cambridge contemporary art

Conni Johnson

 Constance Johnson’s art expresses itself in abstract designs that comprise layer upon layer of colour to capture depth and breadth. “I’m an obsessive experimenter with the juxtaposition of contrasting and clashing colours,” she says. “I fell in love with abstraction at a young age, and developed my interests through a degree in Fine Arts from Washington State University. I also spent a year in Japan for further study on traditional dyeing techniques in Tokyo.” 

Her explorations with Japanese katazome involved paper stencils and a bean paste resist. Further experiments in printmaking have included clay monoprinting, which involves lifting colours from a leather-hard clay base onto canvas. 

Her experiments in design have recently extended to novel use of collagraph and lino printing. “Currently I’m really into abstract landscapes that are created with multiple nesting plates,” Constance says. “I enjoy starting with a small format and creating an interactive design that captures an entire world.” The finished effect of squares within squares features textures and patterns as well as a diversity of colour.

Prints are by nature two dimensional, but in some current work, Constance pushes the boundaries of printmaking into three dimensions through folding, layering, and overlapping. The resulting topographical display offers different perspectives depending on the angle of observation. “These new prints are designed to break out from the flat surface of traditional printmaking,” Constance says. “Ridges reflect light from different angles and involve the viewer in an interactive experience with the art.” 

Don’t hesitate to email us on info@cambridgegallery.co.uk or call us on 01223 324222 if you have any questions about specific pieces.