Growing Through My Art
Johanna Johnson
Hello there, my name is Johanna Johnson, and this semester, I’m interning with the Midwest Artist Academy! One of the main reasons I took this internship is because I've always been connected to art; it can help so many people, and I wanted to help spread the word about art and its vitality to young people, especially when it had such an impact on myself.
“When I was younger and wanted to work on growing my skills as an artist I was inspired by the encouragement from my middle and high-school art teacher. He helped me harness my talents and narrow down my skill”
I come from a non-artist family, so I was surprised when I found myself artistically inclined. If you asked my family about my art, they would say, "We don't know where she got it!" It's a sign, and a reminder of, my true individuality. When I was younger and wanted to work on growing my skills as an artist I was inspired by the encouragement from my middle and high-school art teacher. He helped me harness my talents and narrow down my skill to drawing; whether it be with a pencil, ink, or a paint pen, that’s where my art shines. Through some trial and error, I found that portraits are my strong suit, but I also love experimenting with painting and wood burning. I’m not a master at every art form, but I find joy and beauty in every art piece I encounter. Even trying new techniques and forms is exciting and helps to expand my own little world of art.
When I was younger, I found that art helped me to express myself and my emotions in hard times while also allowing me to create something beautiful. It was not only an extension of myself but also turned negativity into something pretty and positive.
Upon this discovery, I found that being an Artist, in any capacity, is its reward. You can create something out of nothing and put a piece of yourself out into the world. However, while Art can be beautiful to see, it can also be scary to create. Putting yourself and your work out there takes courage. It took me years to display my art in a show, but it was so rewarding when I did. I had worked tirelessly at a jellyfish pointillism wood-burning piece for my school’s juried show that happened every spring. This was my first show, so I had every right to be nervous, especially when taking on a challenging project. Pointillism requires precision and concentration on shadows. My choice of medium, wood burning, was also a challenge. If you were too light with the tool, it wouldn’t show on the wood, but if you were too heavy-handed, it would be irreversible. You must find the perfect middle ground. Layering the dots to create texture was incredibly difficult, but I was ultimately successful, and when the show rolled around, that very piece was awarded best in show. I could see all my hours of effort showing through my piece. All the hard work that goes into a work of art adds infinite meaning and depth to the final product, one that is rewarding in itself.
So, that’s why I chose to intern with Midwest Artist Academy. It felt like such a safe and encouraging space for young artists. Working with renowned artists who are masters at their craft is something I wish I had more access to while growing up, and I am so lucky to help spread the word about it now. I couldn’t be more excited to welcome in and help cultivate the love of art in its entirety within the young artists of the next generation; I hope they can take as much from this experience as I am with being one of its interns.