Artist flourishes as a creative spirit in the community
CLAYTON, CA (July 23, 2025) — Renaye Johnson has always had a heart for both people and creativity – a combination that has shaped her life in meaningful and lasting ways.
Born in Phoenix, Johnson found a new home when her parents returned to Minnesota before her first birthday. She spent her early childhood years there until age 10, when she relocated to California with her mother and sister. She attended Tennyson High School in Hayward, then went on to study at Chabot College, Cal State Hayward and John F. Kennedy University, ultimately earning a master’s degree in clinical psychology.
Johnson served the community with dedication, working 22 years with Alameda County Social Services before retiring. Her retirement, however, wasn’t a slowing down – it was an opening up.
“After I retired, I got an opportunity to do more artwork,” she says with a warm smile.
While Johnson’s artistic journey began early, she humbly avoids calling herself self-taught. She first studied art at Chabot, where she once dreamed of majoring in it before life led her down another academic path. She found her way back to art later through classes at the Walnut Creek Community Arts program, studying under instructors such as Patsy Taylor and Jodi Madison, as well as workshops with Seema Mahbub.
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“I’ve learned a lot from them,” she says. “And the people in my Thursday night art class – they’re very talented artists, and we share a lot of inspiration and support.”
That spirit of collaboration extends beyond the classroom. As a board member and current secretary of the Concord Art Association, Johnson has played an important role in public art initiatives, including the Concord Utility Box Project. Since its launch in 2019, the project has grown to include 34 hand-painted utility boxes throughout the city, adding vibrant color and community pride to the streets of Concord.
She recently shared another project with four fellow artists, working together to create artwork between East Street and Willow Pass Road – bringing even more public beauty to the cityscape.
Many know Johnson’s work from a special sign that hangs above La Veranda restaurant in downtown Clayton. Originally painted in 2021 during the pandemic and refreshed in 2025, the sign was a collaborative vision between Johnson and the shop owner.
“Nicholas knew I painted, so he asked if I would create a sign,” she recalls. “I showed him a couple sketches, and once he picked one, I went to work.”
Using acrylic paint on wood, Johnson created a design that reflects the spirit of the business. She recently returned to brighten and retouch the sign, giving it a fresh, vibrant look.
After living in the Clayton area for more than 30 years, Johnson’s art has become interwoven with the community fabric. Whether through her public works, her involvement in local art associations, or her gentle encouragement of fellow artists, she brings color and care to everything she touches.
As Johnson puts it best: “I’ve definitely gotten a lot of help and inspiration along the way.
And I appreciate all of it.”
Email comments to Julia O’Reilly at joreillyfineartgallery@gmail.com
Julia O'Reilly
Born and raised in the beautiful city of Istanbul, Turkey, Julia pursued her studies in Business and Economics at Istanbul University before immigrating to the United States in 1991. She furthered her education at Las Positas College, specializing in Interior Design, and eventually settled in Clayton, where she has resided for 29 years. In 2003, Julia began her career as a jewelry artist, earning recognition from Diablo Magazine as the Best of the East Bay Local Jewelry Designer in 2012. Since 2014, she has been involved with the Blackhawk Gallery in Danville, California, and became President of the Alamo Danville Artists Society in 2020. In 2022, she opened her own JOR Fine Art Gallery, and for the past two years, she has been actively contributing to the Art Community in Clayton, a passion she deeply cherishes.