James L Johnson Illustration and Fine Art

IAA Christmas Show 2011

2011-11-29T23:39:00.001-07:00

Hope you can come say hello! It would be a treat to see you at this classy and uplifting exhibit. (Great date night.) I'll be there between 6-9pm both evenings and hope to have a new large piece up, "Feed My Sheep." Come and see.

"Light of the World"

2011-10-12T14:45:00.003-06:00

Jesus Christ testified: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness” (John 8:12). Through Christ, we may see people and things in their true light, with the clarity of “charity...the pure love of Christ” (Moroni 7:47). President Gordon B. Hinckley urged us all to “let love become the lodestar of our lives… because of the love of God our Eternal Father and His own beloved Son, our salvation from the bonds of death is sure and our opportunity for eternal exaltation is certain. Let that divine love, shed on us, be reflected from our lives onto others of our Father’s children.” Do you know how to find the lodestar, or North Star? You can find it in this painting.

“He lives, my one sure rock of faith, / The one bright hope of men on earth, / The beacon to a better way, / The light beyond the veil of death” (Hymns, 135).

New Era Dec 2011 Illustrations

2011-09-09T17:13:00.007-06:00

Just remembered I hadn't posted this. I finished these illustrations for an article about Elder L. Tom Perry's visit to the MTC decades ago during Christmas, and how he and his family were blessed by the experience. If you want to read it (great little story) pick up a New Era this Christmas! The painting was tricky because all I had was a black and white photo of Elder Perry which I had to combine with color photography I took of other friends and missionaries.

"What...God Hath Joined Together"

2011-08-11T11:29:00.009-06:00

In light of the ongoing controversy concerning marriage between a man and a woman, may I add to the table my own visual representation of what I deem "the heart of the matter" - Did or did not God, in the beginning, ordain and sanctify marriage between a man and a woman? The scriptures have it:

"The Pharisees also came unto [Jesus], tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? - And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, - And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? - Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." -Matthew 19:6

Oh my friends - all of my friends, of whatever philosophy, belief, or persuasion - this is true. And it doesn't merit a lack of love or understanding of anyone, ever. But the blessings of eternity await those who live God's law, and who endure valiantly even the most difficult of trials. He will help the obedient. Loving unequivocally all of God's children, let us trust in, follow, and defend God's word and way - which has always been the way to lasting joy and peace.

Lift Up the Hands Which Hang Down

2011-07-31T20:18:00.000-06:00

"Lift up the hands which hang down..." (Hebrews 12:12)
I did this drawing for a class I'm taking currently at AAU. I think the message speaks for itself. How grateful I am for the hands which have helped me in my life - and there are a lot! Lord, help me to somehow, to at least the extent I am capable, pay it forward.

12"x20" Charcoal on Strathmore Paper

"Foot Wrestling" *

2011-07-30T21:40:00.000-06:00

Just in case anyone doesn't know, or has forgotten due to the nature of most of my posts on this blog, I am not all serious. I actually do have a sense of humor. This drawing was done from photos of my own feet (for the same class as the hands drawing). *No feet were harmed in the making of this drawing.

"Though Thy Sins Be As Scarlet" (Isaiah 1:18)

2011-06-03T21:26:00.004-06:00

I am so grateful for the miracle of repentance. Because of Christ, our Savior, the guilt that many live with on a daily basis may be washed fully away. Not only does He ask and allow us to become clean again, but through repentance we can become better, we can do more of the good He desires that we do. Finally, no unclean thing can dwell with God - but if cleansed through the power of Christ's atonement, we may return to live with the Lord in the hereafter for all eternity. I hope that my visual testimony of repentance will cause you to reflect on this marvelous gift.

QuickStudies-Best (Spr 2011)

2011-05-24T18:05:00.015-06:00

Here's a closer look at some of the better studies from my "Quick Studies" class at AAU this semester. Smaller versions of more paintings are included in the previous two posts. Enjoy! Side note, if anyone is interested in purchasing these originals, you would get a very good deal. Just email me. Sizes: 9"x12" (most) 11"x14" (a few).

1. Head of Christ Study (60 min)

2. Study for "Though Thy Sins Be as Scarlet" (60 min)

3. Study for "Faith...as the Brother of Jared" (60 min)

4. Study for "The Sower" (60 min)

5. Nephi Study for "The Prophetic Voice" (30 min)

6. Study for "Refiner's Fire" (40 min) - SOLD -

7. Study for "But a Small Moment" (30 min)

8. Isaiah Study for "The Prophetic Voice" (30 min)

9. "Pharisee Study" (25 min)

10. "Bearded Man Study" (40 min)

11. "Yams & Ivy" (60 min)

12. "Pear Pair" (30 min)

13. "Complimentary" (40 min)

14. "Bobbay" [Sister's pug] (60 min)

15. Study for "Desert Shades" (45 min)

16. Study for "Ode to Bishops" (40 min)

17. Study for "Fortified" (60 min)

18. "Rosi's Fruits" (45 min)

19. "Donna's Strawberries" (60 min)

20. "Empty Wealth" (30 min)

21. "Grass is Greener" (25 min) [i.e. Pepper wants to be Salt in mirror]

22. "Ode to Duct Tape" (30 min) [Because duct tape is a beautiful thing.]

