Richard Johnson Biography scroll down to view works
The luminescent beauty and lyrical quality of Richard S. Johnson's work is what captivates collectors today. "Old Masters" technical virtuosity, pre-Raphael romanticism, and contemporary expressionism and abstraction all combine to create his unique works of touching depth and artistry.
Born in Chicago to an artistic family, his earliest reminiscences are of pouring through Charles Dana Gibson, N.C. Wyeth, and John Singer Sargent books on rainy afternoons. While still in grade school he won a scholarship to the prestigious Art Institute of Chicago. He later attended the American Academy of Art and upon graduation began a very successful career as an illustrator.
Turning his attentions to fine art after winning a competition in International Artists Magazine, Rick was invited to Japan where his one man show was so successful that he has been invited back numerous times and has developed an international base of collectors. He has also won many awards in competitions here in the United States including the Award of Excellence, in the Oil Painters of America 2003 Midwest regional Juried Competition.
Perhaps the term that best describes Rick's work is "Poetic Intimacy". His sure brush strokes, bold use of color and impasto, and delicate rendering of the human face and form all work together in a harmony that refuses to draw attention to themselves for their technical virtuosity, but rather to draw their viewer into the awareness that they are sharing one, serene, contemplative moment; that the light that pours over the subject's skin also caresses theirs.
Rick's expressive skill for capturing the human form has brought him numerous commissions:
John F. Kennedy at the JFK Memorial Library in Boston.
A commemorative painting of the presidents from Eisenhower to Bush currently hangin at the President's Council on Physical Fitness in Washington D.C.
Rear Admiral Richard S. Truly, USN, the first commander of the NASA Space Shuttle Challenger.
Limited Edition Lithograph for the USA Olympic Ski Team
Promotional poster for the Biz International Classic Soccer Championship in Mexico.
Solo Exhibitions:
May 2010 Solo Exhibition, Exclusive Collections, San Diego, California
January 2010 Solo Exhibition, Addison Gallery, Boca Raton, Florida
April 2009 Solo Exhibition, Galleria Di Sorrento, Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas
January 2009 Solo Exhibition, Addison Gallery, Boca Raton, Florida
April 2008 Solo Exhibition, Addison Gallery, Boca Raton, Florida
February 2008 Solo Exhibition, Galleria Di Sorrento, Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas
February 2007 Solo Exhibition, Galleria Di Sorrento, Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas
September 2005 Solo Exhibition, The Studio of Long Grove, Long Grove, IL and The Hilligoss Gallery, Chicago, IL
June 2005 Solo Exhibition, The Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
September 2004 Solo Exhibition, The Studio of Long Grove, Long Grove, IL and The Hilligoss Gallery, Chicago, IL
June 2004 Solo Exhibition, The Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
April 2003 Exhibition with Enatsu Galleries of Japan in Misato, Japan
December 2002 Exhibitions with Enatsu Galleries of Japan in Kumamoto and Yokohama, Japan
July 2002 Exhibitions with Enatsu Galleries of Japan in Nagano and Sapporo, Japan
Awards:
2005 JURY'S TOP 50 and HONORABLE MENTION Salon International, International Museum of Contemporary Masters of Fine Art, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
2003 AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Oil Painters of America Midwest Regional Juried Exhibition, Hilligoss Gallery, Chicago IL
2003 FINALIST RSVP: THE DIRECTORY of ILLUSTRATION and DESIGN PORTRAIT COMPETITION, to be featured on their Web Site in spring of 2004 and displayed in May of 2004 at The Society of Illustrators in New York, NY
2003 PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD Salon International, International Museum of Contemporary Masters of Fine Art, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
2003 Finalist ARTIST’S MAGAZINE 20th Annual Art Competition
2002 Finalist ARTIST’S MAGAZINE 19th Annual Art Competition
2001 Third Place award and published December 2001 issue of International Artists Magazine
2001 Finalist Artists Magazine Art Competition
1999 Finalist The Artists Magazine Art Competition
1998 Winner Janet Ross Commemorative Award for landscapes from The National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society.
1997 Winner ARTemis Award from the Romance Writers of America
Shows and Competitions:
2004 RSVP`S Portrait Exhibition, The Society of Illustrators, New York, NY
2003 Oil Painters of America 2003 Midwest Regional Juried Exhibition – Hilligoss Gallery – Chicago, IL
Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition – Taos, NM
2002 Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition – Chicago, IL
2000 Oil Painters of America Show – Arlington Heights, IL
1999 California Watercolor Society Annual Show
1998 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Annual Show
Portraiture:
Portraits of John F. Kennedy currently on display at the JFK Memorial Library in Boston, MA
Commemorative Painting to honor the Presidents from Eisenhower to Bush, currently hanging at the President’s Council on Physical Fitness in Washington, D.C.
Portrait of Rear Admiral Richard H. Truly, USN, Commander of the NASA Space Shuttle Challenger.
