Vail Gallery Showcases Roger Johnson's Working Skiffs Series

What does a pair of artists from the Western Slope have in common with wooden skiffs off the coast of Spain?

Nothing, except that Roger and Anna Elise Johnson are bringing the connection to Vail this summer. They are opening their studio at Raitman Art Galleries this Friday and Saturday. The hours are 1 to 4 p.m.

This isn’t just a backdrop for a weekend stroll. It’s an examination of labor, weather, and the specific geometry of survival. Roger Johnson’s work focuses on the "Working Skiffs" — boats that are less about leisure and more about the daily grind of fishermen living off the sea.

Johnson doesn’t paint boats floating in a void. He paints the repair. The rust. The specific way wood is joined to withstand the Atlantic.

“I like the color, and I like the stories that they tell about the people who own and work on the boats,” Johnson said. “I love going to harbors all over, trying to learn about how people fish — how they moor the boats, how they mend the nets. I find the whole thing fascinating.”

That fascination has roots in his own life. Johnson and his wife lived in Paris. They lived near Munich, on Lake Starnberg. They spend three months a year in Europe. But it wasn’t until 2008 that he settled on boats as his primary subject. Or, as he put it, the boats settled within him.

The result is a series of oil paintings that prioritize the vessel over the horizon. The water is secondary. The focus is on the boat itself. Specifically, the "Working Skiffs" series depicts boats moored side-by-side off the northwestern coast of Spain. That’s the Coast of Death.

Why that name? The weather is harsh. The shoreline is rocky. The boats need to be repaired and repainted every single year.

Johnson paints a weather-worn older gentleman he sees daily at a harbor. The man owns a red boat. He takes it out for a little turn, just outside the harbor. He ignores Johnson. He knows the artist is taking photos. He doesn’t care.

“He takes care of that boat,” Johnson said. “It’s very old, and there are planks of wood, like in the seats, that have not been repainted.”

The painting captures that neglect. It captures the character of the owner. It captures the reality that these vessels are tools, not toys. They are complicated. Johnson is showing more information than you might expect from a simple object. He shows how the seats are arranged. He shows the oar locks. He shows the wear.

“People like learning about the actual boat,” Johnson said. “Although it’s a very simple object. It’s a very peaceful subject.”

Peaceful, yes. But also demanding. The boats carry hefty stories. They portray a playful, carefree spirit through bold hues. But they also show fishermen hard at work. They show people living off the land, or in this case, the sea.

The exhibition runs through the summer. The gallery is in Vail. The art is in the details.

Examine the planks. Note the rust. Watch the man who ignores you. That’s the point.