Atka

I encountered Atka, ambassador wolf and his team from The Wolf Conservation Center in New York, on a visit to the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington, CT. This captive-born Arctic Gray Wolf travels around our region to educate people about wolves, and dispel misinformation.

"Atka" 11 x 14, Oil

Even though he has spent his life "interpreting" at nature centers, schools and TV stations, celebrity Atka retains the dignity and alertness of his wild counterparts. His long, fluffy hair invites patting, while his lithe frame and calculated gaze invite respect, restraint, and awe. This dichotomy of aspect compelled me to paint his portrait.

The painting is available in the Steep Rock benefit at Marty's cafe in Washington Depot through December.
Marty's accepts credit card, check or cash for painting purchase. A portion of the proceeds goes to Steep Rock for trail maintenance.

Autumn into Winter

Today's snow is a reminder--as if I needed one--that the first day of winter is approaching. Since I crave light, short days are not my favorite thing, but the QUALITY of light is beautiful, and I rejoice in that.

I'm glad that the rest of humankind feels the need to celebrate light, birth, and symbols of lasting life at this time of year. At least I have plenty of company! Besides, after December 21, the days will be getting longer again.

One Evening in Autumn, 11 x 14, Oil on linen

In the first image, I tried to capture the stillness and ruddy smudges of last light in autumn. There happened to be evergreen trees, partially defoliated oak saplings, and totally bare trees, which suggest an underlying message. The bright  moon and star on that colored sky literally made me paint the picture.

Silos and Willows, 20 x 16, Oil on linen
Previously shown in the Roxbury Barn Stories show

The second painting is a longtime favorite subject: Toplands Farm in Roxbury, CT. I've painted en "plein air" at the farm countless times, although on this cold day, I took a lot of mental notes while walking around, snapped a bunch of photos and retreated to the warm studio to do a block in while the information was fresh.

Equine Paintings in "My Favorite Things" Steep Rock Benefit

The Parade Team at Pasture
Previously shown at The Old West Museum, Cheyenne, WY
18 x 24, Oil
 

In case wishes are horses, I'm including these two equine paintings in "My Favorite Things" Steep Rock benefit show.

The big Percherons ("The Parade Team at Rest") motivated me to paint them because they represent comfortable relationships of all kinds. They've been a team at work and leisure, and obviously enjoy each other's company.

"Riders on a Hilltop" sprang from my love of being outdoors in a beautiful countryside.
I liked this particular autumn day for the atmosphere in the receding hills, and the juxtaposition of big gray horse with the lighter boned paint.

The Percheron painting has been my personal Facebook profile picture for a long time, and I have used "Riders on a Hilltop" as my profile pic onTwitter and Linkedin.



Riders on a Hilltop
8 x 10, Oil

My Favorite Things

Shepaug with Frosting
16 x 12, Oil

Yes, there was another break in the blog. I went to California twice and did assorted other things during the year, which led to assorted paintings. The result is a new title for the Steep Rock fund raiser.

"My Favorite Things" will hang on the walls of Marty's cafe in Washington Depot, CT from December 1 through 31. Marty's is open every day.
A portion of the proceeds, regardless of subject matter, will go to the Steep Rock Association in Washington, CT, so you can support the land trust and indulge your own preferences.

Instead of one reception, there will be three separate
"Meet the Artist" times.
You can join me for lunch or coffee on the following dates:

Path by the River
9 x 12, Oil

December 1, (Saturday) 12:30 to 1:30
December 7, 12:30 to 1:30 P.M. (Friday)
December 8, 12:30 to 1:30 P.M. (Saturday)
Separate appointment or chance.
Contact me through my (outdated) web site,
www.carolbrightmanjohnson.com

Future posts will feature images of more paintings included in the show.

A Nice Surprise

Lil and I went to Steep Rock last Saturday, expecting to pick our way through the remains of the road again. It has been in rough shape since the October flood. But, lo! The Road Fairy had been there and restored the tortured lane to stunning splendor. The surface is so solid and smooth that equestrians, runners and cyclists could overshoot the 10 mph speed limit without noticing. They could even hit 30....well, maybe not the runners. Still, ok for a dirt road.