QuickStudies-All (Spr 2011)

2011-05-24T12:17:00.006-06:00

Studies from my Quick Studies class at AAU last semester, first group is figurative; second, still life and landscape works. Most are 9"x12", although there are a few 11x14s as well. Each of these was done, with very few exceptions, in 25-40 minutes (but none took over 60). These would be quite rightly termed "exercises" - they represent a lot of mental exercise! But they have made my brushwork and sense of values stronger. I recommend to all serious oil painters a daily or weekly habit of painting quick but focused sketches like these - like laps to a runner, like scales to a musician, free throws to a basketball player. Enjoy!

"Trust in the Lord" (Proverbs 3:5-6)

2011-03-22T16:40:00.002-06:00

Proverbs 3:5-6 contains one of the Lord's most earnest pleas: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." O that the doubts and fears of our age might be forever abolished by faith in the Savior, Jesus Christ!

*24"x36" (oil on board). - SOLD -

"And a Little Child Shall Lead Them" (Isa. 11:6)

2011-02-25T14:31:00.003-07:00

Isaiah 11:6 speaks of the Millennial day, a long period where the earth where rest as Christ reigns over the righteous remaining on the earth. Says He through His prophet, "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them." In this painting, a child seems to me the perfect symbol of how we should follow Christ and thus be allowed to lead and live during that Millennial era. The grass and daisies represent submissiveness and innocence, respectively. May we become submissive to the Lord and innocent of sin, that we might foreshadow in joy that great period of peace!

*20"x60" (oil on canvas). -sold- (Commissioned by John and Val Brodie)

Still Lifes (Fall 2010)

2010-12-27T13:25:00.008-07:00

"Ode to Toast" - 12"x16" (oil on board)

"Hodgepodge" - 11"x14" (oil on board)

"Copper & Apples" - 11"x14" (oil on board)

"Low Key Gifts" - 9"x12" (oil on board)

"Dairy & Eggs" - 9"x12" (oil on board)

"Toast Crumbs" - 9"x12" (oil on board)

"Salsa & Cider" - 9"x12" (oil on board) -SOLD-

"Orange Slices" - 9"x12" (oil on board) -SOLD-

"Copper & Banana" - 9"x12" (oil on board)

"Glass & Melon" - 11"x14" (oil on board)

"Man's Ignorance" - 9"x12" (oil on board)

"Pear & Peppers" - 9"x12" (oil on board) -SOLD-

"Apple & Potato" - 11"x14" (oil on board) -SOLD-

"Heaven & Earth" - 11"x14" (oil on board)

All of these still lifes (most recent at top to earliest at bottom) were completed during this past semester at AAU for a Still Life class that I learned a lot from and especially gained valuable mileage and experience in. My hope is that my style is starting to become more solid and recognizable. If I could choose, I think I would be a mix of Pino, Dan Gerhartz, Jeff Legg, Leon Parson, Mian Situ, Morgan Weistling, and Walter Rane. In these particular paintings, I think the first three of those artists' influence primarily shows through. Having fun, had a great wedding (married to another artist - hooray!) and now off to make thank you cards and organize the studio for the new year. Lots of exciting stuff coming so stay tuned...and Merry Christmas!
$149 and up. Purchase/Inquire

Thankful (photo by Kenneth Hogland)

2010-11-15T11:23:00.005-07:00

Well, it's been quite a while since I posted. Here's why: I am getting married! Here we are, feeling thankful. I do apologize for not posting much lately, though I have been producing lots and lots of artwork! In about a week I am going to mass upload all of it at once: still lifes, one Church Magazines illustration, and 2-3 finished religious paintings, two of which I hope to begin distributing on a much larger scale than I have heretofore done. Check back soon, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Baptism (Liahona Feb '11)

2010-08-30T12:39:00.000-06:00

This illustration, for the Liahona magazine (also to appear in the Friend), is for the Feb 2011 issues. I enjoyed playing with brushstrokes a little more than usual on this one. On a thoughtful note, aren't the ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ beautiful in their simplicity and symbolism? Baptism symbolizes the death (going under the water) and resurrection (coming out of the water) of Jesus Christ, and a new spiritual birth. Truly both old and young who choose to follow Christ in obedience, may "come into the fold of God, and be called His people" (Mosiah 18:8), through this first saving ordinance of cleansing and commitment.

Ponder

2010-07-26T23:11:00.009-06:00

This was from a photo provided by (as is true of most of these and coming portraits for my portrait painting class) the graduate school I'm attending, but the pose had personal meaning (especially after I made the photo's book into scriptures) and caused me to reflect on, well, reflection: pondering. Peace. Stillness. Communion with God. A channel is required in order for God's Spirit to whisper to you and I. That channel is the mind (and heart). Music is good, productivity is good. But oh, the power of calm.
*24"x30" (oil on board). $299. Purchase/Inquire

Several Studies (Portrait Painting Class)

2010-07-16T22:49:00.011-06:00

Prophet 16"x20" Oil on board

Richard (16"x20" oil on board)

Emi (16"x20 oil on board)

Ben (16"x20" oil on board)

I continue to work on my masters at AAU and am currently taking a faster-than-fast summer semester course in Portrait Painting. So these are a little rushed, but then you learn something when you are forced to go fast. That's for sure. ps: I would give anyone a great deal if they wanted to purchase one of these, just contact me (see top right).
$249 (all). Purchase/Inquire

Holly (Scripture Journal Dec '10)

2010-07-16T22:29:00.004-06:00

This girl was recently baptized and is in my parents' ward, she agreed to pose and was really nice. As is their whole family. This one will come out in this December's Friend and Liahona magazines.

Kyle & Kayla (Scripture Journal Oct '10)

2010-07-16T21:51:00.004-06:00

My cousin and first cousin once removed! I think they should be professional models, don't you? Sure have enjoyed these Scripture Journal assignments. Look for this in October's Friend and Liahona magazines.

