books layered into the artwork itself. Old illustrations, forgotten text, botanical drawings, educational books, diagrams, poetry and random discoveries all find their way into the mix.
In many ways they're exactly what they pretend to be.
A collection of life lessons assembled from hundreds of other stories.
Some useful. Some ridiculous. Some suspiciously accurate.
And a few that probably should have been written years ago.
Well fuck me... it worked.
LATE BLOOMER BOOKS β QUESTIONABLE LIFE ADVICE
LATE BLOOMER BOOKS β QUESTIONABLE LIFE ADVICE
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More Than Just Old Books
Over the years I've come to realise that old books aren't really about books at all.
They're about stories.
Sometimes those stories are printed on the pages.
Sometimes they're attached to the people who owned them.
One of my favourite examples sits in my mother's house.
When my father passed away, I created a painting of Blinky Bill using pages from an old Blinky Bill book that had originally belonged to him as a boy. Years later it became mine and, after he passed away, it became part of a painting for Mum.
The book belonged to my father.
Then it belonged to me.
Today it hangs in Mum's house.
That's quite a journey for a little old Blinky Bill book. β€οΈ
Another example appears elsewhere on this page.
A Book Club piece titled Fuck You Cancer, created on pages from Robinson Crusoe, found its way into the life of Lydia, a long-time Franko collector who already owned several artworks. In fact, it became her sixth Franko.
Looking back, it's hard not to see the connection.
One is a story about survival. The other became part of somebody's own. That message stayed with me.
Because by that point the painting had become part of her story.
That's one of the things I love about working with old pages, titles and words that carry symbolic meaning.
Sometimes you're preserving a story. Sometimes you're reinforcing a message or a goal. Sometimes you're preserving a memory.
And occasionally you're creating something that becomes part of somebody else's.
Most old books eventually end up forgotten on a shelf, donated to an op shop or packed away in a box somewhere.
Some find a different ending. Or perhaps a new beginning with me.
That's the thing about stories. The good ones tend to keep going.
FRANKO PERSONAL BLINKY BILL PAINTING THAT WAS HIS FATHERS
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GEISHA ON PAGES β TEXTURE, STORY AND SURFACE
Beyond The Book Club
Not every page-based artwork fits neatly into The Book Club.
Some works wander off into music, figurative pieces, found pages, sheet music, poetry, history and whatever else happens to be lying around FrankoVille at the time.
Woodstock - Geishas - Music sheets - Found books - Old pages - New stories.
For me, the pages are often the beginning rather than the destination.
They create a surface with history already built in.
Then the painting takes that history somewhere else.
WOODSTOCK β MUSIC, MEMORY AND FOUND PAGES
CALM β FIGURATIVE WORK ON FOUND PAGES
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all Book Club paintings original?
Yes.
Every Book Club painting on this website is an original artwork created by Franko.
Like all Franko artworks, every piece evolves with its own identity. Different titles. Different pages. Different colours. Different texture. Different dimensions. Different journey.
No two are ever exactly the same, and no two carry the same title.
That's the beauty of original art.
And of course, there are no prints.
Do you sell prints?
I've always felt that if somebody invests in an original painting, they deserve to own that original without there being cheaper prints available.
Personally, I would feel a little ripped off if I bought an original artwork and later discovered the artist was selling prints of it... especially if that wasn't disclosed before the original was purchased.
That's just my view. So for now, it's originals only.
Maybe one day I might create a range of prints... but if I do, they will be a specific body of work created for that purpose, not copies of original paintings.
Stay tuned... I have ideas. π
Are the book pages real?
Yes.
Every page-based artwork on this website uses real book pages.
When a painting references a genuine title and uses the Penguin Books styling, I will generally use that exact book as the foundation. If the artwork is based on a fictional title or a broader theme, I often select books that help reinforce the idea. For example, dystopian-themed works may incorporate books such as 1984 and Animal Farm and other classics that align with the message.
