Today we’d like to introduce you to Alec Johnson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Alec. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve been an artist my whole life. When I was a kid, my medium was anything I could get my hands on. I loved crayons the most. I could sit and draw for hours. I think spending my early life in Las Vegas, where I was born, definitely had a significant impact on my future as an artist. I was always mesmerized by the lights of the city; there were so many, and in more colors than I could count. This is one of the reasons why I adopted Dallas as my home so quickly; our skyline is unmistakable. Our city is beautiful. I took my first art class here in sixth grade and was immediately invited to an advanced art program. This would repeat throughout my time in public school, where I remained in similar programs until my junior year of high school when I was forced to pivot and complete my education online. I didn’t pick up a pencil again for years. My sketchbook sat empty until my junior year of college, four years later. I had a vision: a man with a lantern, guiding me through a thick mist. The colors were vivid and clear. The only medium that could capture the scene was painted. It was like something took control of me. I was guided down a path I had previously only dreamed of. That painting was the birth of Alec Johnson Art.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has been smooth, but I’m traveling at my own pace. It took me months to even realize I am an artist at first. In the beginning, and this is still mostly true to this day, it was just about expression. My creative energy was always there, I just had to learn how to access it. Sometimes the scenes would come with dreams, sometimes I would see them in my everyday life. They would always come with emotions attached, feelings I had to process before I could understand what I was creating. Most of the struggles I ran into along the way were mental; I’m definitely my own worst critic. It took me nearly a year of painting to understand that I have natural talent. I’ve always had the keen ability to sketch what is in front of me, but paint opened up so many other options. Suddenly, I was thinking about brushstrokes, color, and contrast. Everything happened so naturally, each new piece was a lesson. I slowly developed my style. I started an Instagram page just to have a place to keep pictures of my work. That continued grow, until I eventually extended to Facebook and Twitter. Slowly, I started receiving messages about purchases and commissions. Today, I have collectors across the United States and connections with artists around the world. I’ve showcased my artwork in my home town and am currently putting together a new collection for my next show. I will only continue to grow and to change, and my artwork will undoubtedly do the same.
Please tell us about your work.
I just kind of paint whatever I want- whatever I’m feeling. I think that people appreciate my work because of it’s authenticity. I paint things from my life, scenes that I see in my head. I like to let the piece paint itself if that makes any sense. I spend a lot of time experimenting with value and texture; I can move from a finely detailed, highly realistic piece to an abstract finger-painting without blinking an eye. Creativity is quite a chaotic force, and I couldn’t control it if I tried, so I taught myself how to guide it. I think what sets me apart from others is that I know what I’m supposed to do, and I won’t let anything get in my way.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Early this year, I was inspired to take up a new concentration, one based on my Japanese heritage. My grandparents have always been extremely influential in my life, but it took the turn of a new decade for me to understand the importance of where I come from truly, and the influence it has had on my life. I am currently planning my second art show: a celebration of ancestry and artistic expression. I started by assembling a collective of like-minded artists and creators, dead-set on doing things our way. We plan to showcase at a private venue in Dallas, Tx sometime this year, but due to the Covid-19 outbreak, we may be forced to push back the show. Updates will be posted to all social media platforms, so stay tuned @alecjohnsonart!
Pricing:
- Commission (5 – 24 in) : $50 – $150
- Commission (24 – 48 in) : $150-$250
- Artwork for sale : $100
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rawartist.com/alecjohnsonart
- Phone: 4694994493
- Email: alecjohnsonart@gmail.com
- Instagram: @alecjohnsonart
- Facebook: @alecjohnsonart
- Twitter: @alecjohnsonart
Image Credit:
Prakyath Chadalawada, Chelsea Jones, Michael Ball, & RAW Artists Photography
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