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Lerwick Johanna Self Image 3 topaz enhance 3.6x faceai copy cropped

Artist

Johanna Lerwick

United States

Born in 1948

Joined Artisor: February 2024

Bio

My enduring passion for animals and nature began as a child while living on my family’s farm in Upstate New York. After living in Guam and other states in the U.S., I returned to upstate New York where I currently reside.

When I started painting, initially I painted landscapes and seascapes. I transitioned to painting wildlife when I remembered the encouraging words of my mother who suggested that I would enjoy painting wildlife more, and in 1994 I completed my first wildlife painting. My choice of medium is oil paint because I love the creamy smooth texture of oil paint and the ease that colors blend together.

My painting style is Realism and it was through independent study that I learned techniques for rendering fur, feathers and other anatomical features of a variety of birds and wildlife. To ensure authenticity of my subjects I study each animal in their natural habitat and paint them within their specific environment. The most important aspects of my paintings that I want to convey are; direction, mood and a sensory communion with nature. In the majority of my artwork your eyes are directed to the eyes of my animal subjects whose focus seem to rest beyond the canvas and you are left to wonder, “What has the animals attention?” I establish mood in my compositions through color, and the manipulation light and shadow. I use a multiple layer technique to build the density of the animal’s fur and very fine brush stokes to create bird’s feathers, and animal whiskers. My painstakingly detailed renderings gives the viewer the sensation of being able to reach out and touch the fur of the animal, or feel the wetness of it’s coat as it swims or hunts in a river.

With every painting I strive to capture the beauty of each animal/bird and hope to visually convey why these amazing creatures deserve to continue sharing this world with us. Each of us has the ability to make a difference – mine is through my art.

As a full time Artist, I am living my dream career and my passion for wildlife extends beyond painting, as I also donate proceeds from some of my work toward animal conservation and wildlife educational programs.

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Bio Author: I.G.O.R. Show in Scottsdale

  • Artworks
  • Curriculum Vitae

No current artwork for sale

Selected Exhibitions:

   Current:
2024     International Guild of Realism 18th Annual International juried IGOR Exhibitions

  at Brennen Fine Art in Scottsdale, AZ.

    April10 – May 1, 2024

2023-2024    Artists for Conservation Exhibit & Festival, Virtual Online Exhibit
                               Vancouver, BC, Canada
                               September 21 – August 31, 2024

   Solo Exhibitions:

2019    The Beauty Of Wildlife, Rogers Environmental Education Ctr., Sherburne, NY
2018    Wildlife Paintings, Mariea Brown & Raymond Loft Galleries, Norwich, NY
2017    On The Wild Side, The Harrington Gallery, Sidney, NY
2016    Essence Of Wildlife & Nature, Broad Street Gallery, Hamilton, NY
2014    Beauty Of Nature & Wildlife, Jill Kraft Gallery, Norwich, NY
2013    Exhibit Of Wildlife Oil Paintings, 6 On The Square, Oxford, NY

Group Exhibitions:
2022-2023   Artists for Conservation Exhibit & Festival, Live Exhibit
                              at the VanDusen Botanical Gardens, Vancouver, BC, Canada
                              September 22 – September 25, 2022 & then will continue in the AFC

                               Virtual Exhibit
2023   International Guild of Realism 17th Annual International juried IGOR Exhibitions                         at the Sugerman-Peterson Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

  June 2 – June 26, 2023

2023    53rd Annual National Juried Exhibition at the Carriage Factory Art Gallery,               Newton, KS      July 22 – September 15, 2023

2022-2023   Randy Higbee’s Gallery 6” Squared Exhibition and Sale Online Show

                    December 2, 2022 – January 21, 2023

2021-2022   Artists for Conservation Exhibit & Festival, Live Exhibit
                              at the VanDusen Botanical Gardens, Vancouver, BC, Canada
                              September 23 – September 26, 2021 & then will continue on the AFC Tour
                              Tour:  Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (Jan. – March 2022)
2022    Jericho Fine Art Show, Jericho Arts Council Gallery, Bainbridge, NY
    Won the Daniel Tennant award for realism and the Peoples Choice award
    “Thoughts Shared – Wolf and Raven”
2021-2022   3rd Annual Miniature Show, Art Focus Fine Art & Framing, Hamilton, MT
          December 1, 2021 – January 31, 2022

