Born near St. Louis, Missouri, Becky Johnson  spent her childhood traveling extensively with her military family.  From her earliest years, drawing has been her primary creative outlet, and after moving to Colorado in 1972, she began to pursue painting as a full-time career.

Becky's distinctive style in the dry medium of pastel is self-taught.   After an early focus on painting wildlife, in recent years landscape has become her primary subject.  Photos taken while traveling to and from art shows often provide reference for new work, and in 2005 an opportunity to paint 'en plein air' added another exciting element to her landscape painting.  She is especially intrigued by light, and often chooses to light a scene with early morning or late afternoon sun.

"The sense of excitement and awe that I derive from time spent observing and photographing nature is what I try to impart in every painting.  My goal is to paint a portrait of an individual animal or place, and to share with the viewer a unique moment in our natural world. 

Pastel is a challenging medium in which to work.  It's a little like painting with pure pigment.  There are no brushes or palettes or thinners; the colors are applied and mixed directly on the paper surface, which allows for an unequaled spontaneity and brilliance.   I work on a variety of paper textures and colors, which also affect the finished painting.  It is a long-lasting medium that with proper framing and reasonable care will retain its luminous qualities for generations."

Becky participates in juried and invitational exhibitions throughout the west and Midwest, and her work has received numerous awards.  Her work is included in collections throughout the United States and overseas and is available in a growing number of self-published reproductions.

Memberships:
American Plains Artists
Women Artists of the West, Associate Member

Recent awards:
2009 Second Prize--Animals and Wildlife Category, Pastel 100 National Competition, The Pastel Journal
2009 First Place, 2D--43rd Annual Evergreen Arts Festival, Evergreen, CO
2009 People's Choice--Douglas Invitational Art Show, Douglas WY
2009 Best Framing Award--American Plains Artists 25th Anniversary Art Show, Odessa, TX
2008 Award of Excellence--Mosaics, Missouri Festival of the Arts, St. Charles, MO
2008 Publisher's Award, Art of the West- American Plains Artists 24th Annual Juried Exhibit
     and Sale, Midland, TX                                   
2008 First Place, Drawing/Pastels--Castle Rock ArtFest, Castle Rock, CO
2008 Best of Show--2 D, Evergreen Arts Festival, Evergreen, CO
2007 Juror's Award--Castle Rock ArtFest, Castle Rock, CO
2007 First Place/Best of Show--26th Annual Fine Art Fair and Wine Fest, Washington, MO
2006 First Place--Professional, Victor Celebrates the Arts Plein Air Competition, Victor, CO
2005 Best of Show--Landscape, Operation Wildlife Art Show, Overland Park, KS
2005 Best of Show-Fine Art, Evergreen Arts Festival, Evergreen, CO
2005 Best of Fine Art, Castle Rock ArtFest, Castle Rock CO
2004 Best of Show, Arts for All Festival, Lawton, OK

Museum Collections:  The pastel paintings Lookout-Hummingbird and Coming Rain are included in the permanent collection of the Mulvane Art Museum, Topeka, Kansas.
The pastel painting Prairie Evening is included in the permanent collection of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska.  The pastel painting River Sunset was part of the Art in Embassies program.    Becky's paintings have been featured in articles in the January/February 1993 and March/April 1993 issues in Wildlife Art News magazine.