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"A Tale Of Two Mothers" | Oil And Acrylic Painting in Paintings by Chris Johnson. Item made of canvas
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"A Tale Of Two Mothers" | Oil And Acrylic Painting in Paintings by Chris Johnson. Item made of canvas
"A Tale Of Two Mothers" | Oil And Acrylic Painting in Paintings by Chris Johnson. Item made of canvas
"A Tale Of Two Mothers" | Oil And Acrylic Painting in Paintings by Chris Johnson. Item made of canvas
"A Tale Of Two Mothers" | Oil And Acrylic Painting in Paintings by Chris Johnson. Item made of canvas
"A Tale Of Two Mothers" | Oil And Acrylic Painting in Paintings by Chris Johnson. Item made of canvas
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"A Tale Of Two Mothers" | Oil And Acrylic Painting in Paintings by Chris Johnson. Item made of canvas

Created and Sold by Chris Johnson

Chris Johnson

"A Tale Of Two Mothers" - Paintings

Price $2,050

Shipping: FedEx 7-10 days

Handmade

Made To Order

“A Tale Of Two Mothers” - Part of the Harsh Realities & Consequences Series. 36" x 36" x 2" - Professional Grade Oils on Gallery Wrapped, Stretched Heavyweight Cotton Canvas. Gloss Varnish

The story behind this piece is something deeply painful, but in telling it, I can release it. While I’ve dealt with this through my recovery program, I had to express it on the canvas and share it.

My hope is you read the story behind it solely because it could potentially help someone who’s experienced something similar.

June 1980 - My parents divorced. My Mom was moving us across the country to California. I was sad, terrified and confused.

Prior to this, my Mom was the most loving, caring and affectionate person. She was my safe-haven. I was a “momma’s boy.” My whole world changed once in California. My Mom had to work full time and her boyfriends came into the mix pretty quickly. She was different. The mother I had known, gone. Within a year, I didn’t see her much and my sister became my mom.

In 7th grade, she told my sister and I she wanted us to move back to the east coast to live with my Dad. We were devastated and deeply hurt. We refused. The relationship with my Mom was never the same.

2 years later I entered high school. My sister was in college so I was truly on my own. With no guidance, rules or consequences I made a lot of really poor choices. I was scared, hurt, alone and I yearned for the safety and love of family. I turned to drugs and some bad influences to fill that void.

Some of the friends I had were no good - leading me down a path of sexual and emotional abuse during my middle school years. The drug use picked up which culminated in the horrors of addiction years later.

I was lost, traumatized and in terrible pain. I hid it all with drugs, decent grades and being good at sports. I had ended up with 2 completely different mothers, hence the name of the painting. With all that said, it’s taken a lot of time and work to reach the point of being able to say “I forgive you Mom.”

The blue portion of the painting represents the loving, caring, safe Mom. It’s calming and comforting. The red is the other side of the story - the pain, hurt, fear, anger. The 2 big strokes represent tears

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Item "A Tale Of Two Mothers"
Created by Chris Johnson
As seen in Private Residence, Las Vegas, NV
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Chris Johnson
Meet the Creator
Wescover creator since 2020
Contemporary Artist

Self-taught contemporary abstract artist from New York. In 2017, after a 30 year gap, I picked up a paint brush for the first time since high school. It was a moment of clarity. Immediately, I had discovered my purpose. The following year, after a two decade career in advertising, I made a life-changing decision and left the corporate world to pursue my art full time.

Discovering my art was a long and winding journey. Visually and creatively oriented from a young age, my interest in art increased in high-school and college through a series of painting, ceramics and design classes. However, fear set in. Pursuing an art-related education and career was vague. My confidence was lacking and the expectations to be a successful “corporate citizen” were too great. I succumbed to the “norm”, pursued a path I felt would please others and what I thought I was “supposed” to do.

As my career in advertising unfolded, discontent increased. However, I had reached a point where I felt stuck and the prospect of change was too frightening. I fell victim to addiction which took everything from me, nearly my life. Starting over in 2010, I entered recovery and have been clean and sober since. As I immersed myself in the self-discovery process of recovery, the desire to rekindle my artistic interests increased. It took several more years to reach that “moment” in 2017. Once I embraced my creativity, a sense of joy and peace returned. It was the change my spirit so desperately needed, the catalyst for what I believe to be my true path.

My art is my truth - a thoughtful and vulnerable expression of myself and my journey. Painting allows me to express my innermost feelings. To be open, honest and fearless in telling my story of pain and darkness to hope and freedom. Life altering and traumatic experiences, consequences of addiction, recovery, self-discovery, finding my purpose - all are the focal points for my work.

Bold, vibrant colors are at the center, reflecting my gratitude and passion for the fullness of life. Color use, movement, shapes, precision and clean lines underpin my style and expression. Bold, with an understated elegance, I seek to inform my work with the sensitivity, honesty and courage to share my story of overcoming.

Painting awakens my spirit. Free and with an open heart, I’m able to communicate and connect in the purest fashion. I paint to share my journey, to bare my soul, to heal and to inspire.

My work can be found on Instagram, Saatchi Art and my website. A highlight of my shows and events are listed below:

 Chateau Orquevaux Artist-in-Residence: March 2023
 The Other Art Fair Los Angeles: June 2021
 Piermont Flywheel Gallery Solo Show: February 2020
 Miami Art Basel – Spectrum Miami: December 2019
 Published in Capsules Book Curatorial Volume 2: May 2020
 Published in Art Folio Annual: May 2020
 Woodstock New-Paltz Art Festival: September 2018 & 2019