Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Johnson.
Amanda, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
In 2010 I was living in Chicago, and someone told me about Key West being a creative place for artists. I knew nothing about Key West, as most of my family would vacation on the West coast. I looked it up on a map; I loved how remote it was! Without doing any research, I decided to hop in my car and drive straight down.
Once arriving in Key West, I immediately began touring the art scene and the local galleries. I met many artists from all over the country. It was almost like people spoke a different language here. I was inspired by the success of the artists I met, and their colorful and uplifting art was a breath of fresh air. The idea of paradise and the romance of the island captivated my imagination. But it was the light that seems to illuminate all of life here in the Keys that had the biggest impact on my work.
I went back to Chicago, and my paintings became 3 octaves brighter. Light was no longer white; it was color, brilliant color! I felt pulled back to the Keys on a deep level and even had a dream I would have a studio gallery in Key West. Everything fell into place to make moving to Key West possible, and before long, I was signing the lease to my new Key West home in 2011. I began painting around town and immersing myself in the local art scene when I heard of a retail space opening up. In 2012 I opened up my studio gallery in old town, Amanda Johnson Gallery where I continue to paint tropical impressionist oil paintings and decorative fine art paintings that capture the brilliance of color and light the Keys are known for.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I knew I wanted to be an artist from a very young age. After high school, I continued to experiment with a wide range of media from stained glass, acrylics, watercolor, and collage.
I applied to the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago and was accepted and moved to Chicago, where I spent the decade of my 20’s immersed in the art world on every level. I traveled abroad studying the art and culture of India, Europe, and NYC. However, I think the biggest influence on my creative development was being surrounded by all the wonderful artwork in the Art Institute Museum. I walked past masterpieces by Matisse, Picasso, Renoir, Monet, and others every day on my way to class. What inspired me about their careers as artists, was that many of them had a foundation of formal training yet transcended this tradition. Likewise, I always had a deep desire to master this foundation of knowledge and then go beyond with an explosive level of creative expression.
After school, I spent several years painting en plein air (outdoor painting), studying the figure and still life further exploring the old masters’ chiaroscuro techniques. By this time, I was showing my work in various places around Chicago and selling online. The energy and passion were beginning to emerge in my work. The combination of exacting detail, lush texture, and passionate movement have become a distinguishing characteristic of my oil paintings.
Do current events, local or global, affect your work and what you are focused on?
I think the role of artists in society has become increasingly important. I think in previous years, artists needed an agent or gallery representation. But today, more artists are stepping out on their own in business and community involvement, which is positioning them as strong leaders in the community.
I feel grateful that I am able to do what I love. A career in the arts has it’s many challenges for sure, and I think what inspires others about artists is that it might encourage others to pursue the things that give them joy or that which they may feel called to do, knowing that there is strength and power in it. Even if it doesn’t look impressive to others or perhaps it may not be understood by others, the integrity of your purpose will give you a lot of strength. If more people lived life from those interior values, then it would effect positive change on larger levels.
As far as my artwork being influenced by national and global events… I hope my work provides a sense of calm and beauty for only in a state of calm are sound decisions made.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
Please stop in the Amanda Johnson Gallery at 518 Fleming Street. Most of my available works are on my website www.AmandaJohnsonFineArt.com where I have a large portfolio of works I’ve created, many available as high-quality Limited Editions. I regularly accept private commissions.
You can also follow me on social media @amandajohnsonfineart to see more about what inspires my work and the process.
Contact Info:
- Address: Amanda Johnson Gallery
518 Fleming St.
Key West, FL. 33040 - Website: www.AmandaJohnsonFineArt.com
- Phone: 305-414-8396
- Email: AmandaJohnsonFineArt@gmail.com
- Instagram: @amandajohnsonfineart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtByAmandaJohnson/
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