The Artist Behind the 2025 Open Farm Days Logo: Wendy Johnsen

Behind every great event is a collection of stories — stories of the land, the people, and the creative forces that help bring it all to life. For Alberta Open Farm Days, one such story begins not in a city gallery or studio, but on a quiet prairie farm near Spruce View, Alberta. That’s where artist Wendy Johnsen grew up, where she fell in love with nature and creativity, and where her lifelong journey with art began.

This year, we are proud to feature Wendy as the artist behind the 2025 Open Farm Days logo — a vibrant and expressive representation of the event’s deep agricultural roots, connection to the land, and community spirit. But Wendy’s story, like her artwork, goes far beyond the canvas.

A Childhood Filled With Creativity

Wendy Johnsen was born in Spruce View in 1954, the daughter of a hardworking farm family and a student with an early spark for imagination. Her artistic journey began in grade three, thanks to a teacher who believed deeply in encouraging children to express themselves.

“She was a beautiful artist herself,” Wendy remembers. “She encouraged us to be creative, to use our imaginations, and to see beauty in the everyday. I would race home from school just so I could start drawing what I had in my mind.”

But Wendy’s love for art didn’t start and end at school. At home, she was surrounded by creativity. Her mother, a storyteller and self-taught artist, would spin imaginary tales and bring them to life on scraps of paper, painting scenes that lit up the imaginations of Wendy and her three sisters. Her father, equally inventive, handcrafted wooden toys and household items for the family — instilling in his daughters a deep appreciation for working with their hands and creating something from nothing.

Growing up on a third-generation farm, Wendy learned to milk cows, raise pigs and chickens, and tend to an expansive garden. These daily rhythms of rural life became imprinted in her — and eventually in her art.

Art as a Reflection of Life on the Land

Wendy’s early work focused on oils, exploring portraits, still life, and prairie landscapes. Over the years, as her style evolved, she experimented with new techniques, mediums, and subjects. In 2011, she transitioned fully to acrylics, drawn by their bright colours and quick-drying properties.

“It was like a whole new world opened up,” she explains. “The colours, the textures, the ability to layer and build — it gave me the freedom to explore more expressive styles.”

That shift marked a significant turning point in her artistic journey. Wendy began to travel more, painting what she saw across the Canadian west coast, the far north, Europe, and Australia. But no matter where she went, the rural Alberta landscapes remained her anchor.

Her inspiration continues to come from nature — from prairie skies and winding rivers to dense forests and alpine lakes. One of her favourite places to paint is the Rosebud River, a peaceful stretch of water near the village of Rosebud that draws artists each fall for plein air painting retreats. It’s here that the feature painting for this year’s Open Farm Days logo was created — outside, brush in hand, with the breeze and light guiding her strokes.

“Painting outdoors forces you to be present,” Wendy says. “You capture the light as it changes, the reflections in the water, the movement of the wind. It becomes a memory on canvas — a way of remembering how beautiful this land really is.”

Painting in the Tractor Cab

Wendy’s love for farming never left her. In 1974, she married a farmer and joined him in the day-to-day work of running a mixed operation — growing cereals, canola, peas, and alfalfa, and raising purebred Red and Black Angus cattle. Together, they raised three children on the land, passing on their values of hard work, resilience, and appreciation for the natural world.

Even during the busiest seasons of farm life, Wendy found ways to keep painting. When the couple added GPS to their farm equipment, she brought her watercolour set into the tractor. With the technology guiding the machine, Wendy would paint between turns in the field, using the window as her easel and the landscape as her muse.

“Some days the sunsets were so beautiful I just had to try and capture them right there,” she laughs. “It made those long hours in the field feel a little more inspired.”

A Life Devoted to Creativity and Community

Since retiring from active farming in 2014, Wendy has devoted more of her time to art. She now paints regularly in her country studio and participates in art shows, community events, and even competitive “art battles,” where artists create works live in front of an audience.

But perhaps most rewarding has been her work as a teacher. Wendy leads workshops for children, seniors, and anyone interested in exploring their creative side. Her teaching style is welcoming, supportive, and focused on giving people the tools to express themselves.

“I want people to feel like they can try,” she says. “Art isn’t about perfection — it’s about expression. Whether you’re painting a prairie scene or a bouquet of flowers, there’s a real joy in creating something with your hands.”

She views painting as both meditative and therapeutic, a sentiment that resonates with many of her students. “When you’re painting, your worries and aches seem to melt away,” Wendy explains. “It’s like everything else just quiets down.”

Honouring Water Through Art

The 2025 Open Farm Days theme emphasizes the importance of water — a resource that is vital to agriculture, life, and the sustainability of our farms. For Wendy, that theme runs deep.

“I love painting water,” she says. “It reflects everything — the sky, the trees, the light. And in farming, water is everything. Without it, nothing grows, nothing survives.”

The logo she created captures this connection: a vibrant visual story that honours Alberta’s landscapes and the role water plays in nourishing both crops and communities. Her art reminds us of what’s at stake — and what we stand to protect.

“I feel very honoured to be part of Open Farm Days this year,” Wendy shares. “As a farm girl at heart, it means a lot to contribute to something that connects people to the land and to each other.”

Where to See Wendy’s Work

Wendy’s artwork can be found at several locations across Alberta, including:

• Lineham House in Okotoks

• Rosebud Country Inn in Rosebud

• Tivoli Garden Café in Spruce View

• Gust Gallery in Waterton (coming soon)

She also shares her art online at wendyjohnsen.ca and on social media under @wendyjohnsenart (Instagram and Facebook). For those looking to connect, inquire about workshops, or purchase a painting, Wendy can be reached at wendyjohnsenart@gmail.com or 403-391-9371.

A Prairie Perspective Through Paint

Wendy Johnsen’s journey — from a young girl sketching after school to a seasoned artist painting across Canada and beyond — is a testament to the power of creativity rooted in place. Her work is rich in perspective, shaped by decades of farming, family life, and artistic exploration. With every brushstroke, she captures not just a scene, but a feeling — the feeling of standing on Alberta soil, under an endless sky, surrounded by the beauty and rhythm of rural life.

As Open Farm Days brings thousands of Albertans together to explore and celebrate our province’s agricultural heritage, Wendy’s artwork is a vivid reminder of what connects us: land, water, community, and creativity. And perhaps most of all — a shared story waiting to be told.

Mark Your Calendar for Open Farm Days 2025!

The 2025 Alberta Open Farm Days will be taking place on August 16 & 17th. Until then, be sure to follow along on our website and social media channels for all the latest updates, stories, and more!