Johanna was born in the Netherlands and immigrated to Canada with her family at a young age. She grew up in a European influenced household which focused on the importance of the arts. Johanna received her B.Ed degree in Fine Arts from the University of Calgary in 1977. She was recently named as one of the "Top 60 Masters of Contemporary Art" by Art Tour International Magazine, NY. Shows in New York, London, Paris, Nice, and Lausanne have raised her profile to an International level. Johanna's work can be found in private collections and public spaces across Canada, in the United States, Europe and Japan.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

I have been painting for about 40 years, and teaching art alongside at the same time. This means I am really immersed in my art and I am able to communicate my subject matter with a variety of mediums because of my teaching experience. My subjects range from landscapes, portraits and figures, to mixed media art. Lately I have produced two series focusing on portraits, as I find them more challenging. The "Selfie-Portrait Series," was influenced by my teenaged students' obsession with this new genre a few years ago. I enjoyed the distorted perspective and angular compositions that resulted. I used the Instagram square format throughout the series, painting on 12" x 12" canvases. The latest series that I have just completed Is "The African Connection" paintings where I have completed fourteen canvases depicting Africans of today, telling stories of their lives, their trials and tribulations in an unjust society. The proceeds of these paintings will benefit these Africans who have helped me craft the exhibition.
What's next? Perhaps a watercolor series on "Shadows." Smiles.