Frank Broadhurst

News Obituary Article

SANDY SPRINGS: Frank Broadhurst, 80, gifted watercolor artist, instructor

By KAY POWELL

For 30 years, Frank Broadhurst provided art, produced and directed commercials for major accounts at the McCann Erickson advertising agency. His own artwork took a back seat until it became a second career in retirement.

Mr. Broadhurst produced award-winning television commercials, and his accounts included Nabisco, Coca-Cola Co. and Kentucky Fried Chicken, among others, said his son, Crispin Broadhurst of Austin, Texas.

After retiring in 1981, he traveled Georgia looking for landscape scenes to paint for his own pleasure. His framer encouraged him to offer his art for sale, and that led to a job teaching watercolor painting at the Spruill Center for the Arts. He had never taught before.

"He was outstanding as a teacher. He was extremely patient, but demanding on the other hand," said his student, Dr. David Jones of Atlanta. "He treated everybody in his class as worthwhile, even the rawest student."

Mr. Broadhurst, 80, of Sandy Springs died of heart and lung problems Dec. 11 at St. Joseph's Hospital. The body was cremated. Memorial service plans will be announced. H.M. Patterson & Son, Arlington Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

When his framer asked Mr. Broadhurst to consider selling his paintings, he deferred, said his wife, Margaret Broadhurst. "I said, 'Our living room wall looks like an art gallery. Pick the ones you like the least and try.' He took them to some shops, and they sold."

He exhibited his watercolor paintings through Gallery V Ltd. in Roswell. His work also can be viewed at www.frank broadhurst.com.

Mrs. Broadhurst would pack a lunch, and Mr. Broadhurst would drive them across Georgia in his specially outfitted van looking for eye-catching scenes, which he would photograph.

In his basement studio, he looked at the slides through a viewfinder or with a magnifying glass and would draw a perfect sketch and paint in detail unusual for a watercolorist, Dr. Jones said.

"He probably is one of the best pencil drawers I ever knew. Most of us struggle to get that on paper," he said. "He was a realist in design. His paintings looked like a photograph. He painted very exact, detailed paintings."

The detail of his watercolors probably was influenced by his years as a graphic artist in advertising, Dr. Jones said, adding that Mr. Broadhurst was very good at depicting unique buildings such as old mills.

"He liked old things, old farms," his wife said. "He didn't want it to be pretty. He wanted it to be like it was."

Mr. Broadhurst quit painting in his basement because the light was not right, his wife said. He tried their daughter's old bedroom for a while, but it was too far from the kitchen where he liked to make coffee. Finally, he took over the dining room as his studio.

Dr. Jones, a dentist, said he is a detail person and so was Mr. Broadhurst, and that was part of his appeal. Mr. Broadhurst kept a ledger account of all his paintings and included photographs of each. In his studio, everything was in its place and clearly labeled.

"He's probably one of the most gifted artists I ever knew," Dr. Jones said. "He would encourage his students not to worry, telling them, 'It's only paper.' But, he knew at what point it took on a life of its own and had its own character."

Other survivors include a daughter, April Ann Reisdorf of Portland, Ore.

© 2005 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution