Visual art has long been an outlet to explore reality, the whimsical and even the absurd. Te Paske Gallery’s latest display exhibits all three in the work of artist Lissa Lane-Johnson, titled “Bridging Reality.” The collection includes pieces in acrylic paint, colored pencil and graphite drawing that embrace both what is true to life as well as what takes a step into an alternate reality, bridging the gap between the two.
Lane Johnson graduated from Northwestern College in 1993 with a degree in art. During her time at NW, she was heavily involved in the art and theatre departments, having a joint art show her senior year and contributing to many stage productions. With her artistic abilities, she also worked as a cartoonist on the “Beacon” staff. Her recurring comic strip, “Heather and Mingus” featured panels that showed “a humorous look at Northwest Iowa life.”
Humor has long been an integral part of Lane-Johnson’s work. This is especially evident through the artist’s graphite drawings. Each features a situation absurd, most with the piece’s subject being an animal. For instance, a weary looking homeowner in a sitting room inundated with chickens. “Keep chickens, they said,” reads the caption.
Another drawing titled “Exactly how he thought it would go,” features an exterior view of a house with giant rats crammed inside and atop the roof. The mailbox out front, marked with the name Lukas Johnson, overflows with unretrieved letters. “My son had gotten some rats. That didn’t turn out very successful,” Lane-Johnson said, explaining the inspiration behind the piece.
Not every drawing has a direct source of inspiration, and Lane-Johnson’s process for developing them is unique as the drawings themselves. Though some ideas stem from pet keeping gone awry or familial anecdotes, other ideas seem to just unfurl as the piece is created. “They start off as a small doodle and they end up going wherever they go,” Lane-Johnson said.
Also unique to her art are several nontraditional methods used in her paintings. For some pieces, applying paint with alternative tools like bubble wrap, sponges or her fingers achieve the desired effect. Lane-Johnson also finds herself carrying in technique from other focuses. “I feel like everything else I’ve done has lent itself to my art. I’ve noticed I use ways I’ve learned to paint sets I’ve used on paintings. It’s all played in pretty well,” she said.
Unlike her drawings Lane-Johnson prefers to plan her paintings, often being inspired by color. Several of the displayed paintings feature lifelike flowers growing in abstract settings. “I’ve found more expression in mixing abstract with realism. To me it just feels a little lighter,” said Lane-Johnson. “I just keep experimenting, seeing what happens.” The combination of realistic and impressionistic styles stir feelings reminiscent of a dream: some aspects seem true to life while others defy the logic of the real world.
Though partially retired, Lane-Johnson prefers to keep busy. When she’s not teaching painting, drawing and sculpture in her job as an adjunct art professor at Northwest Iowa Community College, she focuses on her creative endeavors. From her home studio, she pursues her goal of “getting more art out there,” working on various mediums. Additionally, she helps to operate the Blue Monkey in Archer, IA, a cooperative gallery displaying and selling the work of a group of local artists. “I’m using that degree in ways I didn’t imagine,” said Lane-Johnson. “I’m really humbled and grateful that this opportunity came for me to return to Northwestern.”
Lane-Johnson’s artwork will be on display in the Te Paske Gallery through Feb. 29, with a reception for the artist being held Friday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m.
