Art Blog — Life at 240

SOLD: Mayan Stele #10

PRESLEY JOHNSON • foil and glue on cardboard

The artist’s piece was inspired by her study of Mayan temple decorations, particularly the decorative columns called “stele.” These ancient works traditionally depict symbols which represent nature, stories of their people, or their gods. This original design was created to draw attention to the asymmetry that underlies our perception of symmetry. The 3-dimensional effect was achieved by outlining the foundational drawing with lines of glue.

ARTMary MaySeptember 27, 2020Art Academy Gallery, Presley Art

Llama Keepsake Box

ARTMary MaySeptember 18, 2020Kids Art Store

SOLD: So You Wanna Make-up?

KALLIE DANIELS • make-up and steel on face

Like all sixteen year old girls, Kallie enjoys experimenting with make-up. We are so proud of her artistic abilities and grateful for this superb use of her talents. Like a monk illuminating a single letter for months, to create this effect takes the highest levels of patient diligence. You may be wondering what possessed her (literally perhaps) to change her appearance so dramatically. No one is quite sure, and we’re all afraid to ask. New back-to-school look, maybe?

ARTMary MaySeptember 15, 2020Art Academy Gallery

SOLD: A Snake’s Silent Satisfaction

ROLAND JOHNSTON • graphite on paper

This piece pays homage to the snake that saved Roland’s life. Last fall, he was looking for Indian relics on the Niagra Escarpment where he came upon an angry coyote with cubs. He froze holding out his arms to look bigger while taking a slow step backwards. He had almost stepped on a snake of which neither he nor the coyote were aware. The snake started hissing at the growling coyote and chased them away. Roland whispered “thank you” as the snake slithered off into the brush. Or maybe it was all just a dream.

ARTMary MaySeptember 15, 2020Art Academy Gallery, Roland Art

SOLD: A Witch’s Failure

LILLY JOHNSON • marker and colored pencil on construction paper

This self-portrait portrays her exuberance for going back to school after summer break. This expressive pattern portrait uses a variety of patterns to add to the feeling of celebration. Note patterns in the dress, scarf, unicorn headband, and hair. The eyes, smile, and eye brows were carefully rendered to communicate positive emotions. An unfortunate black paint mark across the face turned out to be serendipitous. The artist salvaged her work by turning an unsightly smudge into a witch’s giant fingernail failing to pierce the subject’s smile and joy.

ARTMary MaySeptember 11, 2020Art Academy Gallery, Lilly Art

SOLD: Native American Night Sky

PRESLEY JOHNSON • acrylic on simulated rock

Inspired by her study of Southwest Native American petroglyphs and pictographs, Presley created this dreamscape of the night sky, rich with symbolism. A single tree in the foreground is surrounded by an ominous blackness foreshadowing evil on earth. Yet April’s pink moon and a prominent Saturn say the opposite. In Greek mythology, Saturn’s reign was one of peace and prosperity, and April’s moon signals happiness and rebirth. Astute viewers will also note the sky’s heart, and the earth’s inverted heart. This work was created using hand-drawn stencils and sponge.

ARTMary MaySeptember 11, 2020Art Academy Gallery, Presley Art

SOLD: A Tragedy in Lascaux Cave

PRESLEY JOHNSON • acrylic on simulated rock face

Since humans first walked the earth, they have experienced and perpetrated violence. Taking her inspiration from the pictographs on the Lascaux caves, Presley tells a gruesome tale of one prehistoric family’s devastating murder of their oldest daughter. The simplicity and palette dramatically emphasize the dreadful outcome of our ferocious nature.

ARTMary MaySeptember 11, 2020Art Academy Gallery, Presley Art

SOLD: Cave Painting in France

LILLY JOHNSON • acrylic on simulated rock face

Ancient humans are not the only ones who like to paint on the walls of caves. Lilly made this exciting abstract design, inspired by the famous Lascaux caves in France. Enthusiasts of Lilly’s work know she likes to have a surprise element in each of her pieces. It makes us wonder what prehistoric story is being told in this setting? When asked, Lilly challenged viewers to find the flower.

ARTMary MaySeptember 11, 2020Art Academy Gallery, Lilly Art

SOLD: Manifesting Kermit

ROLAND JOHNSTON • slime on face

Enthusiasts of Roland’s art have come to expect the unexpected. His boundary-breaking, genre-bending work always delights with generous portions of playfulness, and often cutting commentary on life’s biggest challenges from preserving freedom, to global warming, to racial inequality. His work is always something we look forward to seeing.

ARTMary MaySeptember 4, 2020Art Academy Gallery, Roland Art