Johnson Shares Art During Show

Lance Johnson shows some of his art work during a show at Bryan’s on Friday and Saturday. The

Johnson

Wolf Point native has an art studio in Billings.

Wolf Point native Lance Johnson has always loved art, but it just took him a while to put his talent into that profession.

Prior to becoming a professional artist, he was a chef for 19 years in Billings at the Hilands Golf Course and the Petroleum Club.

“I wanted to see if an artist could really starve if he knew how to cook,” Johnson joked.

His 12 years as an artist included opening up the Going to the Sunrise Studio in Billings.

Johnson credits his mother, who also was an artist, for getting him excited about art. High school teacher Penny Nelson was also an inspiration.

The great majority of his work is oils and water colors although he does create a few sketches.

Johnson, who graduated from Wolf Point High School in 1981, looks forward to attending the community’s Art in the Park each year. He has held art shows at Bryan’s during Stampede each of the last two years.

“I like visiting with old friends and making new friends,” he said of his time in Wolf Point.

His work includes many landscapes and wildlife settings.

“I love doing a lot of Native American scenes,” Johnson said. “I might paint tipis for two weeks straight, then I will do landscapes or elks. I paint anything that is Montana.”

His landscapes aren’t of any actual, physical places. “I use my imagination,” he explained.

He estimates that about 50 percent of his sales are to Montanans. He has sold paintings to people from Scotland, England and Australia.