Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
American, b. 1963
Clay Johnson is an American abstract painter whose reductivist compositions explore the relationships between color, form, and texture.
He lives and works in Laramie, Wyoming. Johnson earned his B.A. in studio art and art history from Duke University in 1985. Afterwards, he worked as studio manager for the painter Robert Natkin. Says Johnson, “Most of what I know about painting I learned from Bob.” The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives and drywall tools rather than brushes.” Johnson has exhibited in numerous group and solo exhibitions throughout the United States. His work is in the collections of the Kimpton Corporation and the University of Wyoming Art Museum, among others. The scraping and sanding creates a variety of different textures and leads to the emergence of unexpected forms. Because of the intensity of his method he prefers rigid surfaces, such as wood and aluminum panels, though he sometimes also works on paper and canvas stretched over panels. He prefers acrylic paint because of its fast drying time, which allows him to react quickly as the layers evolve towards a sense of completion.to
15
3
16
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
34
13
14
13
7
34
34
34
17
15
59
808
408
306
282
34
Artist: Clay Johnson
Atomic Painting #9 in Acrylic on Panel, 2023
By Clay Johnson
Located in Orange, CA
Atomic Painting #9 in Acrylic on Panel, 2023
Additional information:
Medium: Painting, acrylic on panel
Dimensions: 36 × 48 in (91.4 × 121.9 cm)
Clay Johnson (American, b. 1963) wa...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Panel
Wells Street Painting in Acrylic on Panel, 2018
By Clay Johnson
Located in Orange, CA
Wells Street Painting in Acrylic on Panel, 2018
Additional information:
Medium: Acrylic on panel
Dimensions: 48 × 48 in (121.9 × 121.9 cm)
Clay Johnson (American, b. 1963) was bor...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Panel
Four Down Painting in Acrylic on Linen, 2024
By Clay Johnson
Located in Orange, CA
Four Down, 2024
Additional information:
Medium: Acrylic on linen
Dimensions: 48 × 60 in (121.9 × 152.4 cm)
Clay Johnson (American, b. 1963) was born in Durham, North Carolina, wher...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Linen, Acrylic
A Different Explanation Painting in Acrylic on Panel, 2024
By Clay Johnson
Located in Orange, CA
A Different Explanation, 2024
Additional information:
Medium: Acrylic on panel
Dimensions: 48 × 48 in (121.9 × 121.9 cm)
Clay Johnson (American, b. 1963) was born in Durham, North ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Panel
Atomic Painting #8 in Acrylic on Panel, 2023
By Clay Johnson
Located in Orange, CA
Atomic Painting #8 in Acrylic on Panel, 2023
Additional information:
Medium: Painting, acrylic on panel
Dimensions: 48 × 48 in (121.9 × 121.9 cm)
Clay Johnson (American, b. 1963) w...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Panel
The Last Turn Painting in Acrylic on Panel, 2024
By Clay Johnson
Located in Orange, CA
The Last Turn, 2024
Additional information:
Medium: Acrylic on panel
Dimensions: 24 × 24 in (61 × 61 cm)
Clay Johnson (American, b. 1963) was born in Durham, North Carolina, where ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Panel
Untitled 560 (Abstract painting)
By Clay Johnson
Located in London, GB
Untitled 560 (Abstract painting)
Acrylic on paper - Unframed.
The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives ...
Category
2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Paper, Acrylic
Atomic Painting #4 in Acrylic on Panel, 2023
By Clay Johnson
Located in Orange, CA
Atomic Painting #4 in Acrylic on Panel, 2023
Additional information:
Medium: Painting, acrylic on panel
Dimensions: 48 × 60 in (121.9 × 152.4 cm)
Clay Johnson (American, b. 1963) w...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Panel
Atomic Painting #5 in Acrylic on Panel, 2023
By Clay Johnson
Located in Orange, CA
Atomic Painting #5 in Acrylic on Panel, 2023
Additional information:
Medium: Painting, acrylic on panel
Dimensions: 48 × 48 in (121.9 × 121.9 cm)
Clay Johnson (American, b. 1963) w...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Panel
Atomic Painting #3 in Acrylic on Panel, 2023
By Clay Johnson
Located in Orange, CA
Atomic Painting #3 in Acrylic on Panel, 2023
Additional information:
Medium: Painting, acrylic on panel
Dimensions: 48 × 60 in (121.9 × 152.4 cm)
Clay Johnson (American, b. 1963) w...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Panel
Untitled (#707) Painting in Acrylic on Paper
By Clay Johnson
Located in Orange, CA
Untitled (#707) Painting in Acrylic on Paper
Additional information:
Medium: Acrylic on paper
Dimensions: 20 × 16 in (50.8 × 40.6 cm)
Clay Johnson (American, b. 1963) was born in D...
