When I lived in Georgia, I became more involved with Art Festivals around the area in the mid-1980s. While driving down a road outside Cartersville, on Sugar Valley Road, I saw a gas pump that was on a farm, apparently used for the owner’s equipment. These paintings were all variations of the same pump.
This painting was the first in a series of gas pumps I painted during that time. A few other pumps were Shell, Gulf,Mobile, Marathon and Sinclair.
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In 1986, during one of my Art Festivals, I had exhibited some of my past work in a photograph book, which included some commission work that I had done. Billy Neal, a local resident, owned a gas station in Cartersville, GA. His wife saw a painting of a Texaco gas pump hanging in my booth and purchased it for her husband as a gift.
Since she had seen some of my local paintings that I had done for other people in my book, asked if I would paint a picture of Billy’s Texaco station in Cartersville, GA., I was delighted to be able to add another local painting to my photograph book, which led to other commissioned paintings.
As an artist, I am always looking at things differently than most. I have painted several nostalgic businesses around the country, many of them commissioned. This painting is one of my favorites, as it was one of my first attempts at Acrylic painting, after previously working in oil paints.
I hadn’t yet refined my detail, but it convinced me to continue painting in acrylics. I never sold this 24″x30″ canvas painting, as it hangs in my son’s living room, framed in barn wood. This was also the largest painting I had done up until then, which was in 1976.
The old mill is located within the Stone Mountain Park, east of Atlanta, Georgia. Home of the Yellow Daisy Festival, one of the top Arts & Crafts Festivals in the country. It was one of my favorite shows where I exhibited for several years.
Grist Mills have always had a special interest to me, they are fascinating, and brilliant planning for the water to do the hard work! Here are some grist mills around the Country that I have painted,
In 1983, Evelyn and I moved to Georgia from California. While exhibiting at several art festivals in our new environment, I had a request for a painting of a covered bridge in Bartow County, GA. On our way to the bridge, we passed through Cartersville and saw, what looked like a permanent carnival, with a Ferris Wheel, Merry-Go-Round, a ride with swings and a refreshment stand.
Several weeks later, I stopped and took some photos. One of the paintings was of the trolley, with the Ferris Wheel. The man who owned the rides, was names Tilley, so it became Tilley Park, where he offered the park to organizations to use for fund-raising.
We ended up buying a home in that little town, where we lived for several years. The cameras back then were not as sharp, so I only was able to show this one photo of the painting. The Tilley family now owns two of the paintings that I did of their park, which is no longer there. Here is a link to the other painting. Tilley Park Painting.
I painted several Cartersville places, and some really close by, here are the links…
When I lived in Georgia, I exhibited in many art shows and festivals in the area. My focus was to paint local landmarks near where the shows were being held. The “Roselawn” show, in Cartersville, was my first show in Georgia.
During the Civil War, many plantations were burned, leaving only a few homes from that era. Valley View was spared, as it was rumored that it was used as a hospital. The home is 5,160 sq ft on 6,485 acres.
The home was built with Pre-Civil War Architecture and is located west of Cartersville, Georgia. The Plantation home is now being used by the Bartow County Historical Society.
The painting was done in 1985 on stretched canvas.
Copyright Larry Johnston
I painted several Cartersville places, and some really close by, here are the links…
Located in the north Georgia Mountains, Prater’s Mill has held their “Country Fair” for a number of years. It draws many people, not only from Georgia, but from the Chattanooga, TN area as well.
The Country Fair has much to offer, as they have Southern country cooking, Mountain music, Clogging, and other continuous entertainment throughout the festival. Praters Mill is located on the Coahulla Creek and is a great setting for their craft demonstrations, living history exhibits, and exhibits from the many artists and artisans.
I couldn’t help, but to paint the old Mill. There we even a few people fishing in the creek, while listening to the country music.
Grist Mills have always had a special interest to me, they are fascinating, and brilliant planning for the water to do the hard work! Here are some grist mills around the Country that I have painted,
One of my favorite festivals, was the Yellow Daisy Festival, which I exhibited in for many years. It was located inside Stone Mountain Park, in Stone Mountain, Georgia, east of Atlanta. Since I have always been attracted to old places, it was only natural that the Grist Mill in the Park would be the focus of another painting. Evelyn and I rented a row-boat, so I could go out on the lake to take photographs of the mill from the lake side.
The old Grist Mill was originally located in Ellijay, GA which was built in 1869. It was moved to the park in 1965 and has been one of their featured attractions, great for picnics nearby.
Grist Mills have always had a special interest to me, they are fascinating, and brilliant planning for the water to do the hard work! Here are some grist mills around the Country that I have painted,
In 1983, while doing an art show in Georgia, I was asked if I would paint a picture of a covered bridge right next to some vacant property, where a man was going to build a home. Evelyn and I were brand new to the area, straight from Orange County, California.
We took off toward Euharlee, where the bridge was located. He also told us that it was called Euharlee, because it was out in the country where “you harlee” ever see anyone. Not knowing the dress code in north Georgia yet, he showed us the bridge and then walked his property, through the stickers and briers toward the Euharlee Creek, which ran next to his property.
I told you all that, to tell you this. We both had on dress clothes and mohair sweaters, which was popular during that era (In California!!!!!!). It took forever to remove all the burs from the sweaters. I believe we put them in storage after that experience.
After the painting was finished, I painted another view of the bridge and was able to display it in a festival, in which won 3rd place. Not bad for starting out in the area.
I later was commissioned by a lady from Powder Springs, GA, to paint the same bridge with a different view. The first painting was in the fall and the second one was in the Spring. Click HERE to see the second painting.
Below are photos of our covered bridge sets, we sold when on the road. They were matted and framed photo prints.
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Links to other covered bridge paintings I have done can be found here:
While traveling and selling my paintings and prints, I have had a number of people commission me to paint an acrylic painting of their home or sometimes an old family homestead they may have grown up in, as a child.
This painting was for a young couple who lived locally from the local show that was located along Cedar Creek, in Cave Springs, Georgia.
Prints:
ALL PRINTS are printed on canvas and stretched on wooden stretcher bars and prices vary according to size ordered. Most are 2:3 proportion
Options:
wrapped print- part of the image is wrapped
around the sides of the wood.
Non-wrapped print- The full image is on the face, with white or black edges
(frames and hardware are not included)
11″ x 14″Black Edge………. $148.82
11″ x 14″ White Edge………. $148.82
11″ x 14″ Wrapped Edge………. $148.82
16″ x 20″ Black Edge ………. $204.72
16″ x 20″ White Edge………. $204.72
16″ x 20″ Wrapped Edge………. $204.72
16″ x 20″ ………. $375.00 original painting on stretched canvas not available.
