Brian Charles Johnson has a perspective– one shaped by the trials and tribulations of overcoming addiction. This unique perspective is evident in his art. If an artist’s works are a window to their soul, you won’t find desperation in his paintings. Rather, you’re more likely to see rays of hopefulness. What’s most striking about Brian’s paintings is his command of color. With multiple odes to the beauty of dawn and twilight in Southern Indiana, Brian’s brushwork illustrates his surroundings, where sunlit horizons transform the landscape with kaleidoscopes of color and shade.

*Stardust*
Brian Charles Johnson
oil on canvas
24” x 48”

In Leaving Home a vantage point from a residential street is brought to life with stunning detail. The subtle glow of a porch light gleams in the midground while a radiant apricot sunbeams in the distance, casting complementary purple shadows on the clouds and the street below. His expert use of complimentary color and value lends a living atmosphere to the images in the scene.

*Leaving Home*
Brian Charles Johnson
oil on canvas
30” x 40”

The landscapes in Medicine Man suggest the beauty of new beginnings while evoking feelings of calmness and positivity. Paintings like Systematic Sunrise and Looking Forward have a similar feel– hinting at the possibility of renewal and the beauty of second chances in both title and motif. As Brian describes, the title Medicine Man is also a metaphor for the healing property that he hopes to transfer to his viewers through the positivity in his paintings. Using his practice as a visual soothsayer, his paintings aim to reach the soul, recreating moments of revival.

*Systematic Sunrise*
Brian Charles Johnson
oil on canvas
36” x 48”

*Looking Forward*
Brian Charles Johnson
oil on canvas
29” x 32”

The scenes Brian paints are taken from moments he lived, and his ability to engage the viewer emotionally is equally evident in the more ominous scenes. As is true in painting and in life, there is little room to appreciate light without darkness. Paintings like Absinthe and Brief Encounter hint towards the darker side of life, where tension and danger are more present than serenity. The suspense captured by the mystery of what might transpire is communicated by the eerie, faraway gazes in the figures of these paintings. One is a view from a lookout and the other suggests a foreshadowed confrontation.The figures in both paintings hold an urgency that suggests an eager anticipation of something unknown, but vitally important. Shrouded in shadows and anonymity, it’s possible to deduce that these were possible scenes from a life of secrecy, used to hide chemical dependency.

*Absinthe*
Brian Charles Johnson
oil on canvas
36” x 48”

*Brief Encounter*
Brian Charles Johnson
oil on canvas
18” x 24”

Overall, Johnson’s talents speak to his resiliency and dedication to reaching for the light. Paintings like God and Out of Darkness are both a testament to his ability to execute visual metaphor, as stairs leading upward symbolize the ascent to a higher plateau. The vibrance of the works seen in this show are sure to inspire gallerygoers. And for anyone who has walked a road similar to his, your recovery may begin with the visual medicine in his paintings. Medicine Man is an impressive study in light and dark, both visually and metaphorically. Let Brian Charles Johnson's paintings soothe your `soul.

*God*
Brian Charles Johnson
oil on canvas
22” x 28”

*Out of Darkness*
Brian Charles Johnson
oil on canvas
18” x 24”

Medicine Man is on display at the Harrison Center in the Hank & Dolly’s gallery through the month of December.