Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Johnson, Vermont Painting: The Town of Johnson, VT: Main Street

Here is what I’m working on at the moment, having put aside the hellebores painting for a bit.  This is a 12”x16” canvas board painting of the town of Johnson, VT very late in the day.  I’ve never painted cars before, so that has been a treat.  What has been very educational is the ‘warm light cool shadows’ element of this image.  It isn’t finished but it is at a point of diminishing returns, enjoy!
Johnson, VT
Catherine K. Moore 2018 
Update.  Having done some editing, here is the same painting:

Johnson, VT
Catherine K. Moore 2018


Doing some internet sleuthing to find out what the buildings are, since I am a regular at the Woolen Mill in Johnson but I have only briefly been around the rest of the town.  The tallest building in the painting is the Masonic Temple.  Butternut Farm store is in the foreground, it's worth a trip inside.  The white building which is similar to the Masonic Temple in the background is the Church Studios building of the Vermont Studio Center which has artist residency programs.  There had been a fire at the Church Studios and it was quite an undertaking to bring the building back, you may read about that here:  https://cushmandesign.com/vermont-studio-center-church-studios-project-underway.html


Beautiful town!

Saturday, February 3, 2018

Starting a Painting: Lenten Rose, Christmas Rose

I’ve gathered up a small bunch of hellebores:  a winter blooming plant with thick leaves and petals which aphids have been descending on.  I’ve begun a 12”x16” oil painting of the bouquet using a different set of colors on my palette following a listing shown in Richard Schmid’s “Alla Prima II” the expanded version.  Here is a photo of the bouquet, not quite the one I’m using to paint from, but the flowers may be seen.  The backs of the leaves are covered with aphids...need to fix that.


Once the painting is further along it will be shared.

I have planted a few more hellebores from Annie's Annuals and Perennials to expand my collection. This is wonderful nursery in Richmond, CA.  They pack and ship their plants, so you may order online and be assured the plants are very well packed and just as lovely as those found at the nursery.  Before discovering the nursery was an hour a ay, I ordered several plants, and could compare with those I bought at the nursery.  A visit to the nursery is a must for plant lovers though, so many plants, so little time.

Happy painting!