The Georgia Winter Landscape is Suffused With Color
One of the things that I noticed when I moved to Georgia in 1982 was that in winter the landscape is more
colorful than any place I had been. As the photos that I've included here, from tall yellow/red grasses, multi-colored trees, the reddish earth all contribute to a beautiful winter landscape. And, when the sky is clear, the striking blue contrasted with these yellows, reds, greens make for a most uplifting view.
I decided to paint a couple of scenes with the winter colors here in Georgia as the theme and, o
f course, an old abandoned farmhouse as the centerpiece. I looked to my favorite painting place, the Nolan Corners section near Bostwick, Georgia, as my focal point. After taking many reference photos, I began a sketch directly on my painting panel in water soluble pencil. Then, as my usual practice dictates, I worked on a painted sketch using egg tempera black made 
with ultramarine blue and burnt umber pigments.
After completing the composition in black on the pre-painted panel I begin adding broad areas of color. This is a broad color lay-in that lays a foundation for the final colors and detail that will come later.
The next couple of stages help refine the color scheme where I paint in the various sections of the piece with reds, yellows, blues, greens and maake some decisions about shadows and highlights in the work.
And then I begin to add the many details that will draw the viewer into the image and hold their interest. From the boards that are exposed on the building to the bricktex covering that is rapidly deteriorating to the rocks in the chimney and rusted tin on the roof.
Lastly I glaze color over the image to finalize the warm winter color scheme that I had chosen for this piece.
The original painting can be seen at the Arts on the Avenue Gallery in Macon Georgia where some of my
newest paintings are being shown.ART ON THE AVENUE Fine Art Gallery and Studio
2368 Ingleside Avenue
Macon, Georgia 31204
478.743.3720
http://maconartontheavenue.com/
My other egg tempera paintings of Georgia landscapes and farm buildings can be seen at the Point of Art Gallery in Union Point and the Art Gallery LaPlace in Washington, Georgia and at the James Madison Inn in Madison.