The main road washed away during the 2011 spring thaw, when the Shepaug river flooded, to everyone's great dismay. The road got fixed and the gate opened for cars just in time for the Fourth of July, and the rest of the trails were fine. Cars could pass in the summer and early fall, but "Snoctober" brought crashing trees and more flooding.


The uprooted trees and broken branches made a gargantuan mess, which got cleaned up surprisingly fast, but the road had remained in a skeletal state all winter. Two major engineering projects in one year may have been a bit much.

Anyway, kudos to the land trust for its usual high standards of maintenance. They do a great job of keeping the preserve clean and safe, and the runners and riders who condition there really count on it.
And thanks to the Road Fairy! We'll spread the joy.

Lil and I will check out other trails and report back.

The River in Springtime, 14 x 18, Oil

A Steep Rock Encounter with Ann and Mark

Marty's Cafe in Washington, CT will host the newly named "Steep Rock, Etc." show from December 1 through 31, 2012. It's a great venue, convenient to all Steep Rock's holdings. The cafe is a cozy place to relax, with delicious food and coffee.
A portion of the show's proceeds will go to the land trust, specifically for trail maintenance.

A chance Steep Rock encounter with Ann Leary and her horse "Mark" re-kindled my interest in painting animals and figures, so there will be assorted subjects in my benefit show.

How did I meet Ann? Lil and I were walking near the river one bleak October day, when a jaunty gray horse came striding through the shadows, his head and mane periodically catching light. I made a mental note and mashed my camera's shutter button, to save the impression.

I like to have permission to use someone's image for a painting, and introduced myself to the rider--Ann-- for that purpose. We had a brief chat, and discovered a number of common interests. The painting says more about Mark than his owner, since the light was ghastly and I had to invent almost everything, but it was his expression that drew me in. A posed situation wouldn't have been the same.

A side benefit of this meeting was discovering "Hash Hags," the NPR show Ann co-hosts with Julie Klam and Laura Zigman. It goes great with my painting sessions.

Of course, the horse is now out of the barn, resulting in an equine series. Steep Rock lanscapes may hang with dogs and ponies in this show.

And Again

Life does happen, but my blog is back. Steep Rock needs funds more than ever as a result of the 2011 spring floods and "Snoctober."
I'm still painting images of that wonderful place, and other subjects to in an effort to help.

It's Alive!

After a long silence I'm fired up to blog about my new painting series, "Images of Steep Rock."

Technical aspects of painting have consumed my life for too long, throwing everything out of balance.

I am out of shape and our "new" dog needs more socialization so the best remedy is to take Lil (the dog) and a sketch pad, or Lil and a camera, or a backpack and paints to the Land Trust and walk.

Steep Rock is a part of the local consciousness here whether people are aware of it or not. The vision and generosity of its founder shape the character of a whole town...actually a region.

I will post photos of cool stuff at Steep Rock, oil color sketches and paintings in progress through the seasons. Feel free to offer opinions about which paintings to do in larger format. I plan to exhibit "Images of Steep Rock" in Washington, CT during late September and early October 2011 with a portion of sales proceeds to benefit the Steep Rock Assn.

The Stairwell Gallery Show

There was a great turnout for the reception at The Stairwell Gallery despite cold weather, and I enjoyed it even more since both of our daughters were there.

The town of Roxbury, CT bought May Morning, which will move to its new home in the Town Hall when the Stairwell show closes. Thank you Roxbury. I'm glad other people like that view of Toplands Farm as much as I do.

Stairwell Gallery Show

Happy Holidays to all. I got a bit busy for a while and didn't post photos, but finally have a few images from the upcoming Stairwell Gallery Show. I'll add more photos this week.

The opening reception will be at the Gunn Library in Washington, CT this Saturday. That's January 3, from 11:00 am. to 1:00 pm.

Solo Show at The Stairwell Gallery

I'm happy to announce a solo show at The Gunn Library Stairwell Gallery in Washington, CT from January 3 through February 14, 2009.
The opening reception will be Saturday January 3, from 11:00 to 1:00.
For hours and directions, please visit the library's web site.

