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Pink Sugar

The Can-Can Collage Art Collection

The simple tin food can, often overlooked in life and art, symbolizes accessibility and affordability. This everyday kitchen item represents sustenance and equality. Its practical design reflects our universal need for nourishment, and its low cost shows how it connects people across different backgrounds. By using the food can in my art, I explore the link between daily life and creativity, showing that beauty and meaning can come from the most basic objects. This collection celebrates the food can as a sign of human ingenuity and as a canvas that makes art accessible to everyone.

Enid Johnstone Red Lucky Star Can with Birds Analog Collage on Paper, 2023

Backyard Birdy Birds in the Branches

Birds, branches and blossoms in a South African Lucky Star Pilchards can.

​(analog collage with vintage ocean and botany posters, poscamarkers, ink pens, acrylics and Sugerfina tissue paper on 36cm x 42cm mixed media paper)

Can Love Pomodoro

The bird and the flower on a gorgeously designed Italian Mutti Polpa tomato can.

(analog can collage with vintage botany poster, watercolor, markers and a Marimekko napkin on 24cm x 30 cm mixed media paper)

EnidJohnstone Colorful Red and Yellow Tomato Can Analog Collage 2023
EnidJohnstone Colorful Lyle's Golden Syrup Can Analog Collage 2023

Butterfly Bouquet Flower Farm

Butterflies, bouquet and buds in a Lyle's Golden Syrup Can.

(analog collage with vintage botany poster, markers, deli paper, gold leaf, ribbon and watercolor on 36cm x 42cm mixed media paper - SOLD)

Blossoming Bliss

In Italy, even supermarket house brand cans are pretty. Esselunga tomato can with butterfly-dragonfly bug and blossoms.

(analog collage with vintage poster, placemat, easter cake wrapping, Posca markers, gel pen and gouache on 36cm x 42cm mixed media paper)

EnidJohnstone Colorful Esselunga Polpa Tomato Can Analog Collage 2023
EnidJohnstone Colorful Coffee Can Analog Collage 2023, on paper

The Owls are in the Coffee Can 

Owls peeking out of a coffee can, seeking flowers.​

(analog collage with vintage botanical poster, watercolor, markers, Viareggio event flyer and Cape Fynbos Gin packaging on 36cm x 42cm mixed media paper - SOLD)

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Bunny Basket

Bunnies and berries in a basket on a South African Rooibos tea tin. BOS has delish rooibos and also refer to a Saffa saying "go bos" meaning to have crazy good fun.

​(analog can collage with vintage botany poster, markers, magazine, gouache and watercolor on 36cm x 42cm mixed media paper)

EnidJohnstone Colorful Red and Yellow Bos Analog Collage 2023, on pink paper
EnidJohnstone Colorful Pink Analog Collage 2023, on pink paper

Yay, It's Candy Time

My sister's name is Leone and since my arrival in Italy I've been checking out the gorgeous Pastiglie Leone tins as little surprises for when I visit her in the US.

​(analog can collage with vintage poster and postcards, markers, gouache mono print on deli paper and vintage flower sew-on patches on 36cm x 42cm mixed media paper - SOLD)

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Of Course it's My Cup of Tea

Another one of my favorite South African tins, Mandela Tea, with a white Hibiscus.

​(analog can collage with vintage botanical poster, painted paper, markers and watercolor on 24 cm x 30 cm 

mixed media paper)

Enid Johnstone Colorful Red Mandela Tea Tin Analog Collage 2023, on painted paper
Enid Johnstone Colorful Red Hungarian Tomato Can Analog Collage 2023, on painted paper
It's A Jungle Out There

I spotted this pretty Aranyfacan tomato can on a recent visit to beautiful Budapest, Hungary. A good reason to get out the gold leaf.

​(analog can collage with vintage posters, markers and gouache on 36cm x 42cm mixed media paper)

Fast Cars and Slow Flowers

A pretty lemonade can from one of the prettiest cities out there - Prague, Czech Republic. Targa Florio is also one of the oldest car races in the world.

​(analog can collage with 1892 newspaper page, vintage German sticker, vintage poster and a chopstick wrapper on 36cm x 42cm mixed media paper - SOLD)

Enid Johnstone Colorful Red and Pink Targa Florio Prague Can Analog Collage 2023, on vintage 1892 news paper
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Canned Casa

A sliced Bamboo Can spotted in Marks & Spencer in the UK as foundation for shacks and sheds.

​(analog can collage with a 1957 UK Magazine, chopsticks wrapper, mono printed vintage paper and poster, markers and watercolour on 36cm x 42cm mixed media paper)

Flamingo Dance

Bright flowers bursting from Coop Italy's bean can, two bats hover above the crashing wave - the familiar and the wild.

​(analog can collage with vintage poster, wrapping paper, placemat, chocolate wrapper, gouache, and watercolor on 36cm x 42cm mixed media paper)

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