Art & Life with Carrie Johnston

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carrie Johnston.

Carrie, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Proudly born and raised in Arizona! I began drawing seriously around the age of 13 when I was diagnosed with clinical depression. Art was a way for me to express emotions that I was unable to verbally communicate. I grew up in a large combined family with my twin sister; they were put through more than the normal growing pains because of my undiagnosed PTSD and Borderline Personality Disorder. Because of these combinations, I was prone to sudden bouts of rage and poor impulse control. It’s a miracle I’ve never been arrested. My 20s were filled with self-medicating and, and I lost my ability to draw from fibromyalgia, I was at my lowest point at this time and was hospitalized off and on from my depression. The hospital is where I discovered DBT therapy ( dialectical behavior therapy ), and it changed my entire life, I’ve been able to work through my conditions, they’re not gone, but for the first time in my life I don’t want to die, it’s an amazing and surreal feeling! The pain that halted my art even subsided, substantially. Only recently, since May of 2018, I have been drawing again. My road has been long and exhausting, and there are more perils ahead but the future is no longer daunting, and I look forward to creating and growing my artworks.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I’m not just a one trick pony, I love to create fine art in all its forms I span The gambit from pottery to digital, from Abstract to realism. My specialties are in illustration and graphic design. Recently I’ve gone strictly digital since it’s easier on my hands. The art I create now is indicative of the art I was too scared to create when I was younger. I like to use the juxtaposition of “happy” colors with either violent or “sad” images as a reflection of hiding inner pain. Art is beautiful because it’s subjective. It will have a different meaning for everyone. As the artist, my goal is to work through inner issues. What I want for the viewer is to invoke emotion and hopefully help them see a little beneath the surface.

What would you recommend to an artist new to the city, or to art, in terms of meeting and connecting with other artists and creatives?
Take classes! Follow other artists on social media and don’t be afraid to ask questions! Everyone has different techniques and lots of artist love to teach. If you can go create outside, even if you don’t find another artist people love to watch others create and you might make a friend.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You can find my work and contact me on Instagram @whisperingcobra13 or on Facebook The Magic Mage. I’m open for commissions and have prints available.

Contact Info:

• Email: magicmage126@yahoo.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/whisperingcobra13
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/themagicmage

Image Credit:
Carrie Johnston

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