Johanna Harmon was born in 1968 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but spent most of her childhood in Tempe, Arizona. Johanna began designing and recording visual observations at the age of seven, but it wasn’t until almost two decades later that she was introduced to the traditional language of art at the Scottsdale Artists’ School in Arizona, the Fechin Art Institute in Taos, New Mexico, and the Art Students League of Denver in Colorado. There, she studied painting alongside prominent portrait and figure artists with varied artistic philosophies and approaches such as Carolyn Anderson, John Asaro, Mark Daily, Daniel Gerhartz OPAM, Quang Ho OPAM and C.W. Mundy OPAM. Following her 2014 OPA award, she expanded her understanding further by studying contemporary realism with Daniel Sprick, and abstract realism with David A. Leffel OPAM and Sherrie McGraw OPAM.
Her work has been presented in numerous solo, group and juried exhibitions including the Portrait Society of America (PSA), Oil Painters of America (OPA), Art Renewal Center, California Art Club, and Scottsdale Artists’ School, where she received numerous prestigious awards. Most recently, her painting ‘Nature’s Reverie’ was awarded Best Signature Award of Excellence at the 2019 OPA National Juried Exhibition, ‘Messengers’ awarded 2nd place at The Portrait Society of America 2017 Art of the Portrait Conference and ‘Golden Orchids’ was honored with both a Certificate of Excellence at PSA’s 2016 International Portrait Competition and 1st Place in the Non-Commissioned Portrait Category of PSA’s 2015 Members Only Competition. In 2013, Harmon received OPA Signature Member designation, and acceptance into OPA’s 22nd National Juried Exhibition where she received her second Gold Medal Award, becoming the first artist to receive two OPA National Exhibition Gold Medal Awards in the organization’s history. Her first Gold Medal was awarded in 2007.
Her work has been published in American Art Collector, International Artist, Fine Art Connoisseur, Southwest Art, Artbook of the New West, and Focus Santa Fe and is collected internationally.
Harmon was honored to be on the faculty of PSoA’s 2019 Art of the Portrait Conference and OPA’s 2017 National Convention, Curator and Juror for two North River Arts Society’s Focus On Figures exhibitions, and Juror Of Awards for Oil Painters of America’s 2015 Western Regional Juried Exhibition.
She has taught workshops at Scottsdale Artists’ School in Arizona, North River Arts Society in Marshfield Hills, Massachusetts, The Coppini Academy of Art in San Antonio, Texas, and The Art Student’s League of Denver in Colorado. Her emphasis is on the clarification of visual intention, while nurturing the overall painted subject. This pivotal understanding defines her work today. She credits Cecilia Beaux, Nicolai Fechin, John Singer Sargent, Joaquin Sorolla, Abbott Handerson Thayer and Anders Zorn as inspiration.
Johanna now resides in beautiful Colorado, with her husband of 22 years, Steven.
EXHIBITIONS
Figures In Still Life, Newbury Fine Arts, Boston, MA Oct 2017
Boston Intimate Salon Soiree, Newbury Fine Arts, Boston, MA July 2016
Exploring the Poetic Figure, Newbury Fine Arts, Boston, MA April 2015
Reflected Beauty, Newbury Fine Arts, Boston, MA October 2013
The Illuminated Soul, McLarry Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM Nov 2012
The Painter’s Voice, Newbury Fine Arts, Boston, MA. Oct. 2010
Painting the Inspired Portrait, Newbury Fine Arts, Boston, MA. Sept. 2009
Introspective, McLarry Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM. June 2008
Beauty Refined, McLarry Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM. September 2006
New Works, Lynne Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ. May 2006
PUBLICATIONS
The Art of the Portrait, Words of Wisdom from the 2019 Faculty, International Artist, Feb/Mar 2019
The Art of the Portrait, 19th Annual International Portrait Competition by Christine Egnoski, International Artist, Aug/Sept 2017
Unveiling: Johanna Harmon’s Golden Orchids by Christine Egnoski, American Art Collector, February 2015
Setting a New High Mark by Edward Jonas, International Artist, February 2015
Highlighting Women Artists by Kelly Compton, Fine Art Connoisseur, Sept/Oct 2014
A Compassionate Vision by Gussie Fauntleroy, Southwest Art, November 2013
Focusing on Figures, The Great American Figurative Exhibition by Bonnie Gangelhoff, Southwest Art, Nov. 2010
A Win-Win Situation, Sampling of OPA Award Winners by Devon Jackson, Southwest Art, August 2008
Collector’s Choice Figure by Norman Kolpas, Southwest Art, October 2007
Capturing the Human Spirit by Dr. Lew Deitch, Artbook of the New West, Fall/Winter 2005-06
Getting Personal by Gussie Fauntleroy, Southwest Art, November 2004
Unveiling the Inner Soul by Susan Hallsten McGarry, Focus Santa Fe, June/July 2004
AWARDS
Best Signature Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America’s National Juried Exhibition, 2019
Finalist, Art Renewal Center’s 14th International Salon, 2019
Best of Show, Scottsdale Artists’ School Beaux Arts Silent Auction, 2018
Finalist, Art Renewal Center’s 13th International Salon, 2018
Portraiture Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America’s National Juried Exhibition, 2017
2nd Place Portrait Society of America’s 19th Annual International Portrait Competition, 2017
Certificate of Excellence, Portrait Society of America’s 18th Annual International Portrait Competition, 2016
1st Place Non-Commissioned Portrait Category, Portrait Society of America’s Member’s Only Competition, 2015
Gold Medal Award, Oil Painters of America 22nd National Juried Exhibition, 2013
3rd Place – Signature Member, OPA’s Fall Online Exhibition. 2011
Certificate of Excellence. Portrait Society of America’s 11th Annual International Portrait Competition, 2009
Hunter Editions Award of Excellence. OPA National Juried Exhibition, 2008
Finalist in the Portrait & Figure category of The Artist’s Magazine 24th Annual Art Competition, 2007
Gold Medal -American National Award of Excellence. OPA National Juried Exhibition, 2007
Top One Hundred finalist, Art Renewal Center’s International ARC Salon, 2006.
Jack Richeson & CO. Award of Excellence. OPA National Juried Exhibition, 2006
PleinAir Magazine Award of Excellence. OPA National Juried Exhibition, 2005
Finalist winner in the Portrait & Figure category. The Artist’s magazine 21st Annual Art Competition, 2004.
Award of Excellence. OPA Nat’l Juried Exhibition, 2003.
2nd Place Professional. Scottsdale Artist’s School, Best and the Brightest Show, 2003.
Best of Show. Scottsdale Artist’s School, Best and the Brightest Show, 2001
