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.