Tony Conner at Emile A Gruppe Gallery
August 31-October 8, 2017
Most of watercolor artist Tony Conner’s work is focused on the quality of light itself and is drawn from direct observation.
He said, “My senses are particularly in tune with time as it passes through the cycle of seasons…Times of transition…are especially captivating. Watercolor is my main medium of choice. It is truly the medium of light.”
About Underhill Swamp (above), Conner said, “This painting was done during the Jericho Plein Air Festival on July 16, 2016. The morning was quite overcast so there was little in the way of light and shadow to work with. On overcast days, I often look for water, since the reflections of the sky help light up the painting.
“Beyond the swamp water, there were a couple of other things that attracted me to this scene. There was a great sense of distance and the ‘aerial perspective’ would challenge my ability to mix the variety of greens needed to express the distance and keep the painting from being to monotonously green. The forlorn tree, desperately hanging on to its foliage in the midst of a group of already dead ones, also made the scene compelling.
“I like to mix my greens rather than rely on a tube green. This method usually results in a better, and more expressive, variety of greens in any landscape painting. For this painting, there were four different blues (ultramarine, cobalt, cerulean and indigo) mixed with three different yellows (raw sienna, quinacridone gold, areoulin). So, there are likely six or seven different greens mixed and mingled throughout the painting.”
Tony Conner lives, works and teaches in Bennington.
(adapted from the artist’s press materials)
INFORMATION
Emile A. Gruppe Gallery
22 Barber Farm Road
Jericho, Vermont 05465
(802) 899-3211
Hours:
Thursday-Sunday, 10AM-3PM
and by appointment
Image
Underhill Swamp
by Tony Conner
watercolor
2016