So I've been working on a painting the soonest moment that I heard David Bowie passed. I never could have prepared myself for the way I felt. I was visiting my oldest brother and his family when my wife told me the news. She asked me if I was alright, of coarse I was alright. Right? That night on our 4 hr trip home we listened to two videos from his last album. Those two songs resonated within me as we listened multiple times on the trip home. Am I alright? I could feel tears welled up as I thought about those songs, and all of his other music I've listened to many times over. I thought about films he played in that my sisters and I would repeatedly watch. He was never going to make anything ever again. I never get that sad about a celebrity passing. He was more than a celebrity to me though. He was a fellow artist spreading his thoughts, experiences, stories, and passion the way he knew how. He knew how to do that for sure. His work not only inspired me, it was a thumb print on moments of my life. Certain songs take me back to my childhood, love gained/lost, emotional states, my artistic discoveries. I am alright. HIS artistic journey is just as much a part of my life as MY OWN. of coarse in a different way. My David Bowie painting is a way for me to deal with his passing as much as it is a respectful way for me to celebrate these gifts he has given me, and anyone who cares to take time to appreciate. I hope you all can appreciate his gifts, and my homage to his artistic journey.
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Also, if anybody would be interested in ordering PULLING THE PLUG this here is the link. Cheers.
Pulling the Plug: Trista Michels, Andrew M. Johnson ... My wife Hollie and I now have a little baby boy named Harvey. when it really sank in that we were having a child I was of coarse scared, but really excited about having a child and what kind of inspirations he could bring to my art. I also thought about the imagination of a child and how it could rekindle a little bit of my own inner child. I remember sitting on the floor most of my childhood reading comic books and drawing crazy pictures all the time (that whole part is actually spot on now, except without the floor part). I've been working on an adventure painting of our boy and dog (Larrabee). Below is an example of the first in a series of adventure paintings I want to make with Harvey and Larrabee. This painting isn't done quite yet, but with it being 11"x8", it allows me to work on a lot of detail and be able to get it done with the time I have these days.
Well I have to admit, I have been a bummer these past few months. I completely loved Washington and haven't been really trying to enjoy here in Fond du Lac, WI since before New Years. I've been battling depression from leaving Washington. What do I have here? Well, all of my family is here, tons of friends, and lots of new interesting people to meet. That and ice cold. I could do without that. These past few days I've been working on a Beetle juice painting and between my lovely wife, my family, my friends, and Beetlejuice I think the cold snapped from my wee little noggin. Woohoo!! To celebrate this I will be working on making prints of some of my work for people to enjoy without paying an arm and a leg for my art. Totally worth it, but not everyone can afford them. I will not make prints of all of my art though. I still believe certain pieces deserve to be completely unique and one of a kind. Stay tuned folks.
Nothing against my home town, but I feel so empty here at times. Back in Bellingham there was beauty, activity, interests that would align with mine. There are artists here but they are hidden. we have to compete with sports, hunting, beer, and over emphasized importance of merely being a consumer. I feel very mentally unstimulated here. The artists here that I have met are wonderful. The lack of interest in art here as a whole pains me (that being said the art scene here has grown greatly, eek). It's also really hard finding a job that isn't some crappy factory in order to live a decent life either. At least I have my health and the health of my family.
So I will be having my latest show COMING HOME: THE COLLECTED WORKS OF ANDREW JOHNSON. Here will be a link to the event. Hope you all can make it.
I never got to send the last post since it was written and I'm sorry to say my wife's father Michael Moe passed one week ago on Wednesday. He was a wonderful man, mentor, husband, friend, father to many. He was such a selfless person that cared for so many people. His service was truly beautiful and a testament to his admiration and love.
Well, since my last entry a whole lot of things have happened. Lots good, some bad. First of all my wife Hollie found out that she is pregnant ( I was surprised that I was so happy about it. I was so resistant for so long). I had the Whatcom Artist Studio Tour last week and met tons of great people. I only sold one painting, but meeting the people and sharing the most intimate part of my world are some of the best parts.
The bad part is my wife wasn't able to be here for the second week of Studio Tour. That wasn't even the worst part. We found out last Friday that her dad has a really aggressive cancer. I can't even begin to process what she or her whole family is going through right now. We really feel that family is important and her parents have been so supportive in every way and we feel we need to be there for them. That is why we are moving back to Wisconsin. I remember asking Hollie's father how I could ever pay him back the first time he really helped us out. He told me, " Just take care of us when we need it". This is one of those times. It's going to probably be the hardest thing I've ever done. One of my paintings will be featured on the back whole back cover of Whatcom Magazine in November, and I will be part of a 3 man art show that month at Allied Arts as well (see NOW SHOWING at top). Art walk last Friday was a great turnout. Thanks to everyone from the Downtown Bellingham Partnership for having me show there (and putting up with me). I met a lot of really great people and still had a little time to wonder around the art walk stops before they closed shop.
A few months ago Downtown Bellingham Partnership approached me on showing my night series at their location which is now shared with Bellingham Tourism. I would be showing my work in both of their areas. A few of my pieces would be left out that are not downtown related though. If everything works out well I should be setting up in June and opening for Art Walk in July. Hope to see you there. |
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