The exhibit, titled "Home and Away" will depict a variety of subjects from New England, Arizona, Utah and California.

I'll post a slide show of sample images soon.

Mark Twain Library Show

Here are my entries for the Mark Twain Library Holiday Show. The opening reception is at 7 p.m. Friday, December 5. The show will run through Sunday, December 14.

The Library is on rte 53 in Redding, CT.

After Friends of Pam and David

Artists, there are roughly 20 paintings currently at Hartford Fine Art awaiting pick-up.
David Dunlop will be giving a gallery talk there on Saturday, Dec. 6, so you could pick up your work and attend the lecture. If you can't be there, maybe a friend would get it for you.

Hartford Fine Art has helped us tremendously with publicity and being a drop-off and pick-up point. We are very grateful for their support and want to be considerate, especially during this busy holiday time.

Please check the Contributing Artists List on this blog to look for missing names of donors who need to be included. We would like to thank them and post links to their web sites. We would also like to invite them to participate in future shows. Thanks.

Friends of Pam and David

Thank you to all the artists and collectors who made the Friends of Pam and David a great success. Your generosity and good wishes did a lot! The show raised approximately $4,000. We don't have a final accounting yet, but that was pretty amazing, especially on short notice.

There were over 120 works of art at the Vanilla Bean, after the early bird sale, where the walls normally display from 30 to 50 pieces. What a testament to how well-liked and respected Pam and David are. The sheer number of artists who cared enough to donate something moved them deeply. Pam and David were surprised to find that so many of us think about them, and will continue to keep them in our minds and prayers. In some ways, the moral support is more important than money.

North American Small Works Entry

On a totally different, rather humorous note, here is "Crazy," my painting that's in the North American Small Works Show.

The reception will be at The Greenwich Workshop Gallery in Fairfield, CT on Saturday, November 29.

The public can vote for their favorite paintings before Thursday by registering on line, and can bid for work on line, or use the lottery boxes at the gallery. Check the Small Works North America web site for details.

Some major artists have work in the show, so this should be an interesting experience.

Friends of Pam and David Cash and Carry Show

Hi everyone. We just finished hanging the benefit show at the Vanilla Bean Cafe in Pomfret. What a testament to how well liked Pam and David are! We have over 100 paintings, including one piece from someone in New Hampshire. Another artist, (Isham Martin) heard of the show locally, and walked into the Bean with a nice framed oil painting to add to our collection.

The paintings represent a variety of subjects in a wide assortment of sizes and styles.
If you're wondering what to do with those Thanksgiving house guests on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, take them to the Bean. It's a pretty drive and the food there is good. Shop fast....the show closes at 3:30 p.m., Monday, December 1.

Friends of Pam and David

We owe a big thank you to Hartford Fine Art and Framing for their support in publicizing the show and for allowing their store in East Hartford to serve as a collection point for many of the paintings. We really appreciate their total co-operation with our efforts.

Friends of Pam and David, Getting Closer!

We are fast approaching opening day of the Vanilla Bean Cash and Carry show... we will hang it after hours tomorrow (Tuesday).

Jen Holmes has been working feverishly and rounded up a slew of her paintings, so I've posted them here. Some of them still need dimensions, but you can see the images. Four are already sold.
If you want an early bird purchase on any of our offerings, jump in! The buying's fine.
Let me know, or contact Joan Jardine

Friends of Pam and David Helpful Husband

Terry Oakes Bourret's husband Don found the missing "Trotter" image and sent it while Terry was at work. What a guy. Thanks, Don. Pamela Reese donated the _lovely marsh scene.....nice mood there....Hmm, what to buy? The choices are getting pretty scrumptious.

More Images for Friends of Pam and David

We just received some more quality stuff to post: one 12 x 16 Oil from Jackie White and three photos from Leslie Jardine. We're getting an exciting assortment of subject matter and points of view. I love it. There is still time for artists to email me JPG files 220 pixels wide, for the blog.

Terry Oakes Bourret's Portland Boatyard piece sold hours after it was posted, in fact, there was nearly a duel over it. Thank goodness for email time stamps, and sorry, Alex. Who knew this would happen?