STATEMENT:

Raised with a passion for drawing and a love for the outdoors, he has become the artist he is today—an American Plein Air Realist. Painting en plein air feels like second nature to him, immersing himself in the process and unleashing his creativity to portray the vibrant chaos of the natural world on a small canvas.

Within this confined space, he skillfully creates expressive visions, capturing a slice of the world that has captivated him. Complicated and geometric shapes serve as the foundation for his strong compositions, allowing for forceful object juxtapositions, brilliant lighting effects, and vivid color pairings that demand attention.

Pastel is his medium of choice, thanks to its immediacy, vibrancy, and tactile nature, all of which appeal to his creative sensibilities. Whether he applies it in soft, delicate layers or heavy, bold strokes, pastel allows him to explore and depict each scene with the desired range of expression. Recently, he has drawn inspiration from the local landscape, finding lasting impressions in various aspects of Southern Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay, from the charm of Annapolis to the serenity of Solomons Island and the captivating beauty of Point Lookout.

BIO:

Born in Portsmouth, VA, in 1966 and growing up amidst the visual richness of Virginia Beach, Greg Johannesen’s artistic journey began early. His creative talent flourished with an art award at the tender age of six, igniting his passion for art. His childhood was spent immersed in nature, surfing, sketching animals, and capturing the picturesque beach scenes that surrounded him.

Under the guidance of renowned artist Suzanne Stevens, Greg got his first professional art lessons, where he was introduced to plein air painting. This appreciation for outdoor painting has greatly influenced his creative journey.

His unyielding artistic drive led him to an AAS in Advertising Design and a minor in Drawing from Tidewater Community College before advancing to Virginia Commonwealth University for a BFA in Illustration. Greg holds a deep passion for creative arts, which is clearly reflected in his three-decade-long career in communications where he has designed and illustrated for a myriad of print and digital media.

Today, Greg resides in Southern Maryland alongside his beloved wife, a retired master art teacher, and their two children. In 2006, he unveiled his own studio, contributing to the art landscape as a full-time illustrator, graphic designer, and painter.

His love of nature, reignited in his fine art as he celebrates the Chesapeake Bay region with hues of pastels and oils, allows him to capture the heart and soul from Annapolis to Solomons Island to Gloucester Point. Boats, waterways, and grand bay vistas offer him a canvas of endless inspiration. Pastels are Greg’s preferred artistic medium. This choice allows him to craft lively and emotive creations characterized by rich, vivid colors and spontaneous strokes. When he isn’t utilizing pastels, Greg turns to oils, employing a palette knife to produce artworks with a loose, fragmented color style.

 

CV:

Born:
Portsmouth, VA, 1966

Education:
» Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Design, Specializing in Illustration – Virginia Commonwealth University, Communication Arts and Design Department, Richmond, VA
» Associate in Applied Science in Media Advertising Arts – Tidewater Community College, Virginia Beach, VA
» Studied plein air painting under Suzanne Stevens in Virginia Beach, VA

Professional Affiliations:
» Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association, Artist Member
» Maryland Pastel Society, Signature Member
» Pastel Society of America

Current Gallery Representation:
» Carmen’s Gallery, Solomons, MD

Collections:
» The Academy Art Museum’s permanent collection, Easton, MD
» Chart House Corporate Collection, VA
» Avian Corporate Collection, St. Mary’s, MD
» E. Morgan and Joan C. Massey private collection, Richmond, VA
» Numerous works in other corporate and private collections

Publications:
» 100 Plein Air Painters of the Mid-Atlantic, by Gary Pendleton
» Plein Air Magazine, June – July, 2014 issue
» Southern Maryland This is Living Magazine, Vol 17, No 2
» River Art, Susquehanna International Art

Exhibitions & Awards:
2023
» Juried into Paint It! Ellicott City plein air event
» Juried into Harford Plein Air Painting Festival
» Participated in 5th Annual Sunflower Festival at Serenity Farm Plein Air Event – received First place

2022
» Invited to participate in Coastal VA Plein Air event — received Third Place
» Juried into Maryland Pastel Society’s national show – Shades of Pastel – 3 pieces – received honorable mention

