Impressions of Edmonton
Judi Popham

I have lived in Edmonton since 1951. I have grown to love Edmonton and have been painting pictures of Edmonton buildings and skylines since 1995. I try to show my love for Edmonton in my paintings through the use of bright colors and vigorous style. The paintings are from small 5 x 7 in to large 24 x 30 in. The medium I use is acrylic on board, acrylic on paper, watercolor, and mixed media on paper (watercolor and acrylic). Currently I am painting images of the skyline of Edmonton showing Edmonton in different seasons, weather conditions, light and mood. Also I am currently doing small 5 x 7 in. acrylic on paper paintings of historical buildings of Edmonton. Some of the paintings are done watercolor style and some acrylic style and sometimes both methods. I work from my own photographs and have an interpretive style. I am largely self-taught.

The process I use for my paintings is to start with my photograph downloaded to my computer and printed 8 x 10 in. I do a 5 x 7 in. sketch working out my composition and light and shadow. I choose the color scheme that I will use, complementary, triadic or analogous. If the picture is to be 5 x 7 in. big I trace my sketch onto tracing paper and transfer the tracing onto my paper, board or canvas using a red pencil and graphite tracing paper. I use a red pencil in order to know what parts I have traced.

For larger pieces I enlarge my sketch by dividing the 5 x 7 in. sketch into 4 equal parts for 8 x 10 in. pictures or 16 x 20 in. pictures and 9 sections for 24 x 30 in. I scan the sections into my computer and enlarge them to 4 x 5 in. each for 8 x 10 in. pictures. For 16 x 20 in. pictures or 24 x 30 in. pictures I enlarge the sections to 8 x 10 in. I then piece the sections together with tape and trace the enlarged sketch onto my paper, board or canvas using a red pencil and graphite paper.

The sky is painted first – vigorous and loose, then an under painting exaggerating my colors is done for the rest of the picture. Maximizing color and minimalizing detail I apply the paint leaving some of the under painting. I mix my colors on a disposable palette and keep the paint wet by spraying with water. The emotion that I put into the paintings come from my love of Edmonton.

Exhibition date: October 12 – November 10, 2006

gallery   Brooks Maywood   Rechner