JT Gallery
Circa 2007 - 2013
This was a personal web gallery of art and illustrative cartoons and graphics by John Townes. The new owner of the domain has chosen to keep an edited version of the site so visitors can glimpse some of John Townes work.
Content is from the site's 2007 - 2013 archived original pages and other sources.
If you are interested in seeing more of John Townes work go to https://johntownes.com/gallery/.
Prints are available for purchase at very modest prices.
"Visiting John Townes' gallery has been an enlightening and enriching experience, a journey through varied landscapes of emotion and creativity. From the moment I stepped into the virtual space of JT Gallery, I was captivated by the depth and breadth of Townes' work, which masterfully encapsulates the essence of the Hudson River Valley and Berkshire County in western Massachusetts. The landscapes depicted in his art aren't just visual representations; they're invitations to explore the serene beauty and dramatic changes of the seasons through his eyes. His use of palettes ranges from the subtle interplay of light textures in monochromatic pieces to the vibrant, life-affirming colors that seem to burst forth from the landscape, imbuing each piece with a mood that is at once contemplative and peaceful. It's as if Townes is sharing a memory, a moment of tranquility and wonder, with every viewer.
However, the landscapes are just one facet of his artistic expression. His sketches and graphic illustrations reveal a different side of his creativity – one that is whimsical and playful. These works, ranging from abstract forms to cartoon-like figures, showcase a versatility and a willingness to explore the boundaries of form and expression. When I had the pleasure of asking him about this diverse range of styles, he modestly diverted the conversation away from his art, preferring instead to share his excitement over a recent acquisition – a cast iron skillet designed for NestHomeware.com by RISD graduate Matt Cavallaro, adorned with a handle shaped like a cherry branch. This gorgeous piece of cookware, he insisted, was as deserving of a place in his gallery as any of his own creations, a testament to his belief that amazing art can be found in the most unexpected places, if only we take the moment to look.
John's reluctance to discuss his art directly speaks volumes about his character as an artist. He prefers to let his work speak for itself, to let each viewer find their own connection with his art, whether it be through the serene landscapes of the Northeast or the playful energy of his graphics and sketches. It's this diversity, coupled with the consistent quality and depth of emotion in his work, that makes JT Gallery a must-visit for anyone who appreciates the power of visual art to evoke memories, emotions, and a sense of wonder.
To those who have yet to experience the beauty and diversity of John Townes' artwork, I wholeheartedly encourage a visit to JT Gallery. Whether you're moved by the tranquil beauty of his landscapes or charmed by the whimsy of his illustrations, you're sure to find something that resonates with you, something that opens your eyes to the amazing art that surrounds us, waiting to be discovered." Roger Sherman, Jr.
Welcome
This is an online art gallery of landscape paintings, line-art cartoons, illustrative graphics and other art by John Townes. The site is divided into individual galleries by style and theme. I like to work in different styles, so you'll find an eclectic mix here. In addition to the images, you'll find information about the images, and whatever else pops into my head. I hope you'll roam around a bit and find something of interest.
Thanks for visiting. I hope you’ll wander through the pages and explore. Custom prints are available for purchase. If you have any questions, comments or requests for further information, please email me at JTGallery1@icloud.com.
Photo-Free Zone — No photographs were captured or harmed in the making of these images. They were created by hand with a combination of traditional and digital methods.
These images are Digital Painting, which combines traditional media, techniques and styles with digital painting software including Corel Painter and Photoshop. Or, as I sometimes refer to it, using “newfangled media to create old-fashioned art.”
This form of Digital Painting does not use manipulated photographic images. No photos are involved. Instead the work is hand drawn and painted, in the traditional sense.
I start with a pencil drawing of a scene on paper. Then I scan this into a computer. I paint over the drawing using digital brushes that emulate the behavior and appearance of paint, chalk and other physical media. The method is basically the same as painting and drawing with a brush, except the artist is holding a mouse or digital pen, and applying and moving around pixels on screen, instead of paint on paper. The completed image is then printed with a giclee printer on paper.