2021
» Juried into Maryland Pastel Society Members only show – 2 pieces – received PSA Award for one piece
» Invited to participate in Coastal VA Plein Air event
» Invited to participate Gloucester Arts Festival Plein Air Invitational – received Best of Landscape/Agriculture Award
» Participated in 3rd Annual Sunflower Festival at Serenity Farm Plein Air Event – received Third place
» Participated in Paint Great Falls Plein Air Event – received Honorable Mention
» Juried into Harford Plein Air Painting Festival
» Participated in Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum ‘Paint the Park’ event

2020
» Juried into Maryland Federation of Art – Light and Shadow Show online show
» Juried into Harford Plein Air Painting Festival – received an Honorable Mention
» Juried into Paint It! Ellicott City plein air event – received a Gino Award
» Participated in 2nd Annual Sunflower Festival at Serenity Farm plein air event

2019
» Juried into Maryland Pastel Society’s national show – Shades of Pastel
» Juried into Paint Annapolis plein air event
» Juried into Paint It! Ellicott City plein air event
» Participated in 1st Annual Sunflower Festival at Serenity Farm plein air event – received Second Place

2018
» Participated in the East Beach Plein Air charity event
» Juried in the Gloucester Arts Festival – In Harmony with the Arts show
» Juried into Paint Annapolis plein air event
» Juried into the Maryland Pastel Society Members Only Show – received Merit Award

2017
» Participated in the East Beach Plein Air charity event
» Participated in the Gloucester Arts Festival Heart of the River plein air charity event
» Juried into Paint Annapolis plein air event
» Juried into Solomons Plein Air Festival – received Quickdraw Honorable Mention
» Juried into Harford Plein Air event – received an Honorable Mention

2016
» Participated in the East Beach Plein Air charity event
» Juried into Paint Annapolis plein air event
» Juried into Paint It! Ellicott City plein air event – received an Honorable Mention
» Juried into Harford Plein Air event – received Third Place

2015
» Juried into Paint Annapolis plein air event
» Juried into Camp Hill Plein Air event
» Juried into Solomons Plein Air Festival
» Juried into Harford Plein Air event – received an Honorable Mention

2014
» Juried into Paint Annapolis plein air event
» Juried into Easels in Frederick plein air event
» Juried into Paint It! Ellicott City plein air event – received a Juror’s Choice Award
» Juried into Solomons Plein Air Festival – received an Honorable Mention
» Juried into Nature’s ARTcade Regional Art Exhibit put on by Battle Creek Nature Education Society

2013
» Three paintings juried into the Maryland Pastel Society’s National “Shades of Pastel” Show – received First Place
» Juried into the 757 Plein Air Event – received the ‘In the French Tradition’ Award and a Quickdraw Honorable Mention
» Juried into the Solomons Plein Air Festival – received an Honorable Mention and a Quickdraw First Place
» Juried into the Paint It! Ellicott City plein air event – received the Gino Award and a Juror’s Choice Award
» Juried into the Paint Annapolis plein air event – received an Honorable Mention

2012
» Received an Honorable Mention at the Paint It! Ellicott City plein air event
» Received a First Place, Best Architectural Award at the Havre de Grace Plein Air event
» Juried into the 757 Plein Air Event – received an Honorable Mention

2011
» Two Paintings juried into the Maryland Pastel Society’s National “Shades of Pastel” Show
» Plein Impressions’ Solo Show at Annmarie Garden

2010
» Three paintings juried into the Maryland Pastel Society Members Only Show – received the Glen Sparkman Memorial Award
» Juried into Susquehanna International Art Competition’s River Art Show
» Juried into the Out & About Norfolk plein air event – received the ‘In the French Tradition’ Award
» Juried into the Havre de Grace Plein Air event – received First Place, Best Architectural Award
» Received Quickdraw Second Place in Plein Air Easton
» Juried into Solomons Paint the Town – received Quickdraw First Place

2009
» Juried into the Paint Annapolis plein air event
» Juried into the Plein Air Easton
» Juried into the Solomons Paint the Town, Received 3 awards – Best View of Annmarie Garden Award, Best Use of Light Award and a Quickdraw Honorable Mention

2008
» Juried into the Maryland Pastel Society’s Members Only Exhibit, received an Honorable Mention
» Received an Honorable Mention at the Out & About Norfolk plein air event
» Juried into the Southeastern Pastel Society 13th Annual International Exhibit

2007
» Received ‘In the French Tradition’ Purchase Award at the Out & About Norfolk plein air event
» Juried into the Maryland Pastel Society’s National ‘Shades of Pastel’ Show
» Juried into the Somerset Art Association National Juried Pastel Exhibit