Vizille Castle

2010-05-30T21:32:00.001-06:00

This study (below) and then larger painting (above) was done for a friend who had once visited Vizille Castle (France), and after asking me to paint the scene, happened to return again recently on an LDS mission. I tried to be pretty impressionistic in color and style as such seemed appropriate. (I mean, it IS French.)

*Study: 11"x14" (oil on canvas),
*Final: 24"x30" (oil on canvas). -SOLD-

Hope of the Holy City

2010-05-24T17:02:00.003-06:00

O Jerusalem, again I paint thee. This time, only barely visible through thick dark branches that all but obscure much of the city. And so it is today for some in a broader sense...but for all who believe in the words of the Old and New Testament, the hope of the Son shines on through.
*20"x40" (oil on canvas). $995. Purchase/Inquire

Sombra de La Palma

2010-05-24T16:19:00.006-06:00

Another mission piece. I served part of my mission on this island, another painting from a photo I took there. It really is a beautiful island, even on a cloudy day in the shade. The people are mostly what I remember best, I just got back in touch with a few. Hope I can go back soon to visit and do more.

*20"x24" (oil on canvas). $750. Purchase/Inquire

"How Beautiful Upon the Mountains"

2010-05-11T01:18:00.006-06:00

This is based on a picture I took on my mission (2-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) in the Canary Islands of Spain. This view is of the capital city of the islands, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Sure does bring back memories. I hope this gives everyone who has served a mission a feeling of the beauty and grandeur of such a wonderful opportunity. As I looked at the painting afterward it came to mean to me that, in missionary service, we leave the barren desert of selfishness and the world (bottom third of painting) to serve thousands of God's children (middle) and in so doing find the heavens smiling down upon us (top third). Indeed, as Isaiah wrote, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings; that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good; that publisheth salvation"!

*24"x30" (oil on canvas). $995. Purchase/Inquire

"A Truck's Vigil"

2010-05-07T13:51:00.005-06:00

This would technically be part of my "Welcome Home" series of studies since it is a place where my family has lived. Of course it is now (obviously) a vacant lot which the developer is just sitting on currently, though as shown by the trucks here there are some excavators, etc, who do a few things there. (One of them bought this study from me on the spot actually in cash). Anyway, perhaps this is appropriate to post around mother's day because it the now vacant lot was the property of my late and dear grandmother, and my father was born and raised there. So much history behind this but I'll forbear. For now, the only one on the property is this truck and driver, keeping vigil so to speak.

*9"x12" (oil on canvas). SOLD

"Latter-Day Voices" September 2010

2010-05-04T14:56:00.004-06:00

These illustrations are all for short stories to be published in this September's Ensign magazine (first time I'm actually in the Ensign) :) The first illustration shows a service missionary (model: my friend Scott) who asks the father of the host family (not members of the Church) he's staying with - despite trepidation - if he would like to pray with him one evening. The second (model: my sister Stef!) is about a young wife who is guided to find her stranded husband in the rain. The third, a woman from El Salvador decides, after already preparing food to sell on Sunday, that she will wait after all and instead of continuing to work on the Sabbath, begin to obey and trust the Lord to provide for her (and she is, of course, blessed). The fourth deals with the two Chilean parents' faith during a difficult trial involving their premature newborn infant. These were all very hard to do and I'm relieved they're completed. ps: This is my 100th post!

Welcome Home Series: "Ramona Ave"

2010-04-27T12:33:00.004-06:00

Thought it would be fun to do landscapes of all the different houses/places of residence I and/or my parents have lived in growing up and this was the most recent. So hopefully more soon to come. Did this all on location, which I have slacked off in doing heretofore because of weather and the convenience of just staying home and working from photos on my computer monitor. But you know what, in art and even life you just gotta pay the price to see things how they really are, and if you don't you still pay for it in the end because of the consequences resulting from that lack of true vision. So I'm gonna pay up front I decided, and start getting outside despite the extra effort I sometimes find myself reluctant to expend.

*9"x12" (oil on canvas). $195. Purchase/Inquire

"Study - Rexburg Temple at Night"

2010-04-27T12:30:00.002-06:00

Study from a picture I took. The temple truly is a beacon both literally and figuratively, as well as a near perfect symbol of Jesus Christ. The Rexburg temple at night uniquely stands out even compared to other temples in the distance which it can be seen from all around (as the surrounding terrain is relatively flat farm country for miles with just some smaller towns). Driving there from Idaho Falls I could see it from 7 miles away at night (and before anything else in the city). "I love to see the temple!"

*9"x12" (oil on canvas). $195. Purchase/Inquire

"Fields of (Fools) Gold"

2010-04-27T12:00:00.006-06:00

See previous post for an explanation of this crazy style. One more fun fact about Fauvism (the style in which this one is painted) ... "Les Fauves" is French for "the Wild Beasts"! As might be expected, when the movement commenced in 1900 this kind of thing really did appear pretty wild. I really had fun doing this one though because in honor of the movements name I dressed up like a lion while painting it.†
*11"x14" (oil on canvas). $225. Purchase/Inquire
† No, of course not really (I could only find a bear suit) ;)

Fauves in Candyland*

2010-04-27T11:47:00.005-06:00

(Candyland, that is, minus actual candy - just the same color scheme/feel.) :)
Fauves were proponents of Fauvism, which is: "A style of painting with vivid expressionistic and nonnaturalistic use of color that flourished in Paris" for about 3 years. Most prominent artist of the period was probably Henri Matisse. (I personally like to think of it as a blend of cubism and Van Gogh-style Post-Impressionism.) This piece was done for a class - if you couldn't tell, it's not my usual style. But this and especially the other one was surprisingly a lot of fun!
*11"x14" (oil on canvas). $225. Purchase/Inquire

