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
Selected Exhibitions:
Current:
2021 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 2021/2022
Tour: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (Jan. - March 2022)
Additional venues/schedule TBA
2021 Spring Online Show, Women Artists of the West
May 1 - July 1, 2021 visit show
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
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
Selected Exhibitions:
Current:
2021 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 2021/2022
Tour: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (Jan. - March 2022)
Additional venues/schedule TBA
2021 Spring Online Show, Women Artists of the West
May 1 - July 1, 2021 visit show
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:
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
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"
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
Representation:
Heartwood Gift Barn, 8072 NY-12, Sherburne, NY
Harrington Gallery - Permanently Closed
Broad Street Gallery - Permanently Closed
Harrington Gallery - Permanently Closed
Broad Street Gallery - Permanently Closed
See Johanna's original artwork and giclee fine art prints available.
