Artist Statement

My art is the summation of a lifetime's fascination with the biological world and its intersection with the generative world of the human mind.  I have always tried to create visually, the experiences I cannot put into words. For me, doing art has a dual intention. My artwork opens up an avenue into my own memories and emotional life but is also an attempt to share my intense experience of the world with others. Recently, I have become interested in purely abstract images that contain organic forms, natural textures and colours. In transforming my abstract drawings  into paintings, drawings and digital renderings, I try to find the visual thread in my work that goes beyond  language, concepts and meaning.

My art work is informed by my lifelong study of art, science and the history of ideas. I have worked in resource planning, landscape design and habitat restoration. I am deeply concerned about the destruction of the natural world and the continuing disappearance of endlessly beautiful forms of life. In my art, I wish to participate in the modern vision of society but still acknowledge and value the ecological structure that supports us.

BIOGRAPHY

Darcy Johnson has been a visual artist for over 25 years, working mainly in abstract painting and drawing. She has participated in a number of  group exhibitions, artist residencies and public lectures. Darcy has also organized and led various visual art workshops. She has art work in private and corporate collections in the USA, China, Japan, Sweden, Germany and across Canada

After completing a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a number of formal visual art courses, Darcy completed a Masters in Art Education at the University of Victoria. She has taught high school Visual Art, Digital Art and Science for over 20 years. Darcy is also a yoga and meditation teacher. 

Darcy’s training and interest in biology and psychological science informs her artwork. She works abstractly in order to capture recurring patterns and impressions of natural processes and the organic world. Darcy's fascinations with the variety of living forms, individual memory and experience of our environment and the influence of cognitive filters are always present in her work. 

For recent art practice and work, look at my newsletter publications under Recent page of this website.

Curriculum Vitae

Education

  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, Psychology. 1987 University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada 

  • Bachelor of Education. 1998 Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC, Canada

  • Master of Art Education. 2013 University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada

  • Ongoing development through collaboration with other artists and courses at the Vancouver Island University and Vancouver Island School of Art.

Work Experience

  • 1980 -1998. Resource and urban planning, landscape restoration and design. Worked for several government agencies and did contract work in the private sector. Working artist and contract art teacher.

  • 1999 –2022. Teaching high school: traditional and digital art and design, biology, psychology, general science. Working artist.

  • 2022 - Ongoing. Part-time high school teaching, Nanaimo - Ladysmith Public Schools and Academic Advising, Vancouver Island University. Teaching private art courses.

Visual Art Practice

  • 2023. Juror for the Ladysmith Arts Council Biennial Fine Arts Show. Artist Residency at Sparrow Artspace for the month of March doing artist talks, an exhibition, teaching courses and doing arts community outreach. A continuation of the collaboration with Joel Prevost in our ‘Encoded Forms’ series.

  • 2022. ‘Encoded Forms’ Exhibition with Joel Prevost. Vancouver Island Sculpting Studio, Nanaimo, BC. featuring my abstract drawings with some collaborative pieces of drawing and sculpture. Artist talk for the opening of the ‘Abstraction’ exhibition of the Ladysmith Arts Council. Ongoing development of courses at the Vancouver Island Sculpting Studio, The Ladysmith Arts Council and The Nanaimo Art Gallery.

  • 2019. ‘Making Waves’ presentation on SciArt residency above. Nanaimo Art Gallery, Nanaimo BC

  • 2018. ‘Art and Science Bridge Residency’ by the SciArt Initiative in NewYork City. Online collaboration with neuroscientist and artist, Yana Zorina. Resulting in an interactive blog, digital work and painting.

  • 2017. ‘Drawn and Plastered’ group show with Judith Tye. Paintings, drawings and collaborative work with Judith Tye. Private venue, Nanaimo, BC

  • 2016. ‘Intersections’ BCATA Conference, University of Victoria. Presenter on Artist Residencies.

  • 2016: ‘DrawInternational Residency’, Caylus, France. Drawing as a response to place. Resulted in a culminating group exhibition with three other residency artists. 

  • 2013. ‘Thesis Show’ of culminating work from my master’s degree, Nanaimo, BC. Included paintings, drawings and digital prints.

  • 2013. ‘Culmination’. Group Show of 18 masters graduates from the University of Victoria, Victoria BC

  • 2011-2012. Stuttgart, Germany. Five-month, self-directed residency. Creating drawings, paintings and digital work

  • Group exhibitions in Nanaimo, BC. 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2007, and 2009. Participants include Judith Tye, Alison Watt and Victoria Drakeford

  • On Going. Sale of artwork in private and corporate collections in Canada, Japan, China, USA, Sweden and Germany