With its cerulean blue skies, dusty landscapes and colorful flora, New Mexico has proven to be a popular state for Benicia artists to paint in. The region has been the inspiration for and subject of a lot of Gallerie Renee Marie artist Les Overlock’s exhibitions. Additionally, Plein Air Gallery artist Susan Street had a New Mexico-themed exhibit in January, when she was the featured artist. New Mexico will be the star of Plein Air Gallery again in June when Susan Johnson’s show “Journey to the Land of Enchantment” opens.

Johnson is no stranger to New Mexico, having lived in the region in the early ‘70s.

“I left Los Angeles and was looking for a quieter place to live,” she said.

Johnson moved into an old adobe along the Rio Grande and settled in for the next three years. Even after moving, she and her husband still periodically return to the region. After a few years of not visiting, they took a trip to Northern New Mexico in April where Johnson took so many photos that she decided to do paintings of her trip.

“When I came back, I started painting and couldn’t stop,” she said.

Johnson captured everything from the High Road to Taos, the Turquoise Trail along the Sandia Mountains, historic Santa Fe and more.

“There’s lots of artists in Santa Fe and Taos,” she said.

However, Johnson did not just depict New Mexico. Having a sister who lives in Flagstaff, Ariz., Johnson was able to travel to that state and visit the Hopi Mesas, which she later painted. They even got to attend a Navajo dance.

“It’s really a religious experience,” she said. “When you go to a dance or are lucky enough to be invited to one, you can’t take any photos, you can’t wear a hat, you can’t talk, you just have to remain silent and respectful while they go through dances they’ve done for hundreds and hundreds of years.”

Johnson loves to paint in New Mexico because of the natural color palette it provides, especially in the winter.

“It’s all browns and adobe color, and there’s a frosting of snow on the adobe,” she said. “It’s just beautiful.”

The springtime also provides a lot of color, especially due to the abundance of lilacs.

“In Santa Fe, most of the homes are surrounded by big lilac hedges,” she said. “That smells heavenly. It’s not only the beauty but the fragrance of New Mexico that I love.”

Johnson’s paintings depict the landscapes, adobes and pastel colors of the earth. The artist said she had to use a completely different palette than she normally uses for plein air paintings.

“It’s very different from Benicia’s because there isn’t much water in it,” she said.

Nonetheless, Johnson hopes viewers will enjoy the uniqueness depicted in her paintings.

“I hope people will enjoy looking at something a little bit different and unique in the world,” she said.

“Journey to the Land of Enchantment” will run through July 1 at Plein Air Gallery, located at 307 First St. A reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 9 during the first Art Walk of the season. The gallery’s hours are noon to 6 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays. For more information, go to beniciapleinair.com.