Rob C. Johns
Oil Painter | Forest Ecologist
Based in Fredericton, New Brunswick
Art Education
2026 Catapult Arts Accelerator Program, ArtsLink NB (Coordinator: Jeri Knopp)
2025 Classical Portraiture and Expressive Portraiture (Instructor: Marie Fox)
2022 Online Coaching, Wildlife and Plein air oil painting (with Stefan Baumann)
2022 Introductory and Advanced Portrait Painting (Instructor: Jim Middleton)
2020-21 Online courses via Schoolism: Essentials of Realism, Colour and Light, Understanding Textures (Instructors: John Hardesty & Nathan Fowkes)
Selected Scientific Credentials
2009-present Forest Insect Ecologist, Canadian Forest Service
2007 PhD Biology, University of New Brunswick
2025-26 President, Entomological Society of Canada
2018 C. Gordon Hewitt National Award for Outstanding Early-career Contributions to Entomological Research
Group Exhibitions
2026 St. Martins Plein Air Festival, St. Martins, New Brunswick
2022-26 Capital Art Sale, Fredericton, NB
2022-25 Art on the Bridge Exhibit, Fredericton, NB
2023-25 Frostival Exhibit, Fredericton, NB
2022 Art on the Green Exhibit, Fredericton, NB
Solo Exhibitions
2027 “The Precarious Lives of Insects”, Charlotte Street Arts Centre, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Confirmed for May 2027
Residencies
2026 Artist-in-Residence, New Brunswick Museum, BiotaNB in Black River Protected Natural Area (August 16-22)
2025 Artist-in-Residence, Fredericton Regional Museum (August 2-17), Fredericton
2025 Artist-in-Residence, New Brunswick Museum, BiotaNB in Black River Protected Natural Area (June 26-July 7)
2023 Artist-in-Residence, New Brunswick Museum, BiotaNB in Loch Alva Protected Natural Area (June 26-30)
Invited Artist Talks
Johns, R.C. (2026) Art meets science: The purpose and practice of visual art in scientific
research and communication. Invited lecture (Dr. A. Parachnowitsch), Plants and People Course, Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick.
Johns, R.C. (2026) Art and Science: What’s the connection? ArtslinkNB Catapult Art
Accelerator Program Pitch, Dieppe, NB.
Johns, R.C. (2025) Art meets science: The purpose and practice of visual art in scientific
research and communication. Invited lecture (Dr. A. Parachnowitsch), Plants and People Course, Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick.
Johns, R.C. (2025) Art meets science: The purpose and practice of visual art in scientific
research. Invited lecture (Dr. J. Nocera), Communicating Science Course, Department of Forestry and Environmental Management, University of New Brunswick.
Johns, R.C. (2022) The why and how of digital illustration for scientific articles and
outreach. Invited Webinar, Natural Resources Canada Webinar Series.
Johns, R.C. (2021) The why and how of digital illustration for scientific articles and
outreach. Invited online lecture (Dr. R. Diaz). University of Louisiana, USA.
Selected Published Scientific Illustrations
Martel, V., et al. R.C. Johns (2026) Life-History Traits and Overwintering of Actia interrupta (Diptera: Tachinidae), a Larval Parasitoid of Choristoneura fumiferana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata.
Edwards, S., et al. R.C. Johns (2025) Trapping efficacy and volunteer retention after a methods change in the Budworm Tracker citizen science program: kill strips vs. soapy water. Journal of the Acadian Entomological Society.
Johns, R.C., et al. (2025) How much additive mortality is needed to suppress an outbreak? – A neglected question in forest insect pest management. Annals of Applied Biology.
Johns, R.C., et al. (2024) Orchestes fagi (L.), Beech Leaf Mining Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). In: Biological Control Programmes in Canada (Vol. 6). Canadian Entomologist.
Edwards, S., et al. R.C. Johns (2022) Relationships between pest density and associated leaf necrosis for an invasive leaf-mining weevil, Orchestes fagi, on American beech (Fagus grandifolia). Canadian Journal of Forest Research.
Martel, V., et al. R.C. Johns (2021) The use of UAS to release the egg parasitoid
Trichogramma spp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) against an agricultural and forest pest in Canada. Journal of Economic Entomology.
Permanent Collections
2025 New Brunswick Museum (BiotaNB beetle oil paintings x4)
Artist Blogs
Johns, R.C. (2026) Art Fairs for New Artists: The Experimental Mindset.
Johns, R.C. (2026) Art Fairs as Experiments, Not Tests: Lessons from Art Fairs.
Johns, R.C. (2025) Giant Frogs & Lost Gorges: Painting Stories at the Fredericton
Regional Museum.
Johns, R.C. (2025) Field Notes from the Wetlands: My Artist Residency with BiotaNB.
Johns, R.C. (2025) DIY Panels for Painting: Benefits & Costs.
Johns, R.C. (2025) Painting Without a Roadmap: Resources for Self-taught Artists.
Johns, R.C. (2025) How to Make Archival Panels for Oil Painting: A Three-step process.
Affiliations & Memberships
2026-present Accredited Professional Artist in New Brunswick
2026-present Charlotte Street Art Centre, Member
2025-present Emerging Artist Member, ArtsLinkNB
2026-present CARFAC
2023-present Beaverbrook Art Gallery Membership