My drawing capabilities, nurtured over many years play an essential role in my creative process while serving as a humble reminder that there is always more to learn.
Karen Johnston (BFA, RECE)
Artist/Educator
This site is intended to showcase my work while offering introductory classes in drawing, painting and mixed media (mosaicking and collage). Discover the joy of creativity in a welcoming space for artists of all ages and skill levels.
Author/Illustrator
Six Owls and A Party (2015) is a self-published children's picture book that celebrates the ancient art of mosaics while giving a style called Picassiette a fresh and contemporary spin. It tells a simple tale of Six Owls and one party. With it, I've visited many diverse schools in and around the Greater Toronto Area, with an author reading and mosaic workshop called The Magic of Mosaics, happily celebrating literacy through art.
Artist Statement
I have always been drawn to the work of traditional portrait artists like Sargent and Zorn, captivated by their ability to go beyond likeness to capture the spirit of a subject. I approach my own drawing process with the knowledge that this level of depiction begins with skilled draftsmanship — that which must be nurtured daily.
PAST TRADE SHOWS
Reading for the Love of It Conference, February 2017, Toronto
Reading for the Love of It Conference, February 2016, Toronto
The Word on The Street Festival, September 2015, Toronto
Interior Design show 2014, Toronto
Interior Design Show 2010, Toronto
Mosaicworks was featured on The HGTV show Pure Design, 2009
The episode; Madeleine's Bedroom, from season two.
Interior Design Show 2009, Toronto
Interior Design Show 2008, Toronto
One of a Kind Spring Show 2007, Toronto
FUN STUFF FROM THE PAST
In December 2017 I worked with The Ad Agency, Juniper Park\TBWA, to create two mosaics using tic tacs for their client Tic Tac Canada.
It was a couple of long, fun days spent with a wonderful creative team that produced two videos for Instagram. The first time-lapsed video is of a mosaic being built and the second, reversed, time-lapsed video is of a mosaic exploding then coming back together.
All photographs are copyright of Karen Johnston via Mosaicworks. If you would like to feature my work please credit Mosaicworks.