We did it! Thank you!

We took a chance on holding an in person Taos Studio Tour over Labor Day Weekend, and we pulled it off! A huge thank you to everybody who stopped in, wore a mask and safely kept their distance.

I was able to provide a private viewing for most parties, how special is that!

As an artist, the best thing is to have the chance for people to view my art and discuss it with me, to let me know which pieces are favorites and why. I love it when I can see where my paintings have gone to live!

"Little Adobes" in its new home.

One really special aspect about a studio tour, besides meeting and speaking directly with the artist, is you get to see the newest work along with previous paintings. I often bring some pieces from my personal collection, ones that have been hanging in my house. These are usually some of my strongest pieces, they've gone through my "bedroom assessment test" (more about this next week, stay tuned!) to be 100% sure they are finished. These are the pieces I have held onto in order to learn from.

 

"Out of the Blue", 30" x 30", oil on canvas, sold

It can be bittersweet when they sell. I loved having "Out of the Blue" hanging in my dining area, but I'm always glad if they find a new home, and then I pick another to hang in my house!

This year I hung paintings from my sky series as well as my newest pieces painted during the pandemic. The groups may be different, but you can see the common theme of color running through all of my work when they are viewed together.

 

"Trace of the Sun", 12" x 12", oil on canvas

For the Taos Studio Tour I was teamed up with another artist at a central location in town. Want a glimpse into my actual painting studio where the magic happens? Click here for a video to take you there. 

In this video, I talk about my intent, to have light and depth in my paintings, to have you "sink into my art, and be transported." When you look at one of my paintings, I want you to find your own story. I want you to be able to find something new each time you take a look.

"Walking Through Time", 12" x 12", mixed media on canvas

I talk about my inspiration, how it comes from nature. I want my art to make me feel what I was feeling when I was out on a hike or watching a gorgeous sunset, or standing in the wind as a storm rolls through.

 

I also talk about my process and show some of my new explorations. I start by laying on color. I want lots of layers, they add translucence and luminosity, depth and a richness. I love to add dots and patterns. 

 

Detail from "Find Your Way", 24" x 24", oil on canvas

 

As I progress, the painting takes on a life of its own. I paint intuitively, never knowing where I'll end up, but loving the results.

Jewel Box Tour, come find your gems!

 

I'm really excited about a new series of paintings I've been working on. I'll be introducing them at the Taos Studio Tour. Yes, we are going forward with our Studio Tour this Labor Day Weekend, Saturday September 5th - Monday September 7th, 10-5pm daily. 19 artists will be participating.

 

 

 

It'll be a hybrid tour, both in person studio visits as well as virtual tours. The Preview Party will solely be virtual via ZOOM. See info below.

I'm #13 on the studio tour map at 500 Cruz Alta Rd, Casita #2, along with Adorn Your Life 2, #12 with Mosaics, Jewelry and Cards. We are set up in two separate garage bays. The large doors, at opposite ends, will be open so there will be plenty of fresh air. We'll be inside yet outside! We'll have shady, socially distanced seating spots outdoors if there are too many people to be inside the space at one time. 

We will be following all state safety guidelines. Masks are required.

Come pick out a favorite piece of art. This is your chance to see my newest paintings, experimental pieces, and work from previous series. See where my inspiration comes from, engage with the art, and find out my techniques and process. Now that many of us are working from home, it's time for new art on the walls!

You can download a Tour Brochure and Map here. 

If you're not in the area, or uncomfortable with in person visits, this year there will be virtual opportunities.

Contact me by email at art@lydiajohnston.com if you are interested, and we'll set something up. If you'd like to schedule an in person appointment during the tour, we can do that too. Time will be set aside just for you for a private viewing.

The Virtual Preview Party is scheduled for Friday, September 4^th at 5:00 pm. Visit the TAO website to get the ZOOM link, pour yourself a glass of something refreshing, and join in to meet the artists and see examples of their work. The artists will all be there and each one will speak for a minute about his or her work and process.

 

Lydia Johnston's Open Studio Tour

Come visit my art studio as part of a House Tour in Pownal, Vermont. The goal of the tour is to demonstrate how energy technology has influenced architectural design through the ages. There will be five houses on the tour, the oldest from 1740, with a central chimney/vertical thermal mass, to the most recent, a highly insulated thermal mass house built in 2009. My house is an energy efficient ferrocement dome house, off the grid with a photovoltaic electric system.

The tour will take place Saturday, June 26th, from 11am to 4pm. The tour begins at The Studio Club Artworks, 3301 Rte 7 in Pownal Center, where you can pick up a map to locate the five houses. The tour is free. There is a brief video to view about the homes on the tour. Two of the homes demonstrate alternative energy methods using solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, and thermal mass. The five houses showcased are as follows:

Moore/Wright Defoe House, 1740

Quarry Hill Farm House, 1820

Victorian House, 1890

Dome House, 1985

Jordan Schell-Lambert House, 2009

In conjunction with participating in the house tour, I will be opening my art studio as part of the tour. This is your opportunity to see the beautiful spot where I paint my impressionistic landscapes, and view the various paintings in the studio that aren't out at a gallery yet.


"Summer Days", 36" x 48", oil on canvas, Lydia Johnston

People love to see my studio because it gives a feeling for how and where I work. You can see work that is experimental as well as pieces that are not yet finished.

So mark your calendars for Saturday, June 26th, and come participate in the House Tour in Pownal to learn more about energy and home designs.

If you would like more information about my Open Studio Tour, feel free to email me at: art@lydiajohnston.com or call 802-823-7713.
For further questions about the Pownal House Tour, please call 802-823-5328.