Image Description
A modern impressionist dahlia painting featuring a beautiful field of dahlias. The vibrant dahlias bloom in front of a lovely white colonial farm house peeking out from behind tall trees. This colorful original oil floral landscape painting of Swan Island Dahlia farm was begun on site en plein air by Modern Impressionist Oregon artist Talya Johnson.
Behind the Canvas
This particular oil painting represents one happy experience at Swan Island Dahlias, in Canby Oregon. It was painted the summer of 2015 before I ventured to return to college in order of fulfilling my dream of earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. It had been a busy and happy summer, and I participated in many plein air events, getting to know the lay of the land in my new home state: beautiful Oregon. My father was in town and managed to pay me a visit as I happily painted the dahlia fields at the height of bloom in August.
Swan Island Dahlias
Swan Island Dahlias, has been in business for over 88 years. They are the largest and leading dahlia grower in the United States. They are located in the town of Canby, in the rich soil of the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The farm was originally located in Portland, Oregon, with some buildings on Swan Island, which is where the farm's name was derived from. Swan Island Dahlias hybridizes new varieties of dahlia flowers, planting over 10,000 seedlings each year. From those original seedlings, it takes about 4 to 5 years to offer a new seedling for sale. Each season they introduce from 5 to 15 new varieties increasing their selection all the time. They grow over 360 varieties on 40 acres that are open to the public during blooming season, and host the largest dahlia festival in the United States featuring over 400 dahlia arrangements during the festival.
Other paintings of Swan Island Dahlia Farm by Talya Johnson include:
Boogie Nites - Swan Island Dahlias
Trespassing Dahlia field landscape
To grow beautiful dahlias yourself, be sure to visit Swan Island Dahlias
Production & Printing
While my family and I handle the design and creation of each artwork, the printing and shipping processes are sometimes managed by professional partners who share my commitment to quality and ethics. I carefully vet all printing partners to ensure they meet my own standards of locality, rigorous environmental and labor standards.
- 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: My chosen printers use eco-friendly materials and practices, including sustainable inks and responsibly sourced wood and canvases. This commitment helps minimize the environmental impact of each print.
- 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀: I collaborate with printing facilities that adhere to fair labor practices, ensuring that every person involved in the process is treated with respect and paid fairly.
By outsourcing to trusted professionals, we can focus on creating unique, high-quality art while ensuring that every step of the production process aligns with ethical standards.
