Contemporary Abstract Artist Nadine Johnson

NADINE JOHNSON

about the artist

Nadine Johnson is a Calgary-based abstract painter whose work grows from layers of color, collage, and lived experience. She paints intuitively, letting memory, place, and personal history guide the process, a slow unfolding where each mark influences the next. Her paintings draw from the things she carries with her: florals, prairie horizons, old fences, family stories, and the quiet textures of remembered places.

For over 20 years, Nadine has been immersed in painting, studying, experimenting, and showing her work. A major shift came in 2020 through the Creative Visionary Program (CVP), where her understanding of design, value, and visual language clicked into place. That experience helped her refine her voice and trust the layered, intuitive way she was already working, eventually leading to gallery representation, awards, and a deeper commitment to teaching.

Community is a vital part of Nadine’s practice. She is passionate about helping other artists grow, stay curious, and stay connected. Whether she’s coaching online with Art2Life or teaching workshops, her work and teaching share the same heartbeat: an invitation to explore, listen closely, and to follow what feels true.

Artist Statement

"Painting has become my personal language, a way of speaking through color, collage, lines, and the quiet rhythm of marks and shapes. My work grows from the people, places, and moments that stay with me. Florals, food, books, and objects I’ve loved all find their way in, but my deepest inspiration comes from connection: the relationships I cherish, the landscapes I’ve lived in, and the constant movement of nature. I’m drawn to its colors and its cycles, the way growth, change, endings, and beginnings weave themselves into our lives.

I work in layers of paint, collage, crayon, and pencil, building compositions that reflect the diversity and complexity of these relationships. Each piece is an exploration, a way of listening, following, and responding to what rises. Beyond my own practice, I’m passionate about helping artists trust themselves, creating space for them to explore, take risks, and discover their own unique voice. I believe meaningful art comes from openness, vulnerability, and a willingness to be kind to ourselves as we create."