Bio: Art of Collaboration – Johnson Wildman
In 2021 Cheryl Johnson and Jim Wildman, two masterfully talented artists united to begin collaboration on artistic endeavors in painting, sculpture, furniture design, and fabrication. Despite both artists having uniquely different styles, their collaborative work seamlessly merged. Stating that their collaboration helped them make sense of the world around them. The duo’s partnership has captivated art enthusiasts across the world. Cheryl is Jim’s Aunt and a consummate teacher. They additionally formed the learning site called Art Lessons Now.
Cheryl Johnson is an award-winning American artist who has dedicated her career to art-making and craft-based design and painting. Abstract Expressionism, Contemporary and Impressionism. Her artwork is modern, colorfully layered, encompassing a wide range of media and reveals a rich and varied source of inspiration from nature, landscape, and narrative storytelling. Cheryl Johnson is a painter who explores the connection between realism and abstraction, balancing bold gestural art with sensitive expression. Resonating with Abstract Expressionists her non-objective and figurative early works transitioned into abstract representational themes. Her work is inspired by world travels as well as the landscape and cultures of her homes in North Carolina, Hawaii, and her Idaho birthplace as well as her Finnish heritage. Cheryl’s transcendent eye propels her to explore the emotions of place.
As a strong environmental awareness advocate, her canvases are often inspired by nature and resonate with a deftly modulated palette of translucent and opaque colors. Light hues bleed into darks with a sense of expressive, fluid movement and reflect the harmony and tenacity of the natural world. Cheryl’s studios are in Charlotte, NC, and Hanalei, Kauai, HI. Her mantra: “Create more joy everyday; changing the world one painting at a time.”
Jim Wildman, is a trained architect who has moved easily into fine arts and painting. Architecture is at the heart of Wildman’s thinking as an artist. Jim is a mixed media contemporary realist painter, sculptor, and master woodworker. For more than a decade Jim served as a member of the United States Marine Corp. He is a distinguished combat veteran. A graduate of Oklahoma State University School of Architecture. In addition to painting Jim has a custom woodworking business, JWDesigns. His Works are both realistic portraits and abstracts. Signature series consists of strong faces created with both palette knife and brush work. Sculptures are wood combines, 3D panels, Laser and Carvings. His works are sought after by architects, interior designers, and collectors worldwide. Jim Wildman creates a unique combination of new digital media art as well as impactful paintings created on various substrates: canvas, panels, and paper. His paintings are mostly portraits, abstract, or landscapes created in oil, encaustic or cold wax. His mantra: "Make it Beautiful and Build it to Last" is the guiding force behind all of my work.”
"We have a reverence for the design and craftsmanship of everything in our home. As an artist, we want our home to be filled with art that inspires not only ourselves but our guests.–Jim Wildman
