This month’s featured artist, Dean Roland Johnson, explores botanical forms with precision, depth, and quiet beauty. Each of his paintings reflects a lifelong devotion to capturing nature in its purest form through a disciplined process and a continual pursuit of artistic mastery.
Dean Roland Johnson | American Realism Painter
How would you describe your work?
My work is an exploration of botanical forms, from roses to lily pads painted in the rich tradition of American Realism.
What was your journey to developing your artistic skills like?
As a college student, I hitchhiked my way around Europe for several months. I visited many museums and viewed firsthandmagnificent works of old masters. It was a seminal experience that has stayed with me throughout the years. I understood then what “great art” looks like. Since then I have been committed to creating the best work I can through my experimentation with abstract expressionism and later non-objective geometric forms. Over time I found that I got the most personal satisfaction from drawing realistically, which evolved into the paintings I create today. I continue to develop my skills with line, form, and color to further enrich my work.
How have you grown, personally, as an artist?
I draw inspiration from all great art, from the Renaissance to American masters like O’Keeffe, Hopper and Wyeth.
It has taken many years to master painting. Early on I painted directly onto a canvas but eventually realized that I could achieve better results with a good drawing before applying paint. That approach has allowed me to work out any compositional challenges and create a “blueprint.” There is always more to learn about different techniques, brushes and different qualities of paint. Growing as a person and an artist is a lifelong process which I will embrace as long as I’m alive.
What is your secret for carving out time to truly be creative?
I started out teaching art in college, but it was not a good fit for me. Then after spending many successful years in business, my life still felt incomplete. I had neglected my passion for art, so I began painting again. I now devote as much time as I can to working in my “sacred space” while listening to classical music and cool jazz to enhance the experience.
Do you have a favorite story behind one of your projects and why?
Most of my paintings have a “story,” but the one that comes to mind is that of an old Rose of Sharon, a hibiscus, that bloomed every summer outside my office at our country inn. I had just recently begun painting again and saw this proud flower swaying in the mountain air as a worthy subject. The plant was quite large and regal and warranted a large canvas of 48″ × 48″. I started painting and had it well underway, but as I zoned in on its center (stamen tube) I realized that a very close inspection was necessary. I got up close and backed off; I just couldn’t focus on it. Discouraged, I put the painting aside. Not long after that I went for my annual eye exam, where my ophthalmologist said I had very cloudy cataracts and had been driving illegally. Shortly after that visit I had my cataracts removed, got home and took another look at my Rose. I now could clearly see what was blurred before and was able to finish the painting. Problem solved!
What are you working on that excites you right now?
Our (actually Jean Marie’s) garden provides me with endless possibilities. Each flower has distinct shapes, sizes and colors that motivate me to capture their unique forms. Right now I am working on a “humble” salvia whose stems and petals create an arabesque-like form. I will return to that graceful flower once my Salem College exhibit is complete.
What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with fellow artists?
I know it’s cliché, but follow your dreams. The day before my father, a machinist, died, he asked what course I was following in school. When I told him I’d be studying art, his face dropped. I’ll never forget that moment; I expect he was hoping that I was going to say business or law. But to his great credit he then smiled and told me that he loved me and wanted me to be happy in whatever I did with my life. I did stay with art, although, ironically, a big chunk of my career was in business—forecasting colors and designs and then developing commercial textiles. None of us can predict where a life in the arts will take us, but it’s always rich and fulfilling.
Please Join us for the Artist Reception at the Elberson Fine Arts Center, Salem College, on January 9th from 5-7pm.
If you are interested in learning more about this month’s artist, you can find their work online at www.deanrolandjohnson.com.