McKenzie (Scripture Journal Sep '10)

2010-04-20T13:42:00.004-06:00

The latest in the series, this girl who is in my parents' ward did a great job posing and is excited to be famous soon... :)

"Naturally Superior"

2010-04-12T16:25:00.004-06:00

This tree is in front of some offices nearby in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. The tree is one of the most beautiful I've seen (took the picture last fall). I decided to emphasize in the painting nature's superior splendor when compared with man's feeble attempts to create functional aesthetics--not that I would mock our effort or results in that area...I simply mean to point out how, as evidenced by even this simple tree, God is a better artist than I or any architect will ever here become.

*9"x12" (oil on canvas). $195. Purchase/Inquire

"Napa Valley Summer"

2010-04-03T22:28:00.002-06:00

This was a great chance to work bigger; most of the landscapes you see on here are small, 9x12 or sometimes 11x14 studies and it's hard to get things crisp and sharp. I enjoyed experimenting with color on this one too.

*24"x30" (oil on canvas). $995. Purchase/Inquire

"Temple Blessings" (Guatemala City)

2010-04-03T22:24:00.001-06:00

As already mentioned in a previous Ensign magazine, there will be a special publication currently in production which will be distributed in October in place of that month's Ensign and Liahona magazines to members of the Church, a "Temples" booklet. (There is a current "Temples" booklet available in Church distribution centers, etc, but it is around a decade old and so they are simply producing a new updated one). These two illustrations, as well as the next, will be published there. I just found out these are the only actual illustrations in that booklet (the rest is photography). This story is illustrating a couple's journey from Panama to Guatemala City to be married for eternity in the temple there. *NOTE: These illustrations will actually not appear in this year's issue of Temples after all, they did not match the style (heavily photographic) of the overall magazines.

"Temple Blessings" (Parents)

2010-04-03T22:21:00.004-06:00

3rd illustration for same article as accompanying post. Dave Wilcox's wonderful parents posed for this illustration during a visit to their home in Washington. This will also be published in the same article as for the previous post, so will be published in this October's Ensign. This article talked about how the temple can inspire parents in their responsibilities to help and teach their children.

"A Steady, Upward Course"

2010-04-03T22:08:00.003-06:00

Brigham Young University-Idaho, whose slogan is "Rethinking Education", is a remarkable haven of training for moral leaders whose influence will be felt in homes and workplaces all over the world. People just don't yet realize what power is in this institution. And for me it really felt like, as a fellow student named Josh Clare put it - though he was referring to one class - a "Garden of Eden" of learning. (Ok so maybe during the 8-month winter it didn't appear that way so much...)

*9"x12" (oil on canvas). $195. Purchase/Inquire

"Wave Back"

2010-04-03T22:06:00.002-06:00

Oh the nostalgia of this scene (and the next painting as well). A scene from BYU-Idaho right across the street from the Spori building. But I mean to express with this painting the overall idea that when we wave to someone they know, they wave back. The Lord is ever "waving" to us, in nature alone (just look at those clouds!) and countless other ways...are we waving back?

*9"x12" (oil on canvas). $195. Purchase/Inquire

"Study - Rexburg Temple"

2010-04-03T21:52:00.003-06:00

I hesitate to post this in such an unrefined format, as this was a study and thus precision of line and edge is not great, especially considering the beauty and importance of the structure. But I would enjoy maybe taking it to a finish sometime, as the Lord's design of the clouds when I took the picture was breathtaking.

*9"x12" (oil on canvas). $195. Purchase/Inquire

"Come...Ye that Labor"

2010-03-09T11:37:00.005-07:00

The title of this one refers to what came to mind when I really studied this image after having completed it. I realized that there is this beautiful contrast between the still, quiet waters and dock below - just waiting for some burdened human being to come and "take a load off" therein - and the busy, antenna-laden cabin above. Don't you agree that sometimes, in an effort to relax and relieve our burdens, we let technology rob us of at least some time to ponder, meditate, and commune with God - He who would truly give us rest?

*9"x12" (oil on canvas). $195. Purchase/Inquire

"Come Home"

2010-03-09T11:27:00.003-07:00

In this piece I wanted to express the warm and welcoming feeling of home at the end of a long day. It just beckons to you, you know? p.s. If you haven't heard it, look up the song as sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, "O Home Beloved" - love it.

*9"x12" (oil on canvas). $195. Purchase/Inquire

"A Restful Calm"

2010-03-09T11:20:00.005-07:00

This is also taken from a picture I took while in the Holy Land (though I need to check and see where exactly...I think near Galilee). Mostly, this was a chance for me to experiment with brushstroke and color on a smaller scale.

*9"x12" (oil on canvas). $195. Purchase/Inquire

"Conflicts Forgotten"

2010-03-09T10:52:00.004-07:00

This title has various interpretations. I carefully chose the words and feel there is some rich symbolism here on several levels. I would love to hear how you interpret the symbols, placement, and focal point(s) of the main elements in the painting as it relates to Jerusalem in any way. One hint: a weakness of this painting is also a symbolic statement: There is no one clear unmistakable focal point. But there should be. Ill post my own interpretation in a while on my other blog, The Underpainting.

