1st Place - Laurie Johnson
"Renassiance Maiden" Oil
At the age of 12, Laurie’s father introduced her to the wonderful world of drawing and painting by sending her to the Ogelbay Art Institute in Wheeling, West Virginia. It was there that she became addicted to that wonderful smell of oil paints, wet watercolor paper and turpentine. “If I walk into a studio anywhere in the world, and smell those smells, I know I’m home and in the company of friends.”
She continued with her art studies through high school and college and moved to Scottsdale, AZ to study full time at the Scottsdale Artist School. She took over 26 workshops and also attended 22 different classes studying with such notable artists as Dan Gerhartz, Nancy Chaboun, Sherrie McGraw, Michael Malm , Peggy Kroll Roberts /Ray Roberts, Joseph Lorusso, Kevin Weckbach, Kim English, Stan Miller, Ted Nuttall, Ned Jacob, John Michael Carter, Robert Lemler and Clayton Beck.
In 2006, Laurie traveled to Paris, France and moved into an apartment in the 1st arrondisement near the Louvre, living in the City of Lights for 4 months and painting her way through the city. When asked about her experience, Laurie said, “Everyday was a holiday. Weekday mornings, I walked down L’Avenue de Champs Elysees to attend “Immersion French” classes and then painted in the afternoons around Paris. The weekends were spent at the museums, especially the Musee D’Orsay. Laurie had the unbelievable opportunity to paint in Monet’s Gardens for 10 Days through an Art Study Program!”
After returning to the states, Laurie continued her studies at the Watts Atelier in Southern California, with Jeffrey Watts and the other talented instructors at the school and now paints at the Redwood City Art Center teaching OIL PAINTING classes in both her studio and at Filoli Mansion, Adult Education Program, Woodside, California.
She is now represented by Chapman Gallery, 7th Street between Mission and San Carlos , Carmel, CA
Visit her website at: www.lauriejohnsonart,com
