Memories are the stuff that dreams are made of, and what better keepsake
for those beloved memories than an original artwork. Whether it be of
your home, your favorite dog, your gardens, or a precious object, a
painting can enrich and hold that memory close for many years to come.
Chip Evans will paint these prized memories for you. Owners of what was
originally known as Gallery on the Green in Woodstock, Chip and his wife
Opal have opened a new gallery called Evans Paintings Studio &
Gallery. Chip’s creations have been gracing the homes of many patrons
since 2006, when he and Opal first opened their gallery in Woodstock.
Shifting Focus
Because of COVID, Chip and Opal had to close their doors in 2020 and
decided to focus on an online gallery presence. Their business soared
due to introducing Chip’s oil paintings to online auctions. They hired
auctioneer Tom Stebbins of Antiques Roadshow fame. In this online venue,
they made more money in one day than they had in the previous year.
Soon Chip was also teaching online painting lessons, reaching
international students.
With a background in marketing, Chip is savvy in bringing his art to the
public. Opal is “the manager of operations,” befriending customers and
taking care of all facets of the gallery. The married team earned their
art chops living in Manhattan for decades before moving permanently to
Woodstock.
“We’ve both loved art since we were children,” says Opal. “I was
passionate about art as a kid. My father was an amateur painter and I
would sit for hours watching him paint.” Chip has been a painter for 50
years. Together, their passion for art is obvious. They are both
excellent in building customer relations as evidenced by their many
repeat customers to the gallery.
Personal interactions with the public also include their new puppy
Bailey Bear, a strapping 85-pound Golden Retriever. Bailey loves to
greet the customers as much as Chip and Opal do. In fact, Bailey often
gets the most devoted attention, especially with children.
Chip, Opal, and their new puppy Bailey Bear, a strapping 85-pound Golden Retriever.
Making Art Accessible
Chip paints on canvas in many sizes. He often paints large: 30 by 40
inches or 24 by 30 inches, but he can also paint small. These paintings
can be reproduced as giclee prints. As Chip explains, “A giclee,
pronounced gee-clay, represents the latest technology in art
reproduction using a special high-resolution digital capture. It is a
printing of a painting, on paper or canvas, to a custom size.” This type
of printing makes art accessible to many more people.
If someone commissions a painting by Chip Evans, they might bring a
photograph of the subject they want painted. More often than not, Chip
will go to the location and take his own photographs from different
angles. Capturing the light is what makes a painting sing, and this is
one of Chip’s main focuses, right down to the light in your dog’s eyes
and fur. Then Chip goes into his studio and paints.
One of the Evans’ customers, Kathleen Archer, says, “My father was
turning 90. I asked Chip if he would do a commission of the sunset at my
dad’s Winnipesaukee lake house. This place has a very special meaning
for Dad and the family. My dad was thrilled with the painting, a perfect
gift for his milestone birthday. Each time I look at the painting, I
feel as if I’m sitting on the dock on a hot summer’s night. The light,
attention to detail, and Chip’s pure talent are remarkable.”
Peter Cousins, another customer, wrote to Chip and Opal, “My wife and I
have bought two giclee prints of your paintings, but the pride of place
in my study is your original oil of Middle Bridge in Woodstock. This
wonderful work catapults me back to Woodstock winter, where I feel the
cold of the snow, the frozen river below, and the warmth of the town.
The painting keeps alive all these wonderful memories for me.”
A number of paintings that are not commissioned are hanging on the walls
of the gallery for sale. Chip has paintings of iconic Vermont red barns
and covered bridges, snowy hillsides, waterscapes, light-filled
windows, and still lifes of fruit, vegetables, wine, and flowers. The
paintings glow with light—sunsets, lush summer landscapes, and the blue
light of shadow on snow in the classic Vermont winters.
Chip and Opal are also looking to have the ArtCafé on Saturday and
Sunday evenings, 5 to 9 pm, in their new space next to Soulfully Good
Café. Visitors to Woodstock can come to the ArtCafé, eat in the
courtyard, listen to light jazz while drinking a favorite beverage, and
wander through the fresh new gallery space looking at art. A delightful
combination in a delightful Vermont town as hosted by a delightful
couple. Chip and Opal will be there to greet you in their gallery and
studio.
Opal says, “One of the great joys and benefits of sharing art with
people is that so many of our customers become friends. We look forward
to welcoming everyone to our wonderful new bright and airy space. As
Chip often says, ‘It’s all about the light!’”
Evans Paintings Studio & Gallery
65 Central Street
Woodstock, VT
(802) 457-4956
chipevanspaintings.com
