Johanna Lerwick | The Animal Inside
With a deep love and passion for wildlife, painter Johanna Lerwick infuses the spirit of animals and nature into her art. Her early fondness and connection with all living creatures provided Lerwick with a unique perspective, allowing her to see the world differently than others. Her desire to capture and share her love of animal subjects drew her to art and elevated her creative energy. After years of developing technique and vision, Lerwick employs a high level of realism with mastered elements of light and shadow to depict her subjects. Every peaceful, yet engaging painting calls to the animal spirit within us all.
Growing up on a small dairy farm in Coventry, New York, which is a small town upstate, Lerwick cultivated a deep connection to animals and wildlife. "Nature has always been part of my life," she says. "I didn't know at first how my love for nature and animals would impact my love for art." Lerwick went on safari in Africa, took a 700 mile raft trip down the Amazon, and traveled to Guam, Tahiti, Mexico and throughout the United States.
Growing up on a small dairy farm in Coventry, New York, which is a small town upstate, Lerwick cultivated a deep connection to animals and wildlife. "Nature has always been part of my life," she says. "I didn't know at first how my love for nature and animals would impact my love for art." Lerwick went on safari in Africa, took a 700 mile raft trip down the Amazon, and traveled to Guam, Tahiti, Mexico and throughout the United States.
“ My inspiration comes at any given time or place. It could be something I see or even hear,” she explains. “All I need to do is go for a walk through the meadows or the woods, sit by a stream or pond, watch a sunrise or sunset and see flowers, leaves and grass dancing in the wind. I may venture to animal parks and zoos spending hours observing and photographing the animals.
With animals as her preferred subject matter, she has established techniques for bringing out emotion and mood through their eyes and expressions. She then strives to place each of her subjects in a corresponding background that fits the feeling. Sometimes the background is more abstract and not as detailed depending how Lerwick imagines the scene or where she wants the viewers focus.
Lerwick continues to enjoy the grand mysticism of nature and would like nothing more than to enjoy the rest of her life surrounded by the wildlife and animals that have graced her many masterpieces. She currently lives in upstate New York where she is active in pursuing a life and career in art, surrounding herself with what makes her happiest.
Affiliations:
Associate Member, AFC - Artists For Conservation
Associate Member, WAOW - Women Artists of the West
Associate Member, AWA - American Women Artists
International Guild of Realism - IGOR
St. Augustine Art Association
Selected Exhibitions:
Up-coming:
2020 50th. Anniversary National Exhibition, Women Artists of the West
March 25 - April 17, 2020 at Settlers West Galleries, Tucson, AZ
Solo Exhibitions:
2019 The Beauty Of Wildlife, Rogers Environmental Education Center, 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
With animals as her preferred subject matter, she has established techniques for bringing out emotion and mood through their eyes and expressions. She then strives to place each of her subjects in a corresponding background that fits the feeling. Sometimes the background is more abstract and not as detailed depending how Lerwick imagines the scene or where she wants the viewers focus.
Lerwick continues to enjoy the grand mysticism of nature and would like nothing more than to enjoy the rest of her life surrounded by the wildlife and animals that have graced her many masterpieces. She currently lives in upstate New York where she is active in pursuing a life and career in art, surrounding herself with what makes her happiest.
Affiliations:
Associate Member, AFC - Artists For Conservation
Associate Member, WAOW - Women Artists of the West
Associate Member, AWA - American Women Artists
International Guild of Realism - IGOR
St. Augustine Art Association
Selected Exhibitions:
Up-coming:
2020 50th. Anniversary National Exhibition, Women Artists of the West
March 25 - April 17, 2020 at Settlers West Galleries, Tucson, AZ
Solo Exhibitions:
2019 The Beauty Of Wildlife, Rogers Environmental Education Center, 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:
2019 Harvest Home, 2019 - Online Exhibit, Women Artists of the West
October 15 - December 31, 2019 Group Exhibition
2019 Mountain Aire 49th 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"
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
2018 Ones To Collect October 2018 issue pg. 105 Southwest Art Magazine
2017 Jurors' Choice January 2017 issue pg. 75 Southwest Art Magazine
See Johanna's original artwork and giclee prints available.
