George Lohmann: One Dot At A Time

On Jan. 4, from 5 to 8 p.m., the Tioga Arts Council will be open during First Friday and will be presenting January’s exhibit, George Lohmann: One Dot At A Time.

George Lohmann is a master at the art of stippling. Using dots to create form, shading, and depth, his ability to accurately depict minute details creates a complexity in sharp contrast to the deceptive simplicity of his compositions. 

By honing in on the essential details needed to convey the feeling of a piece, and eliminating the non-essential, he shares the beauty of his artistic vision with us. Unerringly leading our eye through each scene, often making use of large blank white spaces, the effect is dramatic and stunning. Each scene is imbued with a sense of stillness and peace. His work is beautiful, eye catching, and timeless. 

A master of understatement, the simplicity of composition emphasizes the complexity of every tiny detail in Pine Cone and Chickadee. A lone pinecone dangles from a slender needled branch, a tiny bird perches on a twig hung with berries – every aspect captured perfectly by the artist’s hand against a backdrop of white. Further enhanced by his choice of textured paper, his artistic choices are spot-on, capturing in time the best of nature. 

For Dusty Miller, Lohmann changes tactics, completely filling the surface with the silver-gray leaves and setting it against a solid black background for dramatic effect. Light and shadow play across the velvety softness of the leaves, their texture deftly captured by the artist’s pen.  

Moving from close-up to a larger view in Barn on West Creek Road and Maine Harbor, the artist captures the essence of two distinctly different rural scenes – farmland and seafront. Once again, knowing exactly what to include and what to leave out, he creates the maximum impact – the perfect statement. With skillful precision he leads the eye across each scene. Details of rustic buildings and evergreens play perfectly off large white areas of untouched paper, seamlessly melding land and water into sky. Once again, he has captured the sense of place perfectly. You are drawn into and calmed by the serenity of the moment. It is a gift. 

Lohmann’s exhibit will be open to the public at the arts council, located at 179 Front St. in Owego, through the month of January. Arts council hours are Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m., or by appointment.

The Jan. 4 opening at the arts council is being held in conjunction with Owego’s First Friday event of the year in downtown Owego, and running from 5 to 8 p.m. Various merchants will be participating.