|
Oil paintings inspired by fall's colors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Written by Lyndsey Struthers
|
|
Saturday, 13 January 2007 |
|
|
|
|
Tesa Johnston stumbled upon her calling — scribbling in coloring books with crayons — when she was 2 years old. As she grew up, she moved onto more grown-up tools but clung to her childhood passion for art.
When she was 12 years old, she picked up a paintbrush to create her first oil painting — Bob Ross style.
“I have done a little bit of everything and I think my true passion is oil painting,” Johnston said.
Johnston invites the public to step into eight of her paintings, inspired by the changing colors of the fall, at Centennial Park Library.
She prefers paintings over other media because they allow her to use bigger canvas.
“I love to paint big. I want people to feel like they are there in that moment and there in that place,” she said.
Johnston uses her paintings to take on-lookers on journeys throughout Colorado’s landscapes, mostly of the Rocky Mountains, but also of Estes Park and Grand Lake, using a style she likes to call realistic impressionism.
“Pretty much I try to take something and make it as realistic as possible and still have an impressionistic feel to it,” Johnston said. “I don’t make it look like a photograph, but I involve both of those styles.”
Johnston focuses primarily on landscapes of spring, summer and fall. She said that she has spent her life trying to cozy up with the idea of painting winter landscapes, but she just doesn’t like the cold.
Johnston, who has also had her work on display at the American Association of University Women National Juried Show and Life Source One, finds gratification in exposing her hard work to the public.
“It’s such a great thing to see just a smile on someone’s face. ... I love to see people’s reactions when I’ve painted for hours upon hours,” Johnston said.
——
TO GO TO THE SHOW
Tesa Johnston’s art is on display through January at Centennial Park Library, 2227 23rd Ave., Greeley. Details, 506.8600. | Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. |
|
|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
We call it insight, you call it what you will. | |
|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
|  | Hola Amigos! I'm Sandra. I like to believe that people are 70 percent good and 30 percent dumb. I'm stickin to that story. Reading this blog might make you want to be good, but probably just dumb. | |
|  | Donovan Henderson is editor of NEXTnc. | |
|  | Here at Nextnc we have some characters. Get a sneak peak behind the curtain and find out what amusing antics our staffers get themselves into on a weekly basis. | |
|  | What is up FoCo?
I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
|  | Life's little morsels of inspiration, observation and encouragement seen through the eyes of the Nextnc reporter.
| |
|  | Ms. Giles currently lives in Colorado where she stars in her own private reality show. She writes aphoristic accounts of her life, taken completely out of context, and embellished with characters and situations disguised to resemble something close to interesting. | |
|  | over and out | |
| | My name is Michelle Turley and I'm 28 years old. I live in Severance with my hubbie, Brandon. We have 2 dogs and a cat. We enjoy camping, four-wheeling, and just being in the mountains. I like to cook, clean (go figure), flea market, and play poker. I have so much to say about poker... | |
|
|
