ANNA JOHNSTON

I believe that creative thinking is an inherently transformative experience. In my painting, an intuitive approach to color and composition directs the work. This process enables an element of surprise and spontaneity. Water-soluble oils, watercolor, and to a lesser degree acrylic and pastel are mediums I tend to gravitate to, because they provide immediate interaction, allowing me to use my hands to create.

My recent painting series, Sensing Some Treasure in Loss, focuses on different stages of recognition and discovery after an initial loss. The series is informed by previous work about heightened awareness, a moment when you sense you are being guided by something both within and beyond yourself. A veil is lifted away, gaining greater clarity of a situation. The works in this series focus on stages of perseverance, courage, perception, restriction, and worth.