Print shop launched

Here is the new site for ordering prints: 

https://kendalrayart.com/

1820

21” x 28” collage on wood panel.  2020.

Video of Stuart's Book

Calligraphy: Stuart Johnson
Illustrations: K. Ray Johnson
Music arrangement and performance: Jordan Johnson
Video Production: Jordan Johnson
Sound Technician: Zach Olsen

Simple Message

Better than Paradise

Collage, 16" x 48"

This piece documents our family’s ongoing 
search to adopt a second child.   

In the biblical account of the Creation, Adam
and Eve eat the forbidden fruit and are driven
out of the garden of Eden.  This piece contrasts that
curse, and the loss of a paradisiacal garden,
with the joy that family brings.  Eve herself
thanked God for the children she bore,
and mourned the son she lost.

Each adoption journey has its challenges 
and heartache.  But family is our greatest 
blessing— and worth all the thorns and tears 
of this life.   

 

Freedom

One of my first collages, from about 2004. 
This piece was made to represent the concept of freedom.
It was for a picture book I was working on.

Matted Prints for Sale

I am thrilled to see my Noah's Ark collage available at Deseret Book.  11x14 Matted Print.  These are lithographic prints, and very affordable at $10.00.  

Update: DB has a description up now, and this color corrected image.

Family Prayer

This is my new collage, and my entry in the Ninth International Art Competition. The theme is "Make Known His Wonderful Works." Many thanks to all who helped along the way. Here is the info I provided with my entry:

Artwork Title

Family Prayer

Artist Statement

Over a year ago, my wife asked me to make an artwork for our nursery. At the time, we had no children. I worked on this collage as we worked through the long process of applying and hoping to adopt. Like Noah, we were waiting and praying with no end in sight. As the collage neared completion, we were thrilled to adopt a beautiful baby boy. The collage now hangs over his crib as a reminder that the Lord truly will bless us, according to His timeline and after the trial of our faith.

Additional Information

This scene depicts Noah and his wife waiting for the floods to subside. I have always been impressed by Noah's faith during this trying, unadventurous time. The collage is made of thousands of hand-cut pieces of colored paper.

Medium Description
Cut paper collage on Masonite. 32" x 48."

Detail of the figures.

Detail of the planking.

Framed Art for Sale

I am very excited that my collage of the first vision is available from Deseret Book.

Enoch

This piece depicts Enoch's vision after Zion was taken up into heaven, "And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Enoch, and told Enoch all the doings of the children of men; wherefore Enoch knew, and looked upon their wickedness, and their misery, and wept and stretched forth his arms, and his heart swelled wide as eternity; and his bowels yearned; and all eternity shook." Moses 7:41.


Detail of the rain.


Detail of Enoch.

The First Presidency Gently Caricatured

Our Good Samaritan

Framed Piece

Detail of Panel #2

This cut-paper collage uses a stained glass window style to both re-tell the story of the Good Samaritan and to illustrate a plausible second way to understand this text. Starting with the bottom left panel, the window reads from left to right and from bottom to top. The first eight panels are divided into a number of smaller pieces. In its lower pieces, each panel shows a scene from the story of the Good Samaritan; its upper pieces generally depict a parallel to the life and mission of Jesus the Christ.

As detailed in the recent scholarship and publications of John W. Welch, this allegorical interpretation can be found in the writings of many early Christian leaders and in the stained glass images of several medieval cathedrals. When the allegorical elements are added, the Parable of the Good Samaritan answers the primary and essential question: "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" It suggests that Adam, and each of us, came down from the "Holy City" to this earth to participate in the great Plan of Salvation. The Savior's mission of rescue and redemption – the power of His atonement and resurrection – is the keystone of this message. The top-most panel reminds us of Our Good Samaritan's promise that He will come again.

The Whale

He lives at dark and dreary depths
From winter storms he takes his breath
There are no walls to mark his maze
Of empty views and endless waves

The sea in waves of emptiness
Would wash away all evidence
Of where he's been or ought to be
And set him wandering aimlessly

And so the whale must concentrate
Hold his bearings and navigate
He doesn't mind the waves or wind
For he carries peace within

With Him We'll Stand

Calligraphy by Stuart Johnson
Illustrated by K. Ray Johnson
© K. Ray Johnson 2008

This book is about Stuart and Nathanael, my twin brothers. They were born nearly 16 weeks premature-- more than 20 years ago.

To no one's surprise Nathanael lived only four days.

Stuart defied both science and reason and eventually came home to our family. He has had cerebral palsy all his life. But he is best defined by his grateful heart, his perseverance, and his native cheery temperament.

-- K. Ray Johnson 2005

Stuart made calligraphy of the 4th verse of I Believe in Christ. "I Believe in Christ" words by Bruce R. McConkie, © Intellectual reserve, Inc. Used by Permission.

The original illustrations are 5" x 10" cut paper collage.

1820

Cut Paper Collage. (c) K. Ray Johnson 2005. Original 15" x 20". Depicting The First Vision.

Detail of the Savior. In some of the pieces here you
can see the print pattern of the material I used.

Detail of the trees.