Visual artist Crystal Hanton- Johnson Follow.Art Card

About me

I am a visual artist and educator whose work centers on attention, growth, and human connection. Through painting and mixed media, I explore how deliberate observation transforms both the maker and the viewer. My practice is deeply influenced by the Golden Spiral, which serves as both a visual structure and a philosophical framework. To me, the spiral represents expansion, balance, and the unfolding of identity over time.

In a world driven by speed and distraction, I create work that invites stillness. I am interested in how careful looking reveals nuance, the shift of light, the curve of a line, the quiet dialogue between shadow and gold. When I incorporate gold leaf, it symbolizes reverence and value, reinforcing the idea that growth is sacred and intentional.

As an educator, I view teaching as an extension of my artistic practice. I guide students to notice what often goes unseen—the veins in a leaf, the architecture of their own hands, the geometry embedded in nature. Through this process, art becomes a pathway to confidence, cultural awareness, and shared humanity. I believe attention builds empathy, and empathy builds community.

My work is rooted in legacy. Inspired by early memories of watching my father paint with patience and devotion, I understand art as a generational language that carries memory forward while opening space for imagination. Whether creating public art, exhibiting in galleries, or mentoring young artists, I am driven by the belief that sustained attention is transformative.

Ultimately, I create work that invites viewers to pause, reflect, and expand, both inwardly and outwardly, honoring the quiet power of devotion through art.