Marla Johnstone

Artist Statement

My work blends realism and whimsy, using bright, vibrant colors, vintage floral patterns, and old family photographs to explore memory, nostalgia, and family experiences. Inspired by my grandmother’s garden and moments from childhood, I create paintings that celebrate the past while evoking curiosity about times and lives glimpsed through photographs, moments that feel familiar yet dreamlike. Each color, pattern, and image carries a memory or evokes sentimentality, inviting viewers to reflect on their own family stories, childhood experiences, and cherished recollections.