North Carolina-based artist Geoffrey Johnson’s paintings are captivating in their simplicity. They capture real places but are on the edge of abstraction through pared down forms and a minimal color palette. Mostly monochromatic in nature, the works sometimes have splashes of reds or blues, adding dimension to the subtle compositions. May 14 though June 1, Johnson will present around 20 new paintings of all sizes for his annual exhibition at Principle Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia.
Market Evening II, oil on panel, 36 x 24"
One of the largest works in the show is Rain with 10 Figures, measuring a commanding 50 by 62 inches. The painting is from the artist’s series of figures standing in the rain, some with umbrellas and some without. In the background is the hint of a city that almost seems hazed over because of the atmosphere.
A handful of the works in the show will depict New York City, one of his favorite places to paint. “I’ve always known New York, but I haven’t been up there in quite a while. So now it’s just more out of my head and how I remember the city,” Johnson explains. “At this point in my career, I’ve been working from [memory] a lot, and especially with certain subjects because it’s been an ongoing thing in my art and it’s circling in the back of my mind. You get to know what you do.”
Intown Snow, oil on panel, 16 x 12"
Rain with 10 Figures, oil on panel, 50 x 62"
Market Evening II is a nighttime scene depicting a memory of one of his favorite markets in the Flatiron District of the metropolis. The work has the hallmarks of what Johnson feels and remembers about the place, explaining, “The city is full of life, and I enjoy painting people everywhere to show that it has so much energy.”
Another work, Intown Snow, is of Alexandria, Virginia, a reminiscence of a trip with his wife to drop off paintings at Principle. “That night we ate at a restaurant next to the gallery, and that was looking out the window onto the street,” he explains. The image has the twinkling light of the trees and reflections of light across the buildings, capturing the feel of being in the town.
Untitled 108, oil on panel, 40 x 40"
Johnson also sometimes paints beaches and waterways, particularly spots that are derived from North Carolina’s Outer Banks—a place he visits often. These water scenes incorporate beachgoers, boats and the ocean itself, offering a serene view of the world. —
Principle Gallery
208 King Street • Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 739-9326 • www.principlegallery.com
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