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ENCAUSTIC PAINTING A Portfolio of Work by Anthony Johnson
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! ABOUT AJ
! AJ’s paintings are inspired by nature and driven by a compelling need for selfexpression. His fascination with materials and their inherent ability to communicate led him to experiment with countless paints over many years to find a specific medium that resonated with him. He was drawn to the ancient encaustic wax painting for it's natural ingredients, it's history and it's ability to be manipulated, transformed, layered and fused in so many ways unlike any other paint. His formula is based on extensive research and experimentation, including the original formula for the 2,000-year-old Egyptian recipe using beeswax, a centuries old Greek formula which first used beeswax and pitch to weatherproof ships, the wax from plants in South America, Birchwood from Finland, 30 years of research into encaustic paint by an American Professor, a two centuries old recipe for milk paint, resin from trees in Indonesia and other sources. He is also indebted to local paint chemists for their assistance Using everything from heating tools as small as a soldering iron to tar melting torches that blast out four foot flames is demanding and exhilarating work.
The pleasure for AJ is in having developed an individual technique using 2000 years of histor y coupled with modern technology to best express himself.
! ! ! He was mentored over many years by a good friend and exceptional teacher, the late Prof. Kevin Atkinson, Professor of Fine Art at Michaelis Art School, University of Cape Town. to whom he attributes virtually all of his entire education in Art. He also studied under the late Eric Laubscher, one of South Africa's top artists who headed the Ruth Prowse School of Art in Cape Town, where he lectured in Photography for a number of years. Born in Cape Town AJ launched his career when he was 19 years old with the publication of a book of black and white landscape photographs of the Karoo, a barren area of haunting beauty in South Africa. He spent the next thirty years as a professional photographer developing an understanding of light, colour and design while continuing to paint and sculpt for his own pleasure. He worked on diverse projects around the globe for advertising and editorial clients in every conceivable form from books to billboards. He was trained in photography by Brian Astbury, founder and director of the first multi-racial theatre in South Africa, He lived and worked in New York for several years, returning to Cape Town where he currently pursues his passion for art .
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SUMMER RAIN Encaustic on Finnish Birch
120 x 183 cm.
© Anthony Johnson 2013
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SIGNS OF FIRST RAIN Encaustic on Finnish Birch
120 x 120 cm.
© Anthony Johnson 2013
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WATERFALL, GROOTVADERSBOS Encaustic on Finnish Birch
120 x 120 cm.
© Anthony Johnson 2013
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PRINCE ALBERT, KAROO Encaustic on Finnish Birch with Charred Twigs
120 x 120 cm.
© Anthony Johnson 2013
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HOMAGE TO ROTHKO Encaustic on Finnish Birch
120 x 120 cm.
© Anthony Johnson 2013
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HOMAGE TO POLLOCK Encaustic on Finnish Birch
92 x 140 cm.
© Anthony Johnson 2013
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SLATE QUARRY, PRINCE ALBERT
© Anthony Johnson 2013
Encaustic on Finnish Birch
120 x 120 cm.
…continued
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WARMWATERBERG Encaustic on Finnish Birch
Diptych 60 x 60 cm. each panel
© Anthony Johnson 2014
RESERVED
© Anthony Johnson 2014
RESERVED
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CAPE OVERBERG
Diptych
Encaustic on Finnish Birch
Diptych 60 x 80 cm. each panel
© Anthony Johnson 2014
SOLD
© Anthony Johnson 2014
SOLD
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BARRYDALE
Encaustic on Finnish Birch
60 x 80 cm.
© Anthony Johnson 2013
SOLD
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PRINCE ALBERT, KAROO Encaustic on Finnish Birch
60 x 80 cm.
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© Anthony Johnson 2014
SOLD
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WEST COAST SEASCAPE Encaustic on Finnish Birch
125 x 180 cm.
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Š Anthony Johnson 2013
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CEDERBERG Encaustic on Finnish Birch
120 x 183 cm.
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Š Anthony Johnson 2013
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CAPE ST.FRANCIS Encaustic on Finnish Birch
60 x 60 cm.
© Anthony Johnson 2014