WORDS / KODY FORD

A lot of children go through phases when it comes to thinking on their future. Perhaps it’s a fireman or an astronaut or Batman as their future career path. For Whitney Johnston, art always found itself at the top of the list.

“Ever since I could talk, I’ve been saying ‘when I grow up, I want to be an artist,’” said Whitney. “I still have that mentality like I have not arrived necessarily and am still searching for what I want to make. The themes and mediums in my art have constantly changed and will probably continue to do so. I think the trick to ‘being an artist’ is to never stop making art. So I guess I’ve always been one. I compulsively made art as a child and I just never stopped.”

Despite her progressive evolution as an artist, Whitney has always found herself drawn to color and line.

She says, “I am intensely drawn (no pun intended) to pattern. I see tiny intricate patterns everywhere I look and vibrant colors also pop out from unexpected highlights and shadows in my world.”

Currently, Whitney is doing portraits with a particular focus on pattern and symmetry. Her process begins with pencil sketches followed by tracing in pen to fill the composition with tiny geometric and organic patters inside of the planes that comprise the subject she is drawing. Finally, she applies a wash of watercolor to complete the work. Her switch to watercolor is recent; growing up she painted with acrylics and paints. She loves the light airy look of watercolor with tiny lines and shapes drawn in ink.

When she is not focusing on her art, the University of Arkansas graduate teaches art at Washington Elementary and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. She finds children’s natural desire and ability to create art as inspiring.

“[Children] see creative ways to turn something ordinary into something extraordinary,” she says. “My students are always making me necklaces and other treasures out of rocks, string, trash, and other found items. I think this is the reason I teach art. I want children to love art so that they never cease making it. If we all continued to express ourselves, I think we would be a lot healthier as individuals.”

A love for expression is what guides Whitney throughout her creative process.

“My mantra as an artist is ‘express,’” she says. “I think art is expression. I want my expressions to be thoughtful and beautiful but not all expression is. I’m using my art as an outlet to express the things I can not say, even to myself. I don’t enjoy art that I understand right away. I hope my art  is not understand at first glance. I sure don’t understand what all is going on in my brain when I’m really into a piece, and I love that. As an artist, I have to let go of EVERY thought, and express what is in my subconscious-emotions and epiphanies buried deep within my soul.”

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