HOME


ONLINE GALLERY OF PAINTINGS


FRAMING


ARTIST'S HISTORY


ADVENTURES IN NATURE




ONLINE GALLERY OF MAMMALS


EARLY ARTWORK 1990-1996


EARLY ARTWORK 1997 - 2001


BOOK ILLUSTRATIONS


PRINTS


MAPS


WINE


LINKS


SKETCHES


THE ANATOMY OF FLIGHT




www.jayjjohnson.com

A GALLERY OF
ORIGINAL PAINTINGS
BY JAY J. JOHNSON

: EARLY ARTWORK 1997 - 2001






Jay J. Johnson Art Studio
Phone: 978-468-3286
E-mail: jjlmjohnson@comcast.net

During this period I completed 150 paintings, most of which were sold
in the western United States, particularly Aspen, Colorado.  I've included
a few examples below that demonstrate the qualities I was striving for at
that time.  I wanted to make a transition from the finely detailed paintings
of the early nineties to work that flowed more freely from my brush.  I
used strong surface texture created before beginning painting.  Over this
I applied many layers and glazes of acrylic paints.   The result was a piece
of artwork that was rich in color saturation with an exciting textural quality.
  

Acrylic%20144B%20web%20100%20E%20Border%20B.jpg
Fox Rest


Acrylic%20114%20WEB%204X100%20Border%20A.jpg
Fairy Dusters
This was my first effort using the new technique of acrylic paint over
textured surface.  I actually glued sand & pebbles onto the painting
surface to simulate the texture of the ground where the quail are sitting. 
This painting was displayed in the 1997 Western Visions show at the
National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyoming.  It was
encouraging to attend the show and see the response this painting 
received from the many collectors who filled the ballot box.


1%20135%20Walker%204X100%20Border%20A.jpg
Grizzly Walker


   

 
Foxfire
This painting was sold at the Artists of America Exhibition, Denver,
Colorado in 1998.  Again collectors were very encouraging about
this new technique.  The show's director let me know that "Foxfire"
was one of the most popular paintings in the show (based on the
ballot count).  This inspired me to return to my studio and explore
this medium further, producing more paintings the following year
than I had in the past three years combined. A fine art print publisher
selected it the next year and it appeared in many magazine
advertisements in 2000. 


Onto the textured surface I adhered pebbles to simulate the ground.  
Then I painted over these to blend them into the colors of the painting.


  
Acrylic%20206%205X100%20white%20Border%20A.jpg
Grizzly Wrestlers (26 X 34).  The original sold in Aspen, Colorado.  
A print publisher reproduced this painting as a limited edition on
canvas and paper, as well as a large size giclee edition, advertising
it with full page ads that ran in many magazines during the year 2000. 


 


Wolf-Walk was featured on the cover of Southwest Art Magazine
in June 2001.  The original was sold at the "Best in the West"
Exhibition in Park City, Utah.  Limited edition prints were sold
nationwide, including a lifesize giclee edition.  It too was heavily
advertised.

Acrylic%20167%205X100%20Border%20B.jpg
Tiger-Walk


Acrylic%20130B%204.82X100%20Border%20A.jpg
Avocets


Acrylic%20136B%205X100%20Border%20C.jpg
Grizzly-Root


Acrylic%20148%205X100%20Border%20A.jpg
Duckling Nest



 


Young Fox
One of my favorite paintings from this period. 
A simple composition, yet a very captivating original with
plenty of texture and lush color.


The heavy texture in this painting was created before starting to paint. 
I first applied a thick layer of plaster with a large palette knife onto
the surface of the roughened & gessoed masonite.  Having a full size
sketch so that I knew where the fox would be standing within the
painting, I let my imagination play with the plaster to convey interesting
textures around the fox, and more controlled textures where the fox
would be painted.  Besides applying the paint with a brush over this
surface, I also liked to spatter and flick droplets of paint to add details.

At the same time that I finished the painting I also finished the frame
so that it worked with the colors of the painting.  Each frame for my
acrylic paintings was handmade by Motyka in Rhode Island.  I then
applied the finishing patinas myself.


Acrylic%20133B%205.4X100%20Border%20B.jpg
Quailsong


Acrylic%20172%206X100%20Border%20B.jpg
Little Grizzly


Acrylic%20180%20old%206X100%20Border%20A.jpg
Moose-Rest


Acrylic%20128%205.2X100%20Border%20B.jpg
Sprite-Dusk


Acrylic%20222%206X100%20Border%20B.jpg
Fawns (close-up)


 


Flying Egret


 


Foxfield

 
Acrylic%20225%205.5X100%20Border%20A.jpg
Mountain Goat Gold


Acrylic%20239%205.5X100%20Border%20A.jpg
Fox-Watch

More images will be added soon.  During this period I completed more than 150 paintings.


View all items



No Pictures



Sign In for Upload













Sign In