Featured Artist Coy Johnson

Enjoy the stunning hyper-realistic portfolio of Coy Johnson. See more of this talented artist’s work by visiting his website.

 

 

I discovered art at the age of 11. I intended on watching my usual Saturday morning cartoons, flipping through the channels, a man with a nice afro was painting on OETA public TV, Bob Ross. I was captivated, and my parents invested in some oil paint and canvases for me to try it out.

 

 

I oil painted for 2 years then I took my first drawing class at Sapulpa Jr. High. I explored graphite pencil, charcoal, pastels, colored pencil, watercolor, acrylics. Graphite pencil and colored pencil seemed to interest me the most throughout High School. I got a partial scholarship to University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, and attended for just over a year. It was here that I pursued oil painting again. This time I would pattern my work after old masters.

 

 

It was always a goal of mine to be a full time artist, but it never really seemed realistic. It’s tough to be an old school traditional artist and make enough money to live. I did some commercial art in the mid 90’s, painting billboards, murals, and signs all over green country. I didn’t make much money doing this, and it put a halt to almost all of my fine art.

 

 

That’s why I decided to change careers to be a machinist. This career helped me see 2 dimensional prints become 3 dimensional parts. It also sharpened my vision, enabling me to see things as small as .001″(1/3 the size of a human hair), and helped me understand mathematics. This career also helped convince me that an artist is what I’m supposed to be. If I can put in the hours at the machine shop with good work ethic, I can also put in the hours at my studio with good work ethic.

 

 

When it comes to discipline, my advice is to put in the time to study old masters, be determined to find success. Surround yourself with positive influences.Confidence is very important for an artist. In studying the old masters, you will discover just how hard these artists worked, often times with little or no financial gain. They did it for the love of art. They did it to share their gift with the world. They did it to keep art alive for centuries to come. This is also my drive and motivation.

 

 

My inspiration is to reach the level of old masters. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Van Gogh, to name a few. More modern inspiration comes from Alphonse Mucha, Chuck Close, Richard Estes, Andy Warhol, and Dennis Martin.