"West Coast Summer"

The West Coast of Vancouver Island Canada has always been a magical place for me. I have experienced every season and each one of them has something unique to offer. However, the one thing that the seasons share is the surf. Sometimes it is exciting with storm force winds and driving rain. Other times, as depicted in this image, it is quite peaceful almost soothing. It is always interesting to observe how people interact with the surf.
Thank-you for stopping by...

The Summer Slowdown

Hello again everyone and thank you for stopping by. This summer has been filled with lots of artshows and reference gathering trips in preparation for this winters drawing sessions. Lots ideas are on the board so stay tuned and check back often.

I would like to take a moment to congratulate and thank my newest collector. This client has purchased the original of "Bute Inlet Fishing Hole - Grizzly Bear" I hope you enjoy this piece for many years to come. :)
I would also like to mention my current show. My work is hanging as the feature artist at Impressions Gallery and Custom Framing in Campbell River B.C. A selection of works are hanging until 22 Sep 09. If you are in the local area, stop by and have a look.

Next I'd like to share with you a small study piece I'm working on that was inspired by a recent trip to Tofino, B.C. Canada.

The Art Season is on a roll !

Well hello again everyone and and thank-you for stopping by. I wanted to give you an update as to the goings on over the past months. It has been a very busy time this past little while. As you can read in the previous entries I have had a couple shows and my first Solo Show. All have been a great success and I'm glad all the hard work has paid-off. I'd like to share with you a few images from the the shows as well as my set-up for this years Quadra Island Studio Tour.
I'd also like to mention that my image of the wolf titled "On the Prowl - Wolf" has won two awards in the Campbell River Art Gallery Annual Juried Show. It won and "Honourable Mention" and also the "Peoples Choice Award" for 80 plus entries. I am quite happy with the outcome.
I hope to be able to get back to the drawing board soon as lots of ideas are piling up...so please stay tuned.
Once again, Thank-you for stopping by... Kevin,

Show Time

Well the time is here that every artist waits for. The time in the journey to take the next step, or what ever we think that next step might be. For me that next step is getting my art in front of as many people as I can so that they can see and appreciate what it is that I am so passionate about. What better way to do that then to hold an exhibit that features your hard work. I like to call it the "Solo Show". For me, it started last night.
I have spent the past few weeks pouring over the framing table to get the pieces show ready and it was nice last night to sit and enjoy it with the one I love. It does feel nice to see my work hanging for everyone to see.
Wish everyone out there could come see how it looks as well. I will try to share the moment by taking some pictures of the venue later on.
Thank-you to everyone who has stopped by to see this unfold. It is your kind words that mean so much. :)
Kevin

Bute Inlet Fishing Hole - Grizzly Bear

I'd like to share with you the final image and story for this piece.

Bute Inlet, cutting into the Coastal Mountain Range of mainland British Columbia, is renowned for it’s majestic mountain vistas, rugged unsettled land and Grizzly Bears. In the fall of 2008 I experienced these bears up close and personal at Orford River; so close at some points it was all I could do to stand my ground. Thank goodness for our Guide and his “bear stick”. With this piece I hope to give you an up close glimpse of this magnificent giant. May they continue to fish these waters long after we leave.

Thank you for stopping by my page and taking the time to look at my work. Kevin

Latest Preview

I thought I would step back from the framing table and take a break from show preparation. I wanted to give you a glimpse of the piece that's on the drawing board. I hope to have this work completed for the upcoming solo show at the end of this month. Here is a tiny preview for now.
Enjoy

Show update

Hello again and thank you for stopping by.

I've been away for a bit so I thought I would check in and pass along some of the latest news. I have been busy lately preparing for two upcoming shows, so its been a time of decisions and preparation. This will be my first big jump into showing my work off in a venue like this so lots to do...

My first show is my first solo show and it will be at the Heriot Bay Inn which is one of our local island resorts. It will be running from the 20Apr-18May and will feature limited edition prints on the walls through out the resort. http://www.heriotbayinn.com/index.html


The second show is a group show with the Quadra Island Studio Tour in June. This is a show that the island that I live on hosts every year. A lot of island artists open their studios and let guests see what it is that we do. Here is a link to the tour page. http://www.quadraislandarts.com/


If your in the area please feel free to stop by and say hi.
As for the drawing board, I have one last piece to finish for these shows and I will put up an image as soon as I get it past the "ugly duckling" phase.
Thank-you K

"The Three Tenors - Stellar Sealions"

This image came to me from a whale watching trip to the northern part of Vancouver island on the west coast of Canada.

