Lydia Johnston
Taos, NM
Through The Door
Oil on canvas
30” x 30” framed
2021
$1850
About
Lydia Johnston’s oil paintings are full of rich vibrant color. Through the use of color she creates depth and light; she creates the sense of a place without the details, drawing you back continually to find something new. For thirty years she created art in Vermont, before moving to northern New Mexico in 2015. Her art has been exhibited throughout the country and hangs in many private collections. Recent awards include the Taos Fall Arts Festival 2019 and People’s Choice Award at the Millicent Rogers Museum miniature Show 2021. She is a self-taught artist which gives her the freedom to follow her intuition. Her art comes from deep within. Time spent in outdoor spaces feeds her creativity; her main source of inspiration is nature’s colors and patterns.
Artist Statement
My oil paintings are full of rich vibrant colors. Color creates the light. Immerse yourself and be transported. Using color, I create depth and a sense of light; I want the sense of place without spelling it out, drawing you back continually to find something new. My paintings allude to the familiar while remaining ambiguous; by hinting at things they trigger your imagination, allowing you to connect in a profound way.
In my studio, I start by laying on color, yellows, oranges, purples, blues. I love warm, complex colors and gradations. I want lots of layers, they add translucence and luminosity, depth and a richness. In addition to brushes, I work with wide color shapers, bowl scrapers, palette knives, all kinds of tools. I love the uncontrolled marks created with these tools, they add vitality and complexity to my paintings.
I am a self-taught artist which gives me the freedom to follow my intuition. My work comes from deep within me, tapping into my past experiences and the places I have lived. I am always experimenting and evolving, each series changing, the one constant being my passion for color.
My inspiration comes from the natural beauty around me. I love the nuanced gradations of color found in nature; the yellows and oranges of lichens high up in the mountains, the profusion of color found in flowers, the intense displays at sunset and sunrise. Nature’s colors and patterns are my main source of inspiration.
Art from Lydia Johnston in other TAAC exhibitions
