artists bio
Nan Johnson has said that creating anything has always been a big part of her life. Even as a small child, she always seemed to be in the act of creating art. Later on in high school, she took various art classes, but spent many afternoons & evenings doing oil paintings at home. While in college, she explored the field of art while pursuing a degree in Art Therapy, finally settling comfortably into a career in graphic design. Since retiring from the printing/publishing industry, her focus is now on being a full-time artist.
Mainly self-taught, Nan "sees" her subjects as a grouping of lines, patterns & shapes - each with their own color & shade. It is by combining these that she creates a visual that has been called "unique" or "evocative." She often reduces the scene to it's simplest shapes, and then invites the viewer's eye to combine them into form. "I love to invite the viewer into my paintings." Nan holds true to the statement that "art is not a thing, it is a way. It's a way of expressing, of communicating, of recording a moment in time where an emotion is felt. It's all about capturing the visual expression that is found in life. I find it is a great way to live." Her work is currently held in private collections all over the country. |
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artists statement
"My artwork focuses on the lines, patterns and shapes that appear in everyday life. We live our lives surrounded by patterns and shapes that affect our thoughts and ideas – and we may not even be consciously aware of their influence. Using acrylic paints and painting styles that combine both oil painting & watercolor techniques, I am able to express the patterns I see in the world surrounding me. The subject matter of each body of work determines the style or technique that is used to create the final piece. Each piece invites the viewer to create a story from what they see visually. Very often, a piece can be interpreted in more than one way – which often leads to the next body of work."
