LIFE. ART. INSPIRATION. A journey into the minds & souls of artists of the diaspora.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

An Interview with artist Rochelle Johnson




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Artist Rochelle Johnson
Rochelle Johnson was born in Denver, Colorado in 1964. She was adopted at only one month old, and was raised with her three other adopted siblings. From a young age, Johnson appreciated art, and in middle school she began drawing from magazines. It wasn’t until high school, however, that she felt the urge to fully delve into her art. A friend who lived not far from her family home became one of her first mentors by teaching her some of the techniques that he had learned.

Irises © Rochelle Johnson
One to Grow On © Rochelle Johnson

Johnson also spent time perusing the artist booths at the Denver Art Fair and talking to artists about their creative journeys. These conversations with artists, and the mentorship she received inspired Johnson to go to school for art. After high school, she enrolled in the University of Fayetteville in Arkansas. She didn't stay there for long. Her dislike for Arkansas, and her drive to create brought her to the Rocky Mount College of Art in Denver, CO, where she graduated with a degree in Graphic Design.

"D" Train © Rochelle Johnson
Evening Elegance © Rochelle Johnson

Her degree in graphic design was a practical one, but in her heart she still wanted to pursue her art. Upon her graduation from art school, she moved to Seattle, Washington. For Johnson, moving away from Denver gave her a fresh start. She began working in a law office full time, and worked as a freelance designer on a part-time basis. Although she was making money, Johnson still wasn’t fulfilling her urge to create the way that she wanted to. After 8 years in Seattle, Johnson moved back to Denver.  With her focus now stronger than ever, she decided to enroll in the Arts Students League of Denver, where she met her mentor, artist Ron Hicks. Hicks not only showed her how to work with oils, he gave her a new appreciation for the stories behind the work. With his support, she decided to embark on a fulltime career as an artist.

Primordial Spring © Rochelle Johnson
Room for Two © Rochelle Johnson

After 5 years of painting professionally, Johnson says that she has just recently found her creative voice—an all too important part of every artist’s journey. She says that like Jacob Lawrence, she wants to paint imagery that represents the everyday life of people—from the urban areas to the suburbs. She finds it more interesting than still life, landscapes and non-representational work. “ Every painting needs to have a figure in it,” she states, but she also made the observation that some of her paintings are inadvertently taking on an abstract form even with the figure. She loves using oil, and describes the medium as “sensual.”

Keith © Rochelle Johnson
The Last Smoke © Rochelle Johnson

Johnson says that the fact that she was adopted also had an impact on her subject choices. For a time (although she was surrounded by a loving family), she dealt with loneliness, and understandably wanted to find her birth parents. Her art not only helped her deal with those feelings, but it also reminded her that she had a full and wonderful life with her family.

Space Between © Rochelle Johnson
She has faced some challenges on her new creative journey, and is working to build a solid customer base in Denver and throughout the country. She is working to break through color and gender barriers so that her work can be seen and appreciated wholly, and without bias.

Summer Nights © Rochelle Johnson
Boating © Rochelle Johnson

 Rochelle Johnson is an artist on the rise, and one to collect and watch. To learn more about the artist, and to see more of her work, visit her website at www.rochellejohnsonstudio.com.


“Follow your heart and follow your passion and let it lead you.”
-Rochelle Johnson


 
All images are © copyrighted by the artist unless otherwise noted. Images cannot be reproduced without permission of the artist. 
Cultured Artists™ ©2013

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LIFE. ART. INSPIRATION. A journey into the minds & souls of artists of the diaspora.

Tamara Natalie Madden 2011-2016. Powered by Blogger.

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