*9"x12" (oil on canvas). $195. Purchase/Inquire

"Barn's the Focal Point"

2010-02-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

I like this title because you see it describes where the focal point of this painting is at (the barn in the middle with the big red roof). And thus, were anyone to miss the other 5,000 clues indicating that such is the case, they would have an instant, verbal, awesome clue that's like way super helpful!!

*11"x14" (oil on canvas). $225. Purchase/Inquire

"A Hug for Jennifer" (Aug '10)

2010-02-19T16:42:00.004-07:00

This illustration, also for The Friend and Liahona magazines (August issues), is for a very simple, short, but profound story about a little girl (that my cousin Rebecca posed as) who, troubled and in tears, goes to her Heavenly Father in secret prayer - under her blanket - and finds peace as warm as a comforter and as comforting as a hug. Oh, that we could all be like this little child!

"Green Green Galilee"

2010-02-16T16:33:00.001-07:00

The first of many landscape paintings to come done from photos I took during my four months studying abroad at the BYU-Jerusalem Center in Israel. Many of those photos were taken from the bus. Galilee really is this green (actually greener), and of course it is naturally greenest during springtime, which is when I took the photo I worked from.

*11"x14" (oil on canvas). $225. Purchase/Inquire

"Heritage Park Barn - Sunset"

2010-02-16T16:15:00.000-07:00

For just 5 minutes from bustling downtown Salt Lake City, Heritage Park and its rugged barns and landscape is a breath of fresh air for me, and I loved the light of the sunset on the hills behind.

*9"x12" (oil on canvas). $195. Purchase/Inquire

"Glowing Field"

2010-02-16T15:52:00.001-07:00

This photo was provided by my grad school and I don't know where it was taken, however I do know that I thoroughly enjoyed painting it.

*11"x14" (oil on canvas). $225. Purchase/Inquire

Deborah (Scripture Journal May '10)

2010-02-08T15:31:00.002-07:00

This girl was so sweet. Her whole family was just kind and warm and I loved the chance to be in their humble (but brightly decorated with hand-knit decor) home. I kept telling her what beautiful hair she had. I found out later it was actually a wig. That's okay. (shh don't tell readers of The Friend) :) (just kidding, you actually can)

Sam (Scripture Journal July '10)

2010-01-28T23:21:00.008-07:00

My parents' stake presidents' son. :) Im sure whenever he REALLY reads his scriptures, its just like this - on a stool, good posture, nice collar shirt, hair combed, perfectly mild expression with a tinge of joy...yep. I know thats how I read... always... ;) I jest, but truthfully I enjoy painting these because studying the word of the Lord with real intent - which teaches us to become even as a little child - really is a sure ticket to lasting peace, real joy.

Purchasing Original Artwork

2010-01-18T12:15:00.007-07:00

If you wish to purchase original artwork, please send an email to art.jamesjohnson@gmail.com. Include the title of the piece you wish to purchase in the subject. I will respond within 3 business days to coordinate details. This will be standard procedure until my website and store are up and running. (To find all available original artwork for sale, click the link on the right entitled "Originals4Sale" under "Categories".)

Bryson (Scripture Journal June '10)

2010-01-07T21:11:00.011-07:00

For a feature that will run in the Liahona/Friend magazines during 2010, geared towards helping children study the scriptures. I did another piece for this feature (Kathleen) that's running in this month's (January) Friend.
Bryson here's my cousin! The only thing I forgot was the halo around his head. And his younger sister, my set director - while I snapped pictures she kept trying to snap him into a better pose. Next time I'll bring a chair/bullhorn.

Childrens Book Examples

2009-12-22T15:15:00.006-07:00

These are not going to be published, but were good practice. For my illustration class at AAU last semester.
-SOLD-

Fragrance*

2009-12-22T14:27:00.009-07:00

I took the photo this was based off while in Israel.

*10"x19" (oil on canvas). $299. Purchase/Inquire

"Envy"

2009-11-25T12:12:00.015-07:00

Pastels, red analogous/split complement. Dont know the model...The colors I chose combined with this photo just seemed to fit a theme:

“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on...”
-Shakespeare, Othello

As I sift through the political and social problems of our world, I keep coming back to the sad truth that no public policy can eliminate envy--the root of all evil. A Book of Mormon prophet saw our day, and said: “There are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts…unto envying” (Mormon 8:36). How sad, how true. The Savior warned, “Beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). Charity is the opposite of envy. O that we might know and act according to the precious truth that, in the eternal scheme of things, your gain is not my loss!

*16"x20" (pastel on strathmore paper). $399. Purchase/Inquire

Portrait: Stefanie Correne Nelson

2009-11-25T03:27:00.004-07:00

My dear sister. I really enjoyed doing this one, and sure love my sister Stef-- one of the mildest, kindest, randomest, bestest people in the world.

Dajuan*

2009-11-25T03:24:00.011-07:00

Contrary to popular belief (someone started a rumor)--no, this is not my father. :) (kidding). Actually, the name Dajuan, which I arbitrarily used to title this piece, means "God is gracious." I feel that the pose and visage of this model matches that of someone in a moment of quiet reflection who has just come to realize how true that is. Perhaps such a realization is also precedent to a moment of real change and reform in their own life.

*16"x22" (pastel on strathmore paper). $349. Purchase/Inquire

Sfumata*

2009-11-13T00:37:00.005-07:00

Another head drawing, a little more than head this time, for grad school again, this week's focus was "sfumato" which means "smoke" in Italian and basically means "make soft, lost, smoke-like edges so that the hard, crisp edges at the focal point are more interesting." I decided to name the girl Sfumata.

