About the Artist
Juried Shows
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Since I was very young, I’ve been fascinated with shapes, color,
texture and design. I was probably the only 5 year old to pour over my mother’s home design magazines and ponder what I would have done differently. In high school, other than anatomy, art was my favorite subject. I spent many hours experimenting with multiple ways to get the effect I desired. I even majored in art in my senior year. Living in Philadelphia, I knew I wanted to go to what was then The Museum School of Art. My parents, however, thought that would not be a stable career, so off to nursing school I went. There, I spent time sketching the human body during the long lectures. Life happens and as a young mother, I found an oil painting class near my home. Later, after a move to Portland Oregon, I found that decorative arts fulfilled my desire to decorate my home and help friends. At last, with children in school, I was free to obtain the education needed to pursue my art career. While watercolor was my passion, I opted for a major in commercial art. Later, having been exposed to interior design, I went back to PCC to study kitchen and bath design and basics of architecture. I became an interior designer and later passed my exams to become a professional member of Northwest Society of Interior Designers [NWSID]. A few years later, I became president of NWSID and was an active board member for 5 years. I worked as a designer for Parker Furniture for nearly ten years. During that time I was accepted into the Watercolor Society of Oregon, [WSO]. I painted when I could and took many workshops during my vacation time. For many years, until time became a challenge, I was a member of Lake Area Artists, in Lake Oswego Oregon as well as a member of the city's Art Commission. In 1999, I quit my job at Parker Furniture to start my own venture, Marjorie Johnson Designs, a residential interior design company. Thus, I could better arrange my time and finally make painting a priority. I began entering my paintings into juried shows, where I received several awards. I taught watercolor and drawing for 5 years in Tigard Oregon. I took many classes and workshops taught by nationally known artists, experimenting with oils, pastels and acrylics. I designed an in-home studio with lots of storage and working space. I started going back to Philadelphia with my husband for several months a year where I’ve become active in the Philadelphia Sketch Club. We have traveled extensively, which gives me new ideas for my painting. In 2010, I started a volunteer summer art therapy job with Lifeworks NW. Oh, remember that love of anatomy as a young nursing student? My favorite subjects are people and portraits. |
