Shelly Johnson

Boise, Idaho | Watercolor | Landscape, Wildlife & Figurative

“The process is my meditation and my connection with a power greater than myself.”

Shelly Johnson is a watercolor artist whose creative career has taken her from illustrating books and magazines to painting murals and creating 3D models and animation for video games. Today, she finds inspiration in the people, landscapes, wildlife, and everyday moments of Idaho, working primarily in watercolor—a medium she has practiced since her teenage years.

Originally from Los Angeles, Johnson moved to Boise in 2010 in search of a slower, quieter life surrounded by an inspiring landscape. While children remain her favorite subject, she soon discovered a second love in painting Idaho’s landscapes and wildlife. Her work is influenced by the watercolors of John Singer Sargent and Winslow Homer, the musical qualities of Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky, and the vibrant use of color and light by the California Impressionists.

Painting En Plein Air

Johnson approaches plein air painting as a way to become more spontaneous and intuitive in her work. Rather than focusing solely on creating finished paintings outdoors, she uses the experience to loosen her approach and strengthen her ability to respond instinctively to what she sees.

For Johnson, painting is about more than the finished artwork. She describes the creative process as a form of meditation and a connection to something greater than herself. Whether she is painting the joyful feeling of childhood, sunlight falling across a rusty Model A, or the vibrant drama of red poppies in spring, she finds meaning in watching an image emerge from brush to paper.

A Few Highlights

Johnson is a Signature Member of both the Idaho Watercolor Society (IWS) and the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies (WFWS) and currently serves as the IWS delegate to the WFWS.

Her work has earned numerous honors, including First Place in the 2022 IWS Annual Juried Membership Show, the David Dean Memorial Award in the 2025 WFWS Annual Juried Show in Lubbock, Texas, and Third Place in the Rockies West National hosted by the Western Colorado Watercolor Society in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Johnson has also completed numerous commissioned watercolor paintings, particularly portraits and paintings of children, since 2009.

Beyond the Easel

Johnson currently lives in Boise with her husband and their Pudlepointer, Cooper. She is also a member of Art Source Gallery in Boise, where she will present her Urban Flower Series from September 28 through October 31, 2026. The exhibition will include studio watercolors as well as several plein air works.

And for a fascinating bit of family history: Johnson has the military record of an ancestor who fought in the American Revolution and later became the second postmaster of Poultney, Vermont.

Website: shellyjohnsonstudio.com
Instagram: @shellyjohnsonstudio