Over the years I've accumulated hundreds of books ranging from classic literature and poetry through to educational books, children's books, reference books and all sorts of wonderfully strange publications that probably weren't expecting a second life as artwork. π
Some pages are chosen because of their subject matter. Some because of the typography. Some because of the illustrations. And some simply because they're beautiful old books with stories of their own.
The pages become part of the artwork, carrying their history, character and occasional surprises into the finished painting.
No two are ever exactly the same.
Can I commission a custom Book Club painting?
Absolutely.
Many of the Book Club paintings started with a title, an idea, a joke, a memory or a story.
Some are inspired by classic literature. In fact, I have created many commissions based around a client's favourite book. Some are inspired by life. And some are completely made up. π
Over the years I've created custom Book Club works for homes, businesses and commercial projects, including large-scale commissions featuring company values, culture and messaging.
If you have a title, an idea or even just the beginnings of one, feel free to get in touch.
Together we can create a Book Club painting that is uniquely yours.
Can you create a Book Club painting using my book?
Absolutely.
In fact, I've done exactly that myself as you may have read above.
Some books carry stories that go far beyond what is printed on the pages. They may have belonged to a parent, a grandparent, a partner or played an important role during a particular chapter of your life.
If you have a book that holds special meaning, I am often happy to incorporate it into the artwork itself.
Some of my favourite commissions have started this way.
A painting can tell a story.
Using your own book can make it part of the story.
What are Late Bloomer Books?
Late Bloomer Books are a fictional publishing company that somehow escaped from my imagination and found their way onto canvas. π»
Featuring authors such as Herb Green, Wade Longer, Olive Branch, Hope Springs, Romeo Cupid, Bark Twain, Frank Lee, Poly Anna and Justin Case, the series revolves around fictional self-help books that feel strangely familiar.
The books may not be real. The lessons often are.
Patience. Hope. Resilience. Starting over. Learning things the hard way. And occasionally talking to plants.
Okay... maybe not all of them. π
Late Bloomer Books have become one of the most popular branches of The Book Club series and continue to evolve as new titles, authors and questionable life advice find their way into FrankoVille.
LateBloomerBooks.com.au β watch this space π
Do you ship internationally?
Yes. To the moon if needed. π
Paintings have been shipped to buyers around the world.
One thing that makes my process a little different is that I generally ship paintings ready to install rather than rolled in a tube.
Many artists ship rolled canvas and leave the stretching, framing and installation to the buyer.
Personally, I've never been a huge fan of that approach.
I want clients receiving a painting to my exacting standards, professionally packed using the experience gained from shipping thousands of artworks around the world... not opening a tube and discovering they've just inherited another project.
That's why most paintings leave the studio ready to hang and ready to serve. π½οΈ
Are paintings framed?
There is often a little confusion around the word "framed".
Yes, all paintings arrive stretched and ready to hang. The artwork is gallery wrapped, meaning it continues around the sides of the canvas. In other words, all five sides are painted to match the front.
Personally, I've never been a huge fan of the black-edge painted look. π
And yes, most paintings can also be supplied with custom solid oak float frames, handcrafted right here in FrankoVille. Real oak... not plastic gesso.
After creating and shipping thousands of paintings over the years, I've become a little particular about presentation. I know how I want a Franko to look when it reaches its forever home.
A Franko should look like a Franko.
How do I choose the right size Book Club painting?
A good rule is to choose artwork that feels slightly larger than your initial instinct. Book Club paintings often create far greater impact than most people expect, particularly when they become a focal point within a room.
That said, every room is different.
If you're unsure, send me a photo of your space and I'll happily give you my thoughts. After seeing a few thousand paintings installed over the years, I've become reasonably good at picking what will work... and just as importantly, what won't. Some might even say I'm a bit of a legend. (FIGJAM π)
Email: franko@franklinartstudio.com.au
Call or text: +61 418 750 003
I'm always happy to help.
The Franko Book Club
You can explore my Book Club pieces, Pop Art, Abstracts, Figurative, Landscapes and Industrial collections, view all available originals across the website, or enquire about a custom Franko commission designed specifically for your space.
Don't be Vanilla. π