Johnny K | You Stir My Heart
You Stir My Heart | 2024
90 x 90 cm
Oil, aerosol & house paint on board
Signed Verso
Tasi Oak shadow box frame
$3,600
WHERE WILD WINDS BLOW
My recent trip to the Snowy Mountains and the time spent in Guthega, Perisher, Smiggin Holes and Kiandra was a transformative experience that deeply inspired my latest body of work. The interplay of ferocious winds, swirling snow, and fleeting blue skies created a dramatic landscape that I sought to capture on canvas. The serene beauty of the snow-covered terrain contrasted sharply with the howling winds, evoking a sense of both isolation and exhilaration.
My paintings from this experience reflect the dynamic tension between the stillness of the snow and the raw energy of nature, using bold marks and a simplified palette to convey this duality.
This collection is a tribute to the powerful forces of nature that I encountered during my journey. It reflects my deep appreciation for the mountains and the profound connection I felt to the elements. Each piece invites viewers to experience the wild beauty and emotional landscape of these wintery realms, capturing a moment where nature reigns supreme.
Johnny K
BIO
I was always very good at drawing from a very young age and remember early on that I wanted to be an artist, although I never really understood what that really meant. Being born in Albury I’ve always been drawn to the Australian landscape and the outdoors in general. I recall riding up the hill behind our house and being able to see an endless horizon line and I remember how the light glistened across the land like sparkles of magic. It had me in complete awe and from an early age I enjoyed experiencing each season in all its glory.
Entering the National Art School straight out of high school for three years was definitely an eye opener for me and my practical training was completed with an intensive 6 months at the Julian Ashton Art School during my mid- twenties, where I really learnt about colour and composition. The two very differing schools and their approach to painting honed my abilities to handle paint, composition and colour.
I currently spend most of my time exploring dirt roads in rural NSW, where painting from life has played a critical role in shaping my current style and approach to painting. I have recently started reworking paintings in my studio that were painted en plein air to help give me more time to think about the work and inject the experience into the paintings. Using thick brush marks and layers of paint enables me to capture the tough Australian terrain. I want viewers to be able to see and feel the terrain on the surface of my paintings and through my work take them on my adventures and journey into the Australian landscape.
