Jay Johansen
Figurative Realist Painter

Part painter and part storyteller, Johansen has employed various media to play with color, light, composition and technique until every element of his work becomes a participant in the tale he weaves about his subject. His models range from celebrity icons to street people, but he approaches each with a powerful, almost tangible, curiosity. Johansen searches for the drama of the human expression, recreating it through fearless experimentation with color, light, medium and texture. At times saturated with color that seems to drip off the canvas and, at others, almost translucent in the delicate rendering of a skin tone, Johansen's portraits boast a juxtaposition of bold and subtle elements.

Jay's lifelong journey into the arts started under the close observation of his father's artistic talent as a sculptor. This had a profound impact on his awareness of the arts. Later, he became more aware of his own artistic talent and the desire developed to create art, and made a career change to accommodate his passion. As he approached various subjects, his voice became more clear in figurative realism and classical themes igniting a journey that includes a variety of challenging subjects from the homeless to famous people as well as the ornate beauty of ballerinas, matadors and flamencos.