Exploring the Washington Landscape by Kelly Johnston
In this interview I chat with Kelly Johnston, a landscape painter living in Seattle. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Kelly has always been enamored by the vivid scenery that surrounds her. She is drawn to the relationship between representation and abstraction, both of which are apparent in her dynamic series of work. Kelly discusses the inspiration she finds in the water and skies of Washington, and shares the beauty of discovering an art centered community on Instagram.
Hi Kelly! Tell me about your background and where your creative journey began.
I have always loved creating things with my hands and painting has been my favorite way to do that from as far back as I can remember. I dabbled in all kinds of mediums growing up but really began focusing on painting in high school and later earned a Bachelor of Fine Art in Painting and Drawing from the University of Washington. After college, my painting practice stalled for about ten years while I worked full time, met my husband and we started our family – we have two children, now ages 12 and 15. I finally returned to painting when our youngest began full-day kindergarten. I remember feeling extremely anxious about trying to paint seriously again but I also knew it was something I had to do. So, with a lot of encouragement from my husband I rented a little studio near our then-home in West Seattle and got to work. That was 2013 and I have been painting steadily since then. We moved to Bainbridge Island (a 35 minute ferry ride across Puget Sound from Seattle) in 2014 and two years ago I rented a space in our small town that now acts as both my studio and my brick and mortar gallery.
What led you to paint landscapes and seascapes, and where do you find inspiration?
Landscape painting feels most authentic for me personally. I am so inspired by nature, especially where I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, the pull to share that beauty is really what fuels my painting. Water and skies are my favorite things to paint. I have lived in the Seattle area and near water my entire life and that has made a lasting impact on me. I grew up boating with my family and have spent countless hours enjoying time near or on the water. Being outdoors is both something that brings me new ideas and also grounds me.
How has your work shifted and evolved over the years?
My work repeatedly bounces back and forth between traditional landscapes and abstraction. I find both to be really interesting and they each inform the other.
Can you tell me about your process and technique for creating a painting?
I work from my photos. I am constantly taking photos - especially over the last few years since the camera on my phone is so great, I no longer need to lug around my big DSLR camera. I use these photos as starting points and then refer to them as I paint. I find it’s almost more helpful to me if the photo is small so I can’t get so caught up in the little details that lead to tightening up, which is always something I struggle against, so I often just paint directly from my phone. For my water soluble oil paintings, I like to paint in layers and let things dry a bit between sessions, so it’s nice to have multiple paintings going at once. I also began using gouache a couple years ago and I really enjoy it when creating small paintings on paper – the color is so vivid and the speed at which it dries is really refreshing and forgiving.
In addition to being a painter, you also teach landscape painting workshops. What led you to teach, and how has teaching impacted your work?
I have actually only taught one workshop so far – it was just last month. Teaching is something I’ve been considering for a long time and finally agreed to try and I’m so glad I did! It was really fun to share my method and tips, plus it was helpful for me to articulate what I’m thinking about as I paint. I have another class scheduled for May and hopefully I’ll be able to move forward with that once we are out of quarantine.
Your paintings emphasize light and color. What advice would you give to landscape painters who are hoping to achieve similar effects in their work?
Really looking is the most important thing. Study the way light affects the landscape and try to figure out how you can translate that onto your canvas through color and brushstrokes. And allow room for emotion – if you can impart the way you feel about your subject into your painting, that’s when you end up with something great - when a painting moves from merely representational to almost magical.
When did you join Instagram, and how has it impacted you as an artist?
I started my art account on Instagram in 2013. It has been extremely helpful for me as a way to share my work with a worldwide audience. I also just like how it acts as a visual journal – it’s nice to be able to look back at what I’ve posted over time and notice influences and similarities. And I also really enjoy interacting with other artists and clients through Instagram – it has definitely helped me find an art centered community.
What does the future hold for your painting?
More exploration and continuing to follow where the path leads me. My painting practice is all about curiosity, consistency, learning and growth.
Follow Kelly on Instagram at: Kellyjohnstonart
Website: http://www.kellyjohnstonart.com