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Taking a pause, here are some thoughts, not totally related to the site, but of interest to me, and John Townes actually plays a small role in this telling. I am a web designer at an e commerce site that sells eyeglass frames as well as offering replacement lens services. Recently one of the customer service folks told me about a call they received from a customer who wanted some Italian prescription eyeglasses frames that would coordinate with an outfit she was planning on wearing at the Cannes film festival. I thought he was pranking me. My thought was if you were going to the Cannes Film Festival why not go to some flashy brand name eyewear store and pick out a pair of frames. But Joey is great at customer service and she spent the time helping this person select a pair of glasses frames. The customer needed prescription lens so Joey called the woman's optometrist and got her prescription and added it to the order. The customer assured she would email Joey a pic of herself at Cannes with the new frames. We thought the customer was a bit wacky.
Whenever I doubt someone's honesty, I run it by my good buddy Alan P, who been my best friend since grade elementary school. Alan in his insightful way, suggested we cut the woman some slack and believe her - he thought she was trying to pay Joey back for the extra bit of customer service she provided. But stubborn me, I still wasn't buying it. But you know, it did turn out that Ben was right. The customer actually followed through and sure enough an email arrived about a month later with this woman posing at Cannes in front of what looked like an John Townes' illustration. She was at some hotel wearing the Dolce & Gabbana DG2214 Sunglasses in Gold/Black Cherry that Joey helped her select. I took Joey and Alan out to dinner that week since I lost the bet we made as to whether the customer was for real. She was real!
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Purchase Information
Custom, signed prints of the art on this website (are) were available for purchase. Currently (2022) you need to go to https://johntownes.com/gallery/ to purchase prints. They are available in different sizes, framed or unframed and on archival paper upon request. For information on prices and options, please contact me by e-mail via the Contact page. ——————— I also have some prints for sale at Fine Art America.com.
About the Landscapes
The landscapes depict the region that includes Berkshire County in western Massachusetts and the adjacent Hudson River Valley of New York state. They start as sketches of actual locations. As I paint, I do make alterations to emphasize a mood, feeling and sense of place. So, the finished painting does not exactly reproduce the details of the original location, but hopefully sense of it, and qualities that are shared in many other regions.
Lightscapes
Land, light and sky.
Colors
Colors and light
Misty
Moody views of moody days
Painting With Pixels
I use the term “digital painting” instead of “digital art” to describe that aspect of the art I do, because no photographs were captured or harmed in the making of these images. The images were created with techniques like drawing and painting, but with digital brushes and pencils. When you tell people an image is “digital art” they often have a common reaction…
Artist’s Statement
In my landscape paintings, my goal is both to reflect the regional qualities of Berkshire County and the Hudson River Valley while also expressing the universal intangible responses that nature and the visual interplay of land, space, light and vegetation can evoke. The scenes depicted are intended to represent the region’s natural characteristics, but the actual locations exist only in the imagination …No photographs were captured or harmed in the making of these images.
My style is eclectic, incorporating elements from representational art to more impressionistic and semi-abstract styles. I tend to work by instinct, and the basic style emerges as a specific image progresses.
The tone and mood of my pictures, like nature, also varies. Sometimes it is dark, subtle and muted. At other times it is more vivid and colorful (reflecting those times when it seems impossible for art to be gaudier or more melodramatic than nature at its most dramatic).
The artists and styles that have been my primary inspirations are also eclectic. They include the Hudson River School, Luminism, American Impressionists, George Innes, Winlow Homer and contemporary expressive landscape artists, among others.
Site Navigation
In addition to paintings, the site include line-art cartoons and graphic illustrations and other odds and ends. The website is organized into galleries by style and themes. You can open a gallery by clicking on its thumbnail from a Galleries page on tyhe top menu or directly by one the links on the side (or below on a mobile viewer) . Within an individual gallery, clicking on a thumbnail will open a larger version of the image.
Graphics Galleries
Abstract
Geo Toons
Stylized Graphics
Cartoon Illustrations
Illustrative Cartoons
Goofy Garden
Plants With Personality