*10"x18" (pastel pencil on strathmore paper). $199. Purchase/Inquire

English Convert*

2009-10-28T14:24:00.007-06:00

I thought this fellow looked like one of the many early LDS Church converts who emigrated in the 1800's from Great Britain amid hardships and sacrifice, but to their utter joy and satisfaction.

*11"x16" (pastel pencil on strathmore paper). $199. Purchase/Inquire

Caiaphas*

2009-10-28T14:20:00.006-06:00

This recent set of drawings are actually all from pictures provided by AAU where Im doing grad school online. However I think some of the drawings look a lot like Bible and other religious figures, in this case, Caiaphas.

*10"x14" (pastel pencil on strathmore paper). $125. Purchase/Inquire

Yezekiah*

2009-10-28T13:40:00.009-06:00

Until recent ancient amazing tattered documents* were discovered, no one knew that Hezekiah's twin brother was named Yezekiah! There is also some speculation that this is just a redo of a grad school head drawing assignment. Unless elusive facts are verified, the world may never know...
*location and veracity of documents incredibly uncertain

*10"x12" (pastel pencil on strathmore paper). $125. Purchase/Inquire

Costume Art

2009-10-27T14:45:00.000-06:00

Happy Halloween! Here's some costume art. I'm a lamp. (Thats duct tape and a flashlight on my chest). What are some good costumes you've seen?

Shane-San

2009-09-19T13:46:00.002-06:00

My corrected drawings of Shane Warner, my good friend and former roommate. Well, actually one is of Shane's brother Dwayne who almost looks like him but not quite. :)

Hezekiah*

2009-09-11T11:58:00.005-06:00

A drawing for my Head Drawing class of the Old Testament figure Hezekiah. I decided to use a somewhat weathered black and white photograph of the king, found with the Dead Sea Scrolls in Qumran (thanks Dr. Seely!) The ancient photo was really fuzzy and tattered, so I decided to restore it in pastels. TA-DA! (Fun Fact: Until this photograph's discovery, it was virtually unknown that either cameras or t-shirts existed anciently!) ;) (kidding of course...photo provided by my grad school of some random man)

*9"x12" (pastel pencil on strathmore paper). $99. Purchase/Inquire

Deborah*

2009-09-10T23:59:00.000-06:00

*10"x14" (pastel pencil on strathmore paper). $125. Purchase/Inquire

Simon*

2009-09-10T14:38:00.004-06:00

*10"x14" (pastel pencil on strathmore paper). $125. Purchase/Inquire

Head Drawing - William Maughan

2009-09-10T14:28:00.004-06:00

These, along with the subsequent head drawings using the same technique, are exercises done for my head drawing class under the direction of Bill Maughan, a great illustrator and artist who emphasizes edge control and shadow shapes in his classes to best achieve depth and likeness in any drawing or portrait. One learns so much by just focusing for an extended period of time on simple, but tried and true principles!

Ball

2009-09-09T14:34:00.003-06:00

So here's the thing: If you can draw a ball right, you can probably draw a whole lot of other things right. This ball took me 47 hours*.
*Just kidding about how long it took

Dario, Lexie, Zach (Scripture Journal Feb '10)

2009-09-02T18:16:00.009-06:00

Two new illustrations for the Liahona magazine...February issue. The kid reading the scriptures speaks for himself, and the two kids standing there are supposed to be simply looking happy to be here on Earth, learning and growing closer to their Heavenly Father. Ive been trying out kind of a new style recently, painting thinner and looser in non-focal areas. Having fun!

"Out Back"*

2009-08-19T20:34:00.004-06:00

Another landscape study done in the Ogden area of northern Utah.

*8"x10" (oil on canvas). $195. Purchase/Inquire

"Nestled"*

2009-08-12T21:05:00.001-06:00

A landscape study done in Northern Utah (the greater Ogden area).

*8"x10" (Oil on canvas). $195. Purchase/Inquire

Seely Portrait

2009-08-06T23:10:00.004-06:00

A little portrait of my good friends Katy and Beno Seely (who aren't this young anymore) whose parents commissioned the piece, since their two older siblings already had already gotten one done years ago by another artist.

Kathleen (Scripture Journal Jan '10)

2009-08-04T19:23:00.006-06:00

For a feature that will run in the Liahona and Friend magazines during 2010, geared towards helping children study the scriptures. This adorable girl is Kathleen, my (breath) sister's husband's sister's daughter twice removed. (ok...Just kidding about the twice removed part)

Sketch of a Fellow James

2009-08-03T22:20:00.000-06:00

A little sketch for a friend from the church back in Boise. The Peterson family has always been so fun, it was neat to do this for them. (For various reasons, I used none other than a Facebook picture as reference for this one! haha)

Strength to Overcome

2009-07-21T12:38:00.002-06:00

A commissioned piece, partly based on Genesis 3:13-15 (and Moses 4:19-21): “And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all…beast(s) of the field…And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed (Christ); [he] (Christ) shall bruise [Hebrew crush] thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." For further comments, visit “The Underpainting” (link located at right). Prints will be available later on.

Portrait: Jenni L Johnson

2009-07-16T14:28:00.005-06:00

This is mine seester. Today is her birthday so I gave her this painting I did a few months ago. She's the one with the blue shirt on, in front of the bushes.

Portrait: Jeremy C Johnson

2009-07-10T10:15:00.007-06:00

Actually this is a portrait of both Jeremy (my brother) and Kara (his french horn). Jeremy's the one in the black suit, and Kara is the shiny one.

Salt Lake City!

