Oil painter Eric Karl Johnson is recognized for his landscape and figurative artwork, but also paints series of portraits. In the past he would do commission work, but now these works are for himself. “They are bold and painterly portraits,” he explains, adding that they’re done relatively fast—usually within five hours—to keep the freshness in the works.
Gentille from Life, oil, 12 x 16"
When Johnson began to pursue a career in art, it was with the goal of being an illustrator. He studied at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and then worked for a hospital system doing illustration and graphic design before moving to freelance work. Among his largest and most prestigious projects has been creating U.S. Open posters. Today his focus is on fine art, but with his roots in illustration, Johnson’s been able to paint accurate works with an artistic flair.
Head Study of a Little Girl, oil, 12 x 9"
“The best artists in the United States in the last 150 years were illustrators, and you see that from the late 1800s and on when magazines began taking illustrations from artists to make a living,” Johnson says. “Those are the ones trained to draw really well; and there is going to be a lot of work with the figure, and they have to be good designers too.”
Jesse, oil, 17 x 13"
That translates in Johnson’s art, whether he is painting his landscapes or figurative pieces. “I'm almost always working from photo reference with my computer screen as my main source, but I like to paint from life when I can,” he says. Head Study of a Little Girl from Life and Gentille from Life are two he did with the models in front of him over the course of a few hours. Others, including Jesse, which received the Silver Medal at the Oil Painters of America’s National Juried Exhibition this year, are from photo references he took while on a trip to Texas. He also does plein air pieces on location. In his studio, Johnson paints larger landscapes that can begin from these plein air works or they are derived from photos he’s taken.
Teal Scarf, oil, 20 x 16"
Before oil painting became his primary medium, Johnson was a recognized watercolorist and earned signature member status with the Kentucky Watercolor Society. He is a signature member of the Oil Painters of America and has participated in six of its national exhibitions. Collectors can visit Johnson at his studio and gallery in Versailles, Kentucky. —
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