April Johnson: The will to Grow
I have never taken any classes based around on how to create art or any formal education, but if it counts for anything I was in AP art and earned a college credit in my junior year of high school. I was a little hesitant to join at first, but my first art teacher, Jessica Howell, had personally asked me to take the course. We may not have the same taste when it comes to what we do with art, but she has always respected my creativity and pushed me as an artist. She would take any piece I would give to her and hang it up in class, and by doing this she gave me the confidence I needed piece by piece to become a stronger artist. I thank her very much for the guidance she had given me in becoming a not only individual and confident artist, but as a person as well.
Technique has always been something that has haunted me.
Don’t get me wrong, a good technique makes art what it is, but for a long time I struggled learning how to do certain things in a certain way to achieve that certain look. I have gotten far, but I am not near far enough. Starting with a very basic sketch and slowly adding the miniscule detail to create a whole is how I would describe my “technique”. Of course as any other artist would understand, I start with one vision in mind and then constantly revise the piece as I work through it to better fit my goal.
I focus on either digital art or pen and ink. In combining the two I am still working on it and is not going too bad. For now though I would say I major in digital, but I began my whole art interest with pen and ink and always LOVE going back to it, as digital sometimes feels too stiff.
When I create a piece of art, my vision is to accurately portray any emotion, theme, or idea. I want someone to look at it and get a certain vibe or feel a certain way. When someone looks at a album cover or any piece I have done, I want them to get a vibe about what the music will be like, or what the piece means. However it isn’t just for the viewer. It’s for me as well. Part of it is self exploration. To see how far I can go; how hard I can work. How much I can learn about my mind and my limits to creativity, and then trying to expand. This is very difficult as I want to stick to the same old stuff, however as I let myself branch out, my vision can reach more than just one audience. Art and music isn’t JUST art and music – is an experience, an opportunity to grow, and it is all something not just to see or hear, but to feel.
Artists that have inspired me add up to the hundreds, however the ones that I follow and forever compare myself to add up to two. Starting with the oldest artist that would be Henry Fuseli. Henry created one of my favorite pieces of art, “The Nightmare.” His art puts a dark and curious feeling in my heart, but in a way that makes me want to create endlessly. His work has darker themes and yet depicting a picture by him leaves me with one hundred different ideas on what he could mean.
My second inspirational artist would have to be Robert Borbas (Grindesign). Though I may have never spoken to him, his tattoo work is the most inspiring I have seen. I have followed him for years now and watched him come even farther than he was when I first saw his work. Sometimes I may feel discouraged, but his attention to detail and the amazing pieces he creates blow me away into pure inspiration. Whenever I see a new picture by him, I immediately want to pick up my pencil and create.
I would like to mention someone in my life who has inspired me not by art, but by his words. Stephen Peters, who I have only known for about two and a half years of my life, has pushed my progress farther than any inspiration. For the few years I have known him, this man has pushed me further than anyone or anything else has since I began taking interest in art. I have seen my style, technique, persistence, and passion grow faster and stronger than any other time in my life. He is a huge support and inspiration to me and my passion for art.
The ambitions I have for my art are infinite. My art will never be perfected. However to be specific, my goals include improving my anatomy, linework, lighting, and attention to detail. One day I dream to do such perfect lines that ill feel confident enough to start my tattoo career. I also hope to achieve a truly unique style I can call all my own. I will force myself to do endless hours of art until I finally achieve these dreams.
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Interview by Alex Milazzo – Copyright 2015 © Heavy Music Artwork. All rights reserved.
