"I never dreamed that my art table would become a work of art. My mom bought me a standard light gray folding table around 2009-2010 when I began painting as a hobby. She suggested that I place my little 8"x10" canvases on newspaper to keep the table clean. It didn't take me long to get tired of using paper that became stuck to the back of my dried canvases, so I ended up with little lines of dried paint on my table that were too much trouble to remove. The lines of my paint drips became longer, totally covering the width of the table as I graduated to larger and larger canvases. I always carried this table to art sales opportunities even though I have a second "clean" table. It has gotten to the point that people who know me could see my table without me and know that I must be there somewhere. An artist at one of these events suggested that I photograph the table to make prints. I never got around to doing that but thought that was a great idea. It was a no-brainer to submit this image to ArtLifting who can enlarge this image beyond my imagination. The 72"long table folds up into 2 halves which are 29"W and 36"L. It's interesting to me that one part of the table has lighter colors than the other side. I think of this unplanned image as a synopsis of my development as an artist."
- Wiley Johnson
Prints are produced on demand on stretched canvas, acrylic plexi, or giclee fine art paper in a variety of sizes here in the United States.
Contact ArtLifting for larger size options.
Raleigh, NC
“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything? Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.” - Vincent van Gogh
Receiving a gift from his neighbor of a disappearing Van Gogh toy at his fifth grade birthday party began Wiley’s life-long interest in art and museums. Art became the way Wiley copes with the challenges of living with Autism Spectrum Disorder, learning, and finding stable employment. The first time he was invited to enter an art call, Wiley was ecstatic and amazed that “someone thought a painting I created was beautiful!” In 2011, his only sibling Zach was killed in a motorcycle accident which “knocked the wind out of [Wiley’s] sails”. He wasn’t able to paint for a while but gradually discovered that painting helped him cope with his grief, the same way painting helps him through the day to day. Once again, painting allowed him to find a happier place.
Years ago, he was hospitalized for depression which is hard for him to talk about but he hopes to share his experience with others who struggle. “Your life can get better, but it requires you to think about the things you can change and to work to make those changes one at a time. That’s what I’ve learned,” Wiley says.
Typically, Wiley paints with acrylic on canvas but likes to paint small wooden crafts too, enjoying the way acrylic flows off the paintbrush. The act of creating is tied to his mood, and he’s not always able to access an expressive mindset. He works on a piece in multiple sittings, revisiting the canvas until he decides how to finish.
Engaging with arts organizations and building community has bolstered Wiley’s art career, confidence, and imagination. As a member of Art Space, Visual Art Exchange, Imurj, and The Artist Link Project of Art Access - these groups have offered opportunities for local exhibitions and art calls. Wiley shares, “being involved in art exhibitions connected me to new people and made my life more interesting.”
ArtLifting connected with Wiley through Arts Access, the former VSA Affiliate in Raleigh, North Carolina. “I believe ArtLifting is the most promising opportunity of my life.” Wiley hopes to sell art to larger audiences which will secure him into the cycle of creating art which in turn creates his happiness.
ArtLifting champions artists impacted by disabilities and housing insecurity by connecting their art with socially-conscious customers . Learn more here.