Category
2010s Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Paper, Acrylic
Atomic Painting #7 in Acrylic on Panel, 2023
By Clay Johnson
Located in Orange, CA
Atomic Painting #7 in Acrylic on Panel, 2023
Additional information:
Medium: Painting, acrylic on panel
Dimensions: 48 × 48 in (121.9 × 121.9 cm)
Clay Johnson (American, b. 1963) w...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Panel
Atomic Painting #2 in Acrylic on Panel, 2023
By Clay Johnson
Located in Orange, CA
Atomic Painting #2 in Acrylic on Panel, 2023
Additional information:
Medium: Painting, acrylic on panel
Dimensions: 48 × 60 in (121.9 × 152.4 cm)
Clay Johnson (American, b. 1963) w...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Panel
Untitled 559 (Abstract painting)
By Clay Johnson
Located in London, GB
Untitled 559 (Abstract painting)
Acrylic on paper - Unframed.
The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives ...
Category
2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Paper, Acrylic
Untitled 557 (Abstract painting)
By Clay Johnson
Located in London, GB
Untitled 557 (Abstract painting)
Acrylic on paper - Unframed.
The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives ...
Category
2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Paper, Acrylic
Untitled 559 (Abstract painting)
By Clay Johnson
Located in London, GB
Untitled 559 (Abstract painting)
Acrylic on paper - Unframed.
The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives ...
Category
2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Paper, Acrylic
Untitled 557 (Abstract painting)
By Clay Johnson
Located in London, GB
Untitled 557 (Abstract painting)
Acrylic on paper - Unframed.
The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives ...
Category
2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Paper, Acrylic
Untitled 560 (Abstract painting)
By Clay Johnson
Located in London, GB
Untitled 560 (Abstract painting)
Acrylic on paper - Unframed.
The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives ...
Category
2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Paper, Acrylic
Untitled 559 (Abstract painting)
By Clay Johnson
Located in London, GB
Untitled 559 (Abstract painting)
Acrylic on paper - Unframed.
The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives ...
Category
2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Paper, Acrylic
Untitled 560 (Abstract painting)
By Clay Johnson
Located in London, GB
Acrylic on paper - Unframed.
The technique Johnson employs is extremely rigorous, involving, as he says, “pushing paint around with palette knives and drywall tools rather than brus...
Category
2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Paper, Acrylic
Abstract Work on Paper by Clay Johnson, Untitled (#708)
By Clay Johnson
Located in White Plains, NY
'Untitled (#708)' 2023 by American artist, Clay Johnson. Acrylic on Arches paper, 22 x 30 in. This colorful abstract painting features bands of colors in cobalt blue, light blue, bei...
