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Concord, New Hampshire-based oil painter Colin Callahan is best known for his idyllic landscapes and still lifes, painted in a style that he describes as “somewhere between Corot and later Impressionist artists.” His most popular images portray beloved vistas in the Concord area such as Fiske Hill Road and Turkey Pond, as well as the Gothic splendor of the St. Paul’s School campus, where he serves as a member of the arts and humanities faculty and directs The Art Center in Hargate, the school’s art gallery.
Callahan’s landscapes are contemplative, yet at the same time immediate. This striking effect is due in part to the artist’s predilection for plein air painting. “I prefer to paint outside whenever possible,” he asserts. “The landscape is a rather lively subject as light, wind and clouds frequently change the entire scene. Thus, the challenge in such a dynamic environment is to grab the most important element as soon as possible.”
Callahan’s landscapes, even winter scenes, are also warm, an effect the artist achieves by beginning his works with a pinkish-red imprimatur or base, then quickly sketching out the large shapes and light plays using thinned out colors, a process called under-painting. This preliminary image dries quickly, leaving the artist with a rough sketch that captures the play of light and shadow as well as major shapes.
“Each painting decision is a subtle form of abstraction,” says Callahan. “Hence, the final product is not a copy of the scene but, instead, what I believe to be important.”
Callahan attended The Overseas School of Rome in Rome, Italy, studied painting at Rome’s Centro Barbieri and earned his BA in art history from the College of Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. He frequently travels to paint and has worked in Italy as well as in Ireland, France, Germany, and California.
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