2009-06-27T23:02:00.008-06:00

Howdy strangers! I owe you a little update. First, yes, a new look to the blog--I want it to more closely match my website, which is currently under construction. I hope you like it and that it's easier to read.
Next, since the semester of grad school ended, I have now moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. I have been in the the same Rexburg apartment for about three years, so the move has occasioned massive de-junking along with setting up my studio (which is so much nicer than I've had before, even though it's still fairly small). If anyone is interested I could take a picture but I'll just describe it: it's half my room and I paint there.

But here's an outside shot of the new place! It's oh somewhere you know over the rainbow, pot of gold included with rent, (I'm thinking of selling it to Goldline but first I'd have to actually buy the place).

Meanwhile, I'm finally starting work on a children's book and some commissions. I'm about to complete a piece about Genesis 3:15 and Moses 4:21, so stay tuned. The children's book is an all-summer project; I'll be posting more about that later on as well. Cheerio!

"A Sure Foundation"

2009-05-15T00:59:00.005-06:00

A version of my final painting this semester (having cropped out, actually, an unfinished version of the Savior's profile, it not being high quality enough yet). "And now my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation, that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you...because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build, they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12)

Snow White and the 7 Dwarves

2009-05-11T04:38:00.006-06:00

My final for "Drawing From Imagination" class brought everything together we've studied this semester: perspective, light/shadow, figures/clothing, and reflections. I watched (and really enjoyed!) "The Silly Song" from Disney's original Snow White movie for inspiration; other than that this came totally from the ol' noggin.

Fur Coat*

2009-04-29T09:34:00.006-06:00

I really enjoyed this one (grad school again) because of the gorgeous pose, skin tones, and color in general already present in the reference photo and which I tried my best to translate to oil. Learning lots.

*9"x12" (oil on canvas). $249. Purchase/Inquire

Final Liahona/New Era Paintings

2009-04-23T13:36:00.005-06:00

Well, here are the finals for the article about member missionary work to appear in the September 2009 Liahona/New Era. I had a lot of fun with these and am grateful for all the help from the great models. By the way, if you know me even remotely, and if you live anywhere near me, just be prepared now to eventually be approached about modeling for me in a painting sometime. :)

Liahona Illustration (1 of 3)

2009-04-17T06:32:00.007-06:00

This still isn't finished, just to clarify...but Im close. The above is my painting proces after half the work is through, that is, taking the photo reference and preparing the composition. I do my finished composing on Photoshop versus pencil and paper. Ill usually only actually sketch out my basic idea, general poses and placement. This painting, along with 2 others, is for the September issue of the Liahona and New Era magazines.

Comfort Food*

2009-03-27T09:46:00.008-06:00

Sometimes I love digging in with almost a furious curiosity as I study the word of the Lord. But often, I just need to hear confirmation of the Lord's great mercy and receive that hope which "healeth the wounded soul" (Jacob 2:8).

*16"x20" (oil on canvas). $349. Purchase/Inquire

Study (A Ghost?)

2009-03-05T13:24:00.006-07:00

So I was walking around in this room one day and this guy was walking all mysterious like in this sheet, and I was like, "Whoa! Hold that pose man!" And I painted furiously until I finished this wonderful painting. I like to think he was a ghost, with two holes cut out over the eyes on the opposite side. But I'll never know. I only saw the mysterious figure from the back. Then he vanished...but I have the PROOF right here that it all happened. Well kind of. Ok fine it was an assignment from a photo the grad school provided. But maybe they photographed a ghost... ;p

Daniel 2:44-45

2009-03-03T12:07:00.008-07:00

This story is rich in meaning and doctrine. Detailed comments on my other blog. I like the Savior's prayer and believe it complements this Old Testament dream and interpretation: "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."

"But [Joseph] Refused"

2009-02-26T12:54:00.011-07:00

Genesis 39:7-9

"And it came to pass...that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, "Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"

Joseph is a sterling example of resisting temptation with an iron will no matter the cost. Our world needs that kind of example.

More Studies

2009-02-26T12:33:00.008-07:00

Also for my Situation & Environment painting class: a fabric/folds study, and an interior scene (they provided the photo of the interior, I set up the pillowcase). I painted them around Valentine's Day, and one of the shadows in the fabric makes a heart. Accordingly, my roommate thought a good title might be "Fabricated Love". (Anyone who knows my punny self knows I had to acquiesce.)

The Friend Illustration

2009-02-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

I was so happy to get an assignment from The Friend magazine! It will be in the May issue (along with a story of Lindsay Law's, I found out). It's basically about lessons learned when the author learned to play the hymns as a boy. I had to do a significant amount of inventing on this one to make it match the requirements. The original photo that I took is of a similar boy but with black hair and a yellow shirt, playing an electric piano that's black and short, with a hymnbook that is actuall bigger and orange, and there was no metronome or egg timer at all (hooray for google image search). My illustration training at BYU-I and currently in AAU's "Drawing from Imagination" is really coming in handy.

Figure Studies

2009-02-26T12:20:00.003-07:00

These were done for my Situation & Environment figure painting class. For the girl in the white dress I worked from a photo, the one with a green sweatshirt I did the face from the life and the rest from my photo. They were both done in a (very) limited palette as the assignment required. It is very difficult to get vibrancy using just titanium white, yellow ochre, terra rosa, and ivory black but it wasn't long before I realized just how much vibrancy you can get even with limited resources and how truly relative color is!