Category
2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Archival Paper
Atomic #10 Painting in Acrylic on Panel, 2023
By Clay Johnson
Located in Orange, CA
Atomic #10 Painting in Acrylic on Panel, 2023
Additional information:
Medium: Painting, acrylic on panel
Dimensions: 36 × 48 in (91.4 × 121.9 cm)
Clay Johnson (American, b. 1963) w...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Panel
Untitled (#698) Painting in Acrylic on Paper, 2020
By Clay Johnson
Located in Orange, CA
Untitled (#698) Painting in Acrylic on Paper, 2020
Additional information:
Medium: Acrylic on paper
Dimensions: 16 × 20 in (40.6 × 50.8 cm)
Clay Johnson (American, b. 1963) was bor...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Paper, Acrylic
Atomic Painting #11 in Acrylic on Linen, 2024
By Clay Johnson
Located in Orange, CA
Atomic Painting #11 in Acrylic on Linen, 2024
Additional information:
Medium: Painting, acrylic on linen
Dimensions: 48 × 60 in (121.9 × 152.4 cm)
Clay Johnson (American, b. 1963) ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Panel
Atomic Painting #1 in Acrylic on Panel, 2023
By Clay Johnson
Located in Orange, CA
Atomic Painting #1 in Acrylic on Panel, 2023
Additional information:
Medium: Painting, acrylic on panel
Dimensions: 48 × 60 in (121.9 × 152.4 cm)
Clay Johnson (American, b. 1963) w...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Panel
Atomic Painting #6 in Acrylic on Panel, 2023
By Clay Johnson
Located in Orange, CA
Atomic Painting #6 in Acrylic on Panel, 2023
Additional information:
Medium: Painting, acrylic on panel
Dimensions: 48 × 48 in (121.9 × 121.9 cm)
Clay Johnson (American, b. 1963) w...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Panel
Untitled (#701) Painting in Acrylic on Paper, 2020
By Clay Johnson
Located in Orange, CA
Untitled (#701) Painting in Acrylic on Paper, 2020
Additional information:
Medium: Acrylic on paper
Dimensions: 16 × 20 in (40.6 × 50.8 cm)
Clay Johnson (American, b. 1963) was bor...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Paper, Acrylic
A Walk in the Park Painting in Acrylic on Panel, 2021
By Clay Johnson
Located in Orange, CA
A Walk in the Park, 2021
Additional information:
Medium: Acrylic on panel
Dimensions: 48 × 60 in (121.9 × 152.4 cm)
Clay Johnson (American, b. 1963) was born in Durham, North Carol...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Panel
Untitled (#736) Painting in Acrylic on Paper, 2024
By Clay Johnson
Located in Orange, CA
Untitled (#736) Painting in Acrylic on Paper, 2024
Additional information:
Medium: Acrylic on paper
Dimensions: 22 × 30 in (55.9 × 76.2 cm)
Clay Johnson (American, b. 1963) was bor...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Paper, Acrylic
Tophat Painting in Acrylic on Canvas, 2021
By Clay Johnson
Located in Orange, CA
Tophat Painting in Acrylic on Canvas, 2021
Additional information:
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions: 60 × 48 in (152.4 × 121.9 cm)
Clay Johnson (American, b. 1963) was born in ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Abstract Work on Paper by Clay Johnson, Untitled (#725)
By Clay Johnson
Located in White Plains, NY
'Untitled (#725)' 2023 by American artist, Clay Johnson. Acrylic on Arches paper, 20 x 16 in. This colorful abstract painting features bands of colors in orange, red, pink, white, an...
Category
2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Archival Paper
Abstract Work on Paper by Clay Johnson, Untitled (#727)
By Clay Johnson
Located in White Plains, NY
'Untitled (#727)' 2023 by American artist, Clay Johnson. Acrylic on Arches paper, 20 x 16 in. This colorful abstract painting features bands of colors in red, blue, beige, orange, pi...
Category
2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Archival Paper
Abstract Work on Paper by Clay Johnson, Untitled (#721)
By Clay Johnson
Located in White Plains, NY
'Untitled (#721)' 2023 by American artist, Clay Johnson. Acrylic on Arches paper, 20 x 16 in. This colorful abstract painting features bands of colors in red, yellow beige, white, an...
Category
2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Archival Paper
Abstract Work on Paper by Clay Johnson, Untitled (#709)
By Clay Johnson
Located in White Plains, NY
'Untitled (#709)' 2023 by American artist, Clay Johnson. Acrylic on Arches paper, 22 x 30 in. This colorful abstract painting features bands of colors in yellow, white, blue, red, an...
Category
2010s Abstract Clay Johnson Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Archival Paper
Clay Johnson drawings and watercolor paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Clay Johnson drawings and watercolor paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of drawings and watercolor paintings to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Clay Johnson in acrylic paint, paint, paper and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the abstract style. Not every interior allows for large Clay Johnson drawings and watercolor paintings, so small editions measuring 16 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Donise English, Andra Samelson, and Xanda McCagg. Clay Johnson drawings and watercolor paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,600 and tops out at $2,800, while the average work can sell for $2,230.