Nancy Davis Johnson

Nancy has been drawing and painting most of her life.  Though mostly self-taught, she has taken art courses at Cornell University and studied watercolor painting in several workshops.

She worked as a graphic artist for several years, providing design and artwork for ads and brochures, as well as wall murals for various clients.  Since 1989, she has devoted her efforts to painting full-time.  During her memberships in several art associations over the past 35 years, she has won awards for her work in oil, pastel and watercolor.  Her paintings are in private and corporate collections throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Artist's statement:
The medium of watercolor provides me with a most satisfying and versatile way to express my love of the natural world. Much of the inspiration and ideas for my paintings have been acquired on summer sailing trips along the coast of Maine. For many years I was fortunate to be able to sail with my husband and explore this beautiful part of New England from an ocean-side perspective.

I often work from photos I have taken. I use them as reference material to help re-create my emotional reaction to a scene.  The process of looking through the lens at the landscape allows me to search out a center of interest more easily and to record details I might otherwise overlook.  Sometimes elements from three or four photos will be used in the composition for maximum effect.  I also use an artist’s prerogative to change the light, weather and anything else that will help to tell my story.

The greatest challenge to me as an artist is to communicate my reasons for creating a painting, to convey to others the essence of a scene and the emotions that it inspires in me.   When I can accomplish that, I know the painting is a success.

Nancy holds signature memberships in the New England Watercolor Society, the New Hampshire Art Association and the Great Bay Art Association.

Her work can be seen at the Village Goldsmith Gallery, Central Ave. in downtown Dover, NH.  Paintings can also be viewed by appointment at her home studio in Durham, NH.

Publications: Her work was included in an article in the summer, 1996 issue of “Watercolor” magazine, a national quarterly publication of “American Artist” magazine.
“International Artist” magazine has included one of her paintings in its 2004 book titled “How Did You Paint That? 100 Ways to Paint Landscapes, Vol. 1”.

Memberships:
New England Watercolor Society
New Hampshire Art Association
Great Bay Art Association

Juried Shows – partial listing

2010 NH Art Association’s 62nd Annual Currier Museum Exhibition, Manchester, NH
2010 11th Annual Joan L. Dunfey Memorial Juried Exhibition, Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
2010 N.E.W.S. 125th Anniversary Members Invitational Exhibit, Plymouth Center for the Arts,  Plymouth, MA
2010 San Diego Watercolor Society’s 30th Annual International Exhibition, San Diego, CA
2010 24th Annual Omer T. Lassonde Memorial Juried Exhibition, Levy Gallery, Portsmouth NH
2009 10th Annual Joan L. Dunfey Memorial Juried Exhibition, Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
2008 9th Annual Joan L. Dunfey Memorial Juried Exhibition, Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
2008 22nd Annual Omer T. Lassonde Memorial Juried Competition/Exhibition, Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
2007 8th Annual Joan L. Dunfey Memorial Juried Competition/Exhibition, Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
2007 21st Annual Omer T. Lassonde Memorial Juried Competition/Exhibition, Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH            
2007  NH Art Association’s 59th Annual Exhibition, UNH Art Gallery, Durham, NH
2006  LACA  Summer Juried Show & Competition, Pierce Law Center, Concord, NH
2005  N. E. Watercolor Society’s Regional Juried Exhibition, Saco Museum, Saco, ME
2005  19th Annual Omer T. Lassonde Memorial Juried Competition/Exhibition, Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
2003  4th Annual Joan L. Dunfey Memorial Competition/Exhibition, Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
2003  New England Watercolor Society’s New England Juried Show, Attleboro Museum Center for the Arts, Attleboro. MA
2003  NH Art Association’s 55th Annual Currier Museum Exhibition, Manchester, NH
2001 2nd Annual Joan L. Dunfey Memorial Juried Competition/Exhibition, Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH 2001 15th Annual Omer T. Lassonde Memorial Juried Competition/Exhibition, Levy Gallery,  NH
2000  1st Annual Joan L. Dunfey Memorial Juried Competition/Exhibition, Levy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
2000  Arts for the Parks Competition, (in Top 100), National Park Academy of the Arts, Jackson Hole, WY
2000  N. E. Watercolor Society’s Regional Open Juried Exhibition, Marblehead Arts Association, Marblehead, MA
2000  3rd Annual Regional Juried Show, Newburyport Art Assoc., Newburyport, MA
1996  NH Art Association’s 50th Annual Exhibition, Currier Gallery of Art, Manchester,
1996  New England Watercolor Society’s 5th North American Open Show, Federal Reserve Bank Gallery, Boston, MA.
1995  New England Watercolor Society, Regional Open Juried Exhibition, Art Complex Museum, Duxbury, MA
1994  One Person Show, Shapiro Gallery, New Hampshire College, Manchester, NH.
1993  NH Art Association's 47th Annual Exhibition, Currier Gallery of Art, Manchester, NH.
1992  Georgia Miniature Art Society, 7th Annual International Miniature Art Show, Gallery 300, Atlanta, GA.

Phone: (603) 742-7612