Sunset River Gallery features landscape painter Clay Johnson
Calabash, NC (WWAY) — Sunset River Gallery in Calabash is featuring landscape painter Clay Johnson in its current Artist Spotlight exhibit.
The display is scheduled to run through Nov. 21.
Johnson, who is based in Conway, South Carolina, works primarily in oil and is known for plein air painting. His subjects include natural landscapes, cityscapes, industrial areas, agricultural scenes and other spaces shaped by people.
Johnson grew up in the Chicago area and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Northern Illinois University. He later studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia.
Now living in South Carolina, Johnson often paints coastal and Lowcountry scenes throughout the Carolinas.
“I feel direct observation is an essential ingredient, as the eyes-on experience is what feeds my imagination,” Johnson said.
Johnson also recently took part in the gallery’s Calabash Explored plein air event and show, which remains on display through Oct. 3.
Gallery Director Samantha Spalti said Johnson’s use of color and light stands out in his work.
“Clay isn’t just a painter, he’s a magician,” Spalti said. “Something alchemical happens between those deceptively simple brushstrokes and his sophisticated use of color. He isn’t just painting what the light looks like, he’s painting with light.”
Sunset River Gallery features work from more than 100 regional artists, including paintings, photography, glass, pottery, sculpture, woodwork and jewelry.