Peace in the Middle East

2009-02-20T12:00:00.002-07:00

This drawing, done for my Drawing From Imagination class, depicts "Downtown Jerusalem" at the time of Christ. "Downtown", or one of the busiest places in the city, at the time was actually right outside the walls of the Temple of Herod, which walls you see on the right (the entrances in the background and above lead to the main court of the temple). The open doors would have been shops. Christ is meant to be a focal point of the piece, though obviously the dove in the foreground is just so big that it has to be the primary focal point. As a friend pointed out and helped me articulate, the doves may well represent the Holy Ghost's workings among the people at the time of Christ, who gained a testimony of His divinity by the power thereof.

Grad School!

2009-02-19T14:13:00.000-07:00

Just so you know, I have been sparse on posting because I am adjusting to a new and hectic schedule which now includes grad school! I am getting my MFA in Illustration through the Academy of Art University in San Francisco--however I'm getting my degree online, and so 100% of the work is assigned, submitted, and reviewed over the internet. I love it. It affords me freedom to remain close to friends, family, and other important resources and contacts. Below you'll find some new posts, most of which are assignments for grad school. I am taking three classes: Drawing from Imagination, Situation and Environment (which is actually a figure painting class emphasizing how clothing and environment affects the figure and mood of a figurative painting), and a Renaissance Art History class.

4 Available Religious Prints

2008-12-07T17:00:00.002-07:00

Each of these four paintings are available as 11"x17" giclee canvas prints, for $59. Ill take $5 off each additional print.

You can see the paintings in greater detail by clicking here, then scrolling down past this post to the four below.

To order, just email me at art.jamesjohnson@gmail.com - include your name, mailing address, and the title of which print(s) you would like. I will then send you an invoice via PayPal email invoicing (you do not need a PayPal account, however). As soon as your payment is confirmed, I will have the print(s) mailed to the address(es) you provided me in your first email.

Upon This Rock

2008-11-16T00:44:00.008-07:00

Matthew 16:15-19
He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

How will you come to know Jesus as the Christ? What is the difference between knowing Him as your Savior, and merely knowing about Him? How is that saving knowledge revealed? Could Peter have led the Church of Jesus Christ without revelation? Authority? Priesthood keys? Can you follow the Savior without following His living prophet? Come unto Christ—through all of the means He has appointed.

Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord?

2008-11-04T20:55:00.011-07:00

Psalm 24:3-4
Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

How is a temple like unto a hill belonging to the Lord? What makes it His holy place? Are His temples holy because of the quality of materials used in their construction alone? Because of the quiet hush and white clothing found within their walls? What makes you holy? Who must clean your hands? Who must purify your heart? Is your conscience clean, pure, and white? Ascend into, and not merely unto, the house of the Lord.

The Spirit of Revelation

2008-10-17T13:18:00.009-06:00

Doctrine & Covenants 8:2-3
Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart. Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.

What do you feel when the Holy Ghost speaks to your mind? To your heart? When was the last time you recognized a prompting from the Spirit? Why did the Lord cite the specific example of Moses parting the Red Sea, of all other possible examples, to describe the spirit of revelation? How urgently did he need revelation at that time? How urgently do you need it now? Do you seek heaven’s light? Open the curtains.

Feast Upon the Word

2008-10-17T13:12:00.010-06:00

2 Nephi 32:3
Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

Do you have a spirit within you? Must it be fed? With what frequency shall you feed it, and what shall the main course be when you do—the Savior’s milk, bread, fruits, and meat? The world’s processed imitations? Will you merely look at the Savior’s words, or will you ponder and chew on them, swallow them, make them a part of your very being, and exercise faith in Christ that the nutrients go not wasted? You are what you eat.

Painting Process "Ascend"

2008-10-17T13:11:00.000-06:00

The Devil's Favorite Color

2008-10-17T12:58:00.010-06:00

This particular painting was originally inspired by a scripture in Moroni 7 (several verses apply). Though Satan's efforts to thwart God's plan will never prevail, unfortunately he gains great hold over the hearts of those who do not give heed to their conscience, the light of Christ, and the Holy Ghost. He grays the evil and the good as though neither existed. What a lie!

-SOLD-

Eve's Temptation*

2008-10-17T12:54:00.003-06:00

The fall of Adam and Eve was a necessary part of God's plan that was nevertheless initiated through evil motives of that serpent, even Satan. Like often happens, however, his efforts to thwart God's work and glory only make the truly faithful more devoted to their true Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

*6"x6" (oil on board). Framed (13"x13" w frame). $395. Purchase/Inquire

Building Zion

2008-10-17T12:49:00.002-06:00

There's lots of symbolism associated with this one. Zion is the pure in heart, for example. I will let you try and find out the rest, though it's not hard to find them if you're familiar with the LDS scriptures.

Davey & Kristi (with revisions)

2008-08-25T12:45:00.003-06:00

A commissioned portrait done for some friends. They were in my group of about 70 who had the incredible opportunity of studying abroad for 4 months in the Holy Land at the BYU-Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies. They met there and were married several months later. Thus the background elements of an olive tree, the city of Jerusalem with its Dome of the Rock, and the BYU-Jerusalem Center building. *Revisions completed in June 09*

Nice Yard

2008-08-22T11:42:00.002-06:00

I was walking with my sister down the street that my parents just moved into around Salt Lake City, Utah, when I saw this beautiful yard. I complimented the man doing the gardening around the corner, who (to make a long story short) ended up finding out I was an artist and commissioning me on the spot to do this painting. It was my first landscape commission and a pleasure to complete. I took some liberties with the colors, which were influenced by an inspiring workshop I had recently attended by Ovanis Berberian.
-SOLD-