Kim Johnson

 

I'm always romanced by the animal spirits and love how they quietly watch me hike and run around this little "Lone Mountain" in Las Vegas, NV. I chose to paint the cottontail, raven and chuckwalla because they are who I interact with most while hiking the upper trail. I chose painting the eye nestled in the flora because these friendly trail buddies always seem to be watching as if they are hidden and untouchable. The raven meets me on early morning summer runs always letting me know they're in charge of things with their loud squawks and circle flights. The cottontail are there on sunny mornings and sunsets to show me how fast and cunning they are while keeping all the secrets deep in their hidden burrows. The chuckwalla are like little reptilian tough guys named "Chuck" from the Mojave saloon. After 20 plus years running around Lone Mountain I still can't figure them out. They're just cool. The dried botanical material buried and nestled in modeling paste are all from plants that thrive in my humble little garden. What a wonderful way to get to visually express my love for this delicate but thriving desert environment.