Cole Johnson has lived in upstate New York his entire life and now resides in Deposit, New York, a small town in the Catskill Mountain region. Hunting, fishing, and spending time in “the woods” have been the preferred activities most of his life. Favorite subjects include the species he is intimately acquainted with in the field – the white-tailed deer, trout, turkeys, hunting dogs and waterfowl
Although he has worked in oils, Cole prefers to work in graphite powder. “The contrast of black and white appeals to me,” says Cole. “I enjoy the challenge of making a drawing come to life based solely on tonal value.” Incorporating the powdered graphite into his work creates a softness otherwise unobtainable, and gives a distinct “mood” to many pieces. Use of the eraser as a tool in later stages of the drawing allows reintroduction of light and depth. Close-up, detailed portraits of deer, dogs, waterfowl and birds of prey are favorite pieces. Cole generally produces works in his Smithville Flats studio after close observation in the field and taking of numerous photographs whenever possible.