Capturing
the Attention of National Art Critics,
Roger Hayden Johnson Brings Radiant New Work
Home
Garnering worldwide attention, Colorado Springs
resident saves best for home state.
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| Roger Hayden Johnson at Mirada Fine Art, Another Sky Below, Oil on Canvas, 30" x 50" |
The work of Roger Hayden
Johnson literally stops visitors to Mirada Fine Art in their tracks. Stunningly photo-realistic, the
canvasses radiate light from rustic adobe structures and waves of water gently
ripple the sides of careworn rowboats. A relatively new addition to the
gallery’s group of award-winning artists, Johnson is a slight departure from
the gallery’s contemporary offerings.
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| Roger Hayden Johnson at Mirada Fine Art, Crystal Morning, Oil on Canvas, 24" x 28" |
On March 18th a
solo exhibit of Johnson’s entitled ‘First Light’ will be unveiled at the
gallery. Southwest Art magazine
previewed the new work and features it as one of the best exhibits in the
western United States in its March 2016 issue. And while the work is visually spectacular and accomplished,
the artist considers himself an expressionist, most interested in the feeling
his work creates.
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| Roger Hayden Johnson at Mirada Fine Art, Night Crossing, Oil on Canvas, 24" x 16" |
Solitary boats and
architectural landscapes are Rogers’ favorite subjects. “I look for handmade things, that may
show the effects of wear but endure nonetheless.” He attempts to draw in attention with contrasting colors and
values, retaining a viewer’s interest with detail, subject matter and organized
eye movement. The results are
startlingly luminous paintings which invoke a deep sense of tranquility.
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| Roger Hayden Johnson at Mirada Fine Art, Stuccoed Adobe, Oil on Canvas, 40" x 32" |
“If you haven’t seen Roger’s work in person,” gallery owner Steve Sonnen
enthuses, “you’re in for an amazing experience. You’ll want to trail your
fingers in the water, or lean against a wall to soak in the sun.” With numerous degrees in Fine Art,
Johnson spent a number of years in Europe both studying and teaching. While traveling the backroads of
Colorado and the Southwest and exploring quaint European fishing harbors, Roger
takes innumerable photos.
Returning to his studio, he dissects and reinvents the images, often
imbuing them with the pure light of the fleeting moments immediately after
sunrise and before sundown.
Written by : Jan Thompson
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| Roger Hayden Johnson at Mirada Fine Art, Rowed to Ruin, Oil on Canvas, 30" x 30" |
