"Whatever your hand finds to do,
do it with all your might, for in
the grave, where you are going,
there is neither working nor planning
nor knowledge nor wisdom."
Ecclesiastes 9:10
These words are hanging on the wall of Doug Johnson's painting room. The majority of his paintings are Nebraska landscapes. He feels that this subject has garnered wide appeal and it withstands the test of time. Toward this end, Doug has been inspired by three other painters from central Nebraska. They are Hal Holoun, Ernest Oschner and Keith Lowry. Most of Doug's subject matter is similar to theirs, but his style is probably more idealized, and the chroma of his work is somewhat brighter. Most of his paintings are of a recognizable place. Many times, he will take several reference photographs of a scene from various points of view. Then he paints a picture as a composite of these different viewpoints. As he paints, he really concentrates on craftsmanship, with a strong emphasis on beauty, order and design. He starts with a basic underpainting, and proceeds, step by step, breaking the composition down into smaller and smaller elements or details. Doug is a lifelong resident of Grand Island, Nebraska.
