artists bio
Nan Johnson says 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 in high school, she took various art classes, but spend 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. She worked full-time in the printing and advertising industry in Manhattan for 40+ years before retiring. She now lives full-time in upstate NY where she can pursue her passion for painting.
Working mainly in acrylic paints, Nan began utilizing wood letters that are replicas of vintage printing press letter blocks. Combining letters to form words, she uses them as the "canvas" for her recent paintings. She then paints on the raised letters, where the combination of the word and the image helps to convey the subject. Each piece is a one of a kind original. "I've looked at letters and type too long to stay away from them completely," she jokes. "These wood block pieces allow me to combine three of my favorite things: the Adirondacks, the words & the paint."
In addition to the woodblock pieces, Nan also paints on a variety of surfaces including conventional canvases. Her work has been shown in the SVAN gallery in Northville NY, the SVAN gallery within the NY Vail Mills Information Center, and the gallery shows at the Paul Nigra Arts Center. She has work currently in the Adirondack Country Store in Northville NY, and also on display in Ohio, New Jersey and New York City. Many of her pieces, including paintings of historic buildings, are held in private collections all over the country, as well as in museums & public offices.
Working mainly in acrylic paints, Nan began utilizing wood letters that are replicas of vintage printing press letter blocks. Combining letters to form words, she uses them as the "canvas" for her recent paintings. She then paints on the raised letters, where the combination of the word and the image helps to convey the subject. Each piece is a one of a kind original. "I've looked at letters and type too long to stay away from them completely," she jokes. "These wood block pieces allow me to combine three of my favorite things: the Adirondacks, the words & the paint."
In addition to the woodblock pieces, Nan also paints on a variety of surfaces including conventional canvases. Her work has been shown in the SVAN gallery in Northville NY, the SVAN gallery within the NY Vail Mills Information Center, and the gallery shows at the Paul Nigra Arts Center. She has work currently in the Adirondack Country Store in Northville NY, and also on display in Ohio, New Jersey and New York City. Many of her pieces, including paintings of historic buildings, are held in private collections all over the country, as well as in museums & public offices.
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."
