March Meet the Maker, Day 7, About Me:

“Red Self Portrait”, 1998, oil painting.

Honorable Mention at the Elmhurst Artists Guild, Member Show 2017, with “Transition”, watercolor painting.

About me!

March 7, 2020
Day 7, You:
This is a personal story, more than about my art making, I talked about my art on Day 1, if you are interested in reading my past post.

When I was really young, I didn’t think I was a good artist. I had class mates and older siblings that could draw better than I, and so, I figured that I wasn’t any good. I knew I could draw comic book characters like Calvin and Hobbes and Garfield, but I didn’t think I was “fine art” good.

I still doubted my ability in high school, so I picked a college to pursue music, since I played the bassoon well.

The funny thing was that the college I picked was a college that I loved the art department. I felt that it wasn’t intimidating and that it was a place that I could develop slowly without judgement. The teachers were welcoming and they loved what they did with their own art profession outside of class. I saw that passion, and it was contagious.

When I was in my dorm room, I would draw and paint all the time. Class mates thought I was an art major. Nine months into school I changed my major to art. That summer I took summer classes, as well as every summer after, so I could graduate with in the four year time frame. I graduated with honors with a Bachelor’s of Fine Art in Art.

But, I continued to doubted my ability into adulthood. I didn’t see my potential and I didn’t think I was good enough to be a free lance artist. I didn’t know what was all involved.

Elmhurst Artist Guild, Member Show 2018, with “Wonder”, watercolor painting.

“Is This Me?” marker self portrait, 2018.

Long story short, after pursuing a second degree in interior designer that didn’t go anywhere, I had a family and didn’t really make art. After many years of judgement on myself and my ability, I took a leap of faith, when my professor from my college died in 2016 (who was only in his 60s). I had an awaking of what I want to do before I die. I want to make art. I want to be an artist, or I will regret it. I have been pushing to make this work ever since.

When I got back into art, I got back in with art used as therapy. I painted abstract watercolors since it was an easy set up and take down in my kitchen. When I paint abstract, I feel free in the moment, without judgement. It’s meditative and I am in my own world of the making. Enjoying every color, enjoying every mark making. I am free to be creative, curious, in wonder, and play!

I tell this story because I bet there are a lot of people out their that doubt their ability to make art. That doubt themselves that they can never make it work. Don’t listen to those negative voices. Believe in yourself, develop, grow, and make a lot of art!!!
Sarah Johnson