There is quite a large group that gathers on an island called Stubbs Island. It is quite amusing to watch them singing and barking and fighting for position on the rocks. When I saw these three I couldn't help but think that maybe they are singing togethor.

I hope you enjoy this one. I really enjoyed bringing it to life.

Rock On

As the title states we are continuing to Rock On with this piece. The stage has now been set with all the back drop rock wall completed and its time to carry on with the main subjects of this piece. Stay tuned for the rest of the show.

Rocking in the New Year

Well it's New Years Eve and a new work is in progress. Figured it would be fitting to be working on the rock wall as I'm getting ready to rock in the New Year.

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year!!!!

Kevin

Portrait of an Heir - Bald Eagle

Christmas is coming and I would like to share my latest christmas piece with you all. This is my latest work titled "Portrait of an Heir" and it is also this years christmas card. I thought I would now share this with you as most of you have recieved your cards and are enjoying this piece just like I am. This one is quickly becoming one of my favorites and I hope you enjoy it as well.

It will be availiable on my website soon as a Limited Edition print, so stop by and check out the updates page for its release :)

Merry Christmas from the Studio of Kevin Johnson

Decoration Day

Well it's that time of the year again. Time to dig deep into the dusty storage areas of the home and pull out all the Christmas decorations and lights and get ready for another wonderfully festive season. Yep the weekend was filled with putting up the new tree and getting the lights up around the yard and house. I do enjoy this time of the year.

Also a few breaks were taken to complete some well needed website updates that were way over due. All in all a very productive weekend. Hope to be back at the drawing board soon as a couple more pieces are on the way.

Bye for now....

Birds of a Feather

Well with my slow return to art work and to this blog I wanted show the finished piece I was working on before my long break. Looking at it now it seemed so long ago that I started this one...

I hope you like it and thanks again for looking.

Slowing coming back to the board...

Hello everyone and thank you for your patience.
I have completed the move and settled into my new home, job and now I am finally getting some time to get back to the drawing board. Over the next little while I hope to share with you some up coming artwork as well as some reference shots I have taken while out on the water of the west coast.
So stay tuned and thank you once again for returning.....

Kevin

Tiny but important Update

Hello Everyone,
I'd just like to update you all on my latest goings on and why I have not been updating as of late. I am going down the road to a complete and total career change, plus a relocation move as well. I am officially retiring from the military after 23 years and moving on......I will be back at the drawing board on the other side once my studio is set up again...... so check back in a short while.
Thank you for your support,

Kevin

Birds of a Feather

It is well into the new year and there are a few ideas on the way. Here is just a peek at one of those ideas. I thought I would try my hand at a songbird triptych. Sometimes the freshest ideas are just outside your window. Stay tuned.......

Evening at the Passage

Well I'm back again and I've brought with me those special visitors I was hinting about. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. I really do enjoy seeing/drawing Orca Pods and I especially liked this one given the spectacular setting which they live in. The view is looking NW into the beautiful Discovery Passage on the east coast of Vancouver Island. This shot is from one of my favourite spots on Quadra Island. Thank you for stopping by and catching up.....

and the clouds return once again

Well it seems that once again time has passed quickly and its that time of year. Time when the leaves fall from the trees and the clouds roll in from the west to water the land. A good thing about the clouds this time is that they seem to have brought with them some visitors. I'd like to share with you the latest piece on the drawing board. Stay tuned and see just who these visitors might be and the view that they are also enjoying.......

"On the Prowl"

Hello again everyone......well after a small break and serveral reference gathering, kayaking trips, I have finished and signed my latest wildlife piece. I hope you like how it has turned out.

Lots of hair/fur did make for a few long sessions at the drawing board. I think it might be time for something a little more on the smooth side next. Stay tuned.....and stop back often.

I've always found wolves to be very fascinating animals. I like the look and personality in the eyes and the textures and feel of the coat. The fact that they can adapt to many different circumstances and changing worldly times has always interested me. They seem to come in all shapes, sizes and looks. I couldn't resist trying to capture the look and feel of this scruffy fella. He is giving off a cautious look. This look I believe is something you might see from a wolf at the lower end of his pack hierarchy.

I hope you enjoy watching this piece develop along side me. Pull up a chair and enjoy.

Thanks again for stopping by.....