2021    Fall Salon Online Exhibition, International Guild of Realism
                          October 20 – December 20, 2021 online IGOR, American Art Collector           Magazine & QC Fine Art
2021    All Creatures Great and Small Online Show, Women Artists of the West
    September 1 – November 30, 2021
2021    Spring Online Show, Women Artists of the West
    May 1 – July 1, 2021
2021    Spring Salon Online Exhibition, International Guild of Realism
             March 20 – May 20, 2021 online IGOR, American Art Magazine & QC Fine Art
2021    51st. Annual National Exhibit and Sale, Women Artists of the West​
    February 6 – March 19, 2021 at The Museum of Western Art
    Kerrville, TX
2020    Artists for Conservation Festival, Virtual Online Exhibit
    Opening October 1,2020  Vancouver, BC
2020    WAOWing the Wind River Valley Exhibition, Women Artists of the West
    June 15 – July 30, 2020 online WAOW (due to the pandemic cancelled at the
    Headwaters Art & Conference Center, Dubois, WY)
2020    Spring Salon Online Exhibition, Ientrnational Guild of Realism
      March 20 – June 20, 2020 online IGOR, American Art Magazine & QC Fine Art
2020    Central Adirondack Art Show
    April 4 – May 31, 2020 at the View, Old Forge, NY
2020    41st. Fine Art Show – Cancelled due to pandemic.
    April 24 – May 3, 2020 at Jericho Arts Council Gallery, Bainbridge, NY
2020    50th. Anniversary National Exhibition, Women Artists of the West
    March 25 – April 17, 2020 at Settlers West Galleries, Tucson, AZ
2019    Harvest Home, 2019 – Online Exhibit, Women Artists of the West
    October 15 – December 31, 2019 ​ Group Exhibition
2019    49th Annual National Exhibition, Women Artists of the West
    Sept. 12 – Oct. 12 at Mary Williams Fine Arts, Boulder, CO
2019    Jericho Fine Art Show,  Jericho Arts Council Gallery, Bainbridge, NY
    Won the Daniel Tennant award for realism, “High Country – Cougar”
2019    April, She Will Come, 2019 – Online Exhibit, Women Artists of the West
2018    Yosemite Renaissance 33 Show, Yosemite Museum Gallery,Yosemite Valley,CA
    Kings County Art Center, Hanford, CA
    Carnegie Arts Center, Turlock, CA
    Gallery 5, Oakhurst, CA
2018    9th Annual Nature & Wildlife Exhibition, St. Augustine Art Assn., FL
2018    Central Adirondack Art Show, View, Old Forge, NY
2018    Jericho Fine Art Show, Jericho Arts Council Gallery, Bainbridge, NY
    Won the Daniel Tennant award for realism, “Night Visitor – Barn Owl”
2017    7th Annual Nature & Wildlife Exhibition,  St. Augustine Art Assn., FL
2017    Central Adirondack Art Show, View, Old Forge, NY
    Won the Outstanding Adirondack Themed award, “Along An Autumn Path”
2017    Jericho Fine Art Show, Jericho Arts Council Gallery, Bainbridge, NY
    Won 3rd. Place in the Painting category, “Autumn Highlights”
2016    6th Annual Nature & Wildlife Exhibition, St. Augustine Art Assn., FL
2016    Central Adirondack Art Show, View, Old Forge, NY
    Awarded in the Master Division, “Morning Light – Moose”
2015    A Show Of Thanks – Art Giving Back, Broad Street Gallery, Hamilton, NY
2015    Central Adirondack Art Show, View, Old Forge, NY
    Won 2nd Place in the Painting category, “Tranquility”
2015    Jericho Fine Art Show, Jericho Arts Council Gallery, Bainbridge, NY
    Won the Daniel Tennant award for realism, “Into The Light – Zebra”
2014    79th Annual National Juried Art Exhibition, Cooperstown Art Assn. Galleries, NY
2012    77th Annual National Juried Art Exhibition, Cooperstown Art Assn. Galleries, NY
2012    Essential Art Regional Juried Art Exhibition, Cooperstown Art Assn Galleries,NY
2012    Jericho Fine Art Show, Jericho Arts Council Gallery, Bainbridge, NY

  Competitions:

2016    The Artist Magazine Art Competition, Animal category
    Awarded Finalist for “Solitude – Snowy Owl”
2014    The Artist Magazine Art Competition, Animal category
    Awarded Finalist for “Geese In Flight” and “Silent Hunter”

  Publications:
2018    Ones To Collect October 2018 issue pg. 105   Southwest Art Magazine
2017    Jurors’ Choice  January 2017 issue pg. 75   Southwest Art Magazine

No previous artwork sold