About the Artist

Rick W. Johnson is a lifelong resident of southwest Nebraska, growing up enjoying the wonderful landscape which has been his enduring inspiration in most all of his artwork. He is a graduate form McCook Community College with his associate’s degree, receiving a Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) form the University of Nebraska Kearney, and finally a Masters of Fine Arts/Doctorate degree (MFA) form the University of Idaho where he taught for four years. Returning to southwest Nebraska, he is currently the Instructor of Art at McCook Community College for the past 20 years. Johnson enjoys spending time out of doors fishing/camping/”Broncoing” and just spending “play time” with his wife Kim of 20 years, and 6 children, 3 boys, and 3 girls, and 2 grandsons who he loves and cherishes.

"A deep appreciation for nature is at the heart of my paintings. In my work I seek to convey the landscape as I experience it emotionally as well as visually. My paintings convey the warmth of the sun, the coolness of the shadows, and the touch of the breeze. It's all about light and mood and capturing your impression on canvas."

“Whenever I am in nature, (which I frequently am) I visually try to communicate the brilliant colors of fall and the vivid greens of spring that have inspired numerous paintings, as have flaming sunsets and dramatic cloud formations.”