Exhibit at Youngstown State showcases Canfield artist’s work
A new exhibit called “Color Up! Paintings” by an attorney-turned-artist will open April 3 in Youngstown State University’s Bliss Hall.
Nils P. Johnson is a renowned artist who also practices law in Canfield. He recently painted a mural of Fourth of July celebration currently on display at the Canfield County Court.
His work has been immortalized in a mural in Columbus’s Ohio Supreme Court building.
Meet the artist: Nils Johnson
The community can see the local artist’s work and meet him during a reception at Youngstown State University. His work will be on display until April 20 on the second floor of Bliss Hall in the Judith Rae Solomon Gallery.
An artist reception will occur in the gallery from 4:30-6:30 p.m. April 12.
The gallery is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Showcasing unique techniques
He’s also working on a book about a technique he crafted called “ghost images,” examples of which will be on display in the YSU exhibit.
The book is “Color Up: a Better Way to Paint.”
Here’s an excerpt from his website describing the technique:
Nils has pioneered a technique using what he calls “ghost images”, even inventing his color wheel to facilitate his process. His painting is all about color. He employs stacks of associated colors that breathe through each other to create a vibrant, textured surface. Nils starts by creating what is essentially a color negative, the under-painting. To determine the proper color for the large masses of the first layer, he stares for 30 seconds at the color he wants to end up with and then gazes with unfocused eyes at a white sheet of paper. A “ghost” image appears.
By not completely over-painting and allowing the under-painting to peek through, the eye blends the push-pulled colors, lights and darks, and places objects in space in a fascinating and unique way. He is currently writing a book on this technique called “Color Up: A Better Way to Paint!” which will be published soon.
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