Portrait of Washington Redskin's Corner Back Carlos Rodgers.
Portrait of Tampa Bay Buccaneers Running Back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams.
Born in Chicago to an artistic family, his earliest reminiscences are of pouring through Charles Dana Gibson, N.C. Wyeth, and John Singer Sargent books on rainy afternoons. While still in grade school he won a scholarship to the prestigious Art Institute of Chicago. He later attended the American Academy of Art and upon graduation began a very successful career as an illustrator.
Turning his attentions to fine art after winning a competition in International Artists Magazine, Rick was invited to Japan where his one man show was so successful that he has been invited back numerous times and has developed an international base of collectors. He has also won many awards in competitions here in the United States including the Award of Excellence, in the Oil Painters of America 2003 Midwest regional Juried Competition.
Perhaps the term that best describes Rick's work is "Poetic Intimacy". His sure brush strokes, bold use of color and impasto, and delicate rendering of the human face and form all work together in a harmony that refuses to draw attention to themselves for their technical virtuosity, but rather to draw their viewer into the awareness that they are sharing one, serene, contemplative moment; that the light that pours over the subject's skin also caresses theirs.
Rick's expressive skill for capturing the human form has brought him numerous commissions:
John F. Kennedy at the JFK Memorial Library in Boston.
A commemorative painting of the presidents from Eisenhower to Bush currently hangin at the President's Council on Physical Fitness in Washington D.C.
Rear Admiral Richard S. Truly, USN, the first commander of the NASA Space Shuttle Challenger.
Limited Edition Lithograph for the USA Olympic Ski Team
Promotional poster for the Biz International Classic Soccer Championship in Mexico.
Solo Exhibitions:
May 2010 Solo Exhibition, Exclusive Collections, San Diego, California
January 2010 Solo Exhibition, Addison Gallery, Boca Raton, Florida
April 2009 Solo Exhibition, Galleria Di Sorrento, Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas
January 2009 Solo Exhibition, Addison Gallery, Boca Raton, Florida
April 2008 Solo Exhibition, Addison Gallery, Boca Raton, Florida
February 2008 Solo Exhibition, Galleria Di Sorrento, Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas
February 2007 Solo Exhibition, Galleria Di Sorrento, Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas
September 2005 Solo Exhibition, The Studio of Long Grove, Long Grove, IL and The Hilligoss Gallery, Chicago, IL
June 2005 Solo Exhibition, The Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
September 2004 Solo Exhibition, The Studio of Long Grove, Long Grove, IL and The Hilligoss Gallery, Chicago, IL
June 2004 Solo Exhibition, The Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
April 2003 Exhibition with Enatsu Galleries of Japan in Misato, Japan
December 2002 Exhibitions with Enatsu Galleries of Japan in Kumamoto and Yokohama, Japan
July 2002 Exhibitions with Enatsu Galleries of Japan in Nagano and Sapporo, Japan
Awards:
2005 JURY'S TOP 50 and HONORABLE MENTION Salon International, International Museum of Contemporary Masters of Fine Art, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
2003 AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Oil Painters of America Midwest Regional Juried Exhibition, Hilligoss Gallery, Chicago IL
2003 FINALIST RSVP: THE DIRECTORY of ILLUSTRATION and DESIGN PORTRAIT COMPETITION, to be featured on their Web Site in spring of 2004 and displayed in May of 2004 at The Society of Illustrators in New York, NY
2003 PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD Salon International, International Museum of Contemporary Masters of Fine Art, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
2003 Finalist ARTIST’S MAGAZINE 20th Annual Art Competition
2002 Finalist ARTIST’S MAGAZINE 19th Annual Art Competition
2001 Third Place award and published December 2001 issue of International Artists Magazine
2001 Finalist Artists Magazine Art Competition
1999 Finalist The Artists Magazine Art Competition
1998 Winner Janet Ross Commemorative Award for landscapes from The National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society.
1997 Winner ARTemis Award from the Romance Writers of America
Shows and Competitions:
2004 RSVP`S Portrait Exhibition, The Society of Illustrators, New York, NY
2003 Oil Painters of America 2003 Midwest Regional Juried Exhibition – Hilligoss Gallery – Chicago, IL
Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition – Taos, NM
2002 Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition – Chicago, IL
2000 Oil Painters of America Show – Arlington Heights, IL
1999 California Watercolor Society Annual Show
1998 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Annual Show
Portraiture:
Portraits of John F. Kennedy currently on display at the JFK Memorial Library in Boston, MA
Commemorative Painting to honor the Presidents from Eisenhower to Bush, currently hanging at the President’s Council on Physical Fitness in Washington, D.C.
Portrait of Rear Admiral Richard H. Truly, USN, Commander of the NASA Space Shuttle Challenger.
Portrait of Washington Redskin's Corner Back Carlos Rodgers.
Portrait of Tampa Bay Buccaneers Running Back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams.