Name: Johanna Öst
Age: 25
Country: Sweden
Website: http://johannaost.com
At which age did you start creating art? And why do you feel compelled to create?
I've always been drawing and painting and making things, I can't
imagine not doing it. It's just a natural thing to me and I don't have
any specific reason.
What are you inspired by? And who do you look up to?
I get this question a lot but I find It impossible to answer (the
inspiration part). It's just anything, and idea I get, something I
like. The ideas are of course influenced by everything I have ever
seen, heard or experienced but it's usually not a conscious
inspiration.
Some artist I like and look up to are Theodor Kittelsen and James Jean.
Which influential artist would you like to ask for advice?
Honestly I wouldn't ask anyone for advice. I make my art for my own
enjoyment and I don't think anyone but myself can judge it, so I
wouldn't be interested in anyone elses advice.
If others like my art enough to buy it that's a huge plus, but as long
as I love it I'm happy. I don't really like actively trying to get
better at drawing and stuff, even if I probably should. I prefer to
just learn naturally along the way.
If you had to put up one piece of artwork on your wall and stare at it for a year, who would it be by and why?
I hope I wouldn't actually have to stare at it non stop for a year,
but if it would just be up on my wall I'll be boring and go with
something that matches the decorating ;) If it's not cheating I'll
pick something I already have on my wall or plan to put there. Like
this amazing painting by Michel Garnier that's going up over our bed
(a print of course), "The departure of the dragoon guard":
(http://jaffa.johannaost.com/The%20Departure%20of%20the%20Dragoon%20Guard%20by%20Michael%20Garnier.jpg)
It's beautiful and exciting and there's a lot going on. Plus tons of
gorgeous clothes.
Tell us about your creative process.
I usually draw things with pencil first and then paint it with water
colours and a little bit of acrylics and pen. That's pretty much it.
Here's my desk: http://jaffa.johannaost.com/IMGP3533.JPG but I think I
sit on the sofa more often actually. I don't have a photo of what that
looks like right now though.
Do you ever find weird connections between life and art?
I don't think so.
As an artist, are you Technical or passionate?
I'm not technical as in caring about making things look correct and
fussing with perspective and things like that. Most of the time I do
have a more or less clear idea of what I'm going to draw though. I
don't know what that makes me. I want my pictures to be like
interesting little snippets from a story, and inspire people to
fantasize about what is going on, so the idea is a very important part
of it.
How do you determine when a work is finished? Or is it ever
finished?
When I'm happy with it :)
Do you think there are boundaries you would never cross in
your art making?
I have no idea what that would be.
What frightens you most about your art?
Nothing at all.
Do you have any magic cures for creative blocks?
I'm afraid not. But I don't get them very often.
Do you dream about your artwork?
I'm sure I must have done it some time but I can't remember it.
Which of your own works are you most proud of/ is most
meaningful to you and why?
I tend to be most fond of my latest work, which in this case is the
strongwoman, but I have many favourites.
Some of my all time favourites are Strongman, Wild Animals,
Columbine, Sailor
and Swamp Princess.
Which art mediums and brands do you prefer to use?
I don't use any specific brands but I usually use pencils,
watercolours and pens with a little bit of acrylics used for
highlights. I also love doing things with clay, mostly dolls, but I'm
keeping away from it now so I won't make a bunch of things that take
up place.
What kind of art education do you have? Do you think it is
important?
A couple of years ago I started taking an art course but I quit before
it was finished. I don't think it's important at all, or rather, it
depends on what you want. It can be a good way to try out techniques
you haven't tried before and finding out what you like, and I think
figure drawing can be very helpful when learning to draw proper
anatomy, if that is what you want to do, but you can also do both
those things without a school.
What kind of career do you ultimately want? And what kind
of career do you think you'll end up having (or already
have) realistically?
I'd like to live comfortably off my art but I'd also love to work with
historical clothing somehow, in a museum for example. I think both of
those are sort of realistic.
Is your family supportive of your art? Who influenced and
nurtured your creativity most?
Definitely. My mother is very creative and I guess that might have
influenced me.
Which direction do you see your art heading in the future?
It will probably be pretty much the same but better and better. Maybe
I'll start making some bigger paintings.
Who are some of your heroes outside of the visual art
stream?
I wouldn't really say I have heroes but some poeple I admire are Björk
and (the obviously fictional) Scarlett O'hara.
Age: 25
Country: Sweden
Website: http://johannaost.com
At which age did you start creating art? And why do you feel compelled to create?
I've always been drawing and painting and making things, I can't
imagine not doing it. It's just a natural thing to me and I don't have
any specific reason.
What are you inspired by? And who do you look up to?
I get this question a lot but I find It impossible to answer (the
inspiration part). It's just anything, and idea I get, something I
like. The ideas are of course influenced by everything I have ever
seen, heard or experienced but it's usually not a conscious
inspiration.
Some artist I like and look up to are Theodor Kittelsen and James Jean.
Which influential artist would you like to ask for advice?
Honestly I wouldn't ask anyone for advice. I make my art for my own
enjoyment and I don't think anyone but myself can judge it, so I
wouldn't be interested in anyone elses advice.
If others like my art enough to buy it that's a huge plus, but as long
as I love it I'm happy. I don't really like actively trying to get
better at drawing and stuff, even if I probably should. I prefer to
just learn naturally along the way.
If you had to put up one piece of artwork on your wall and stare at it for a year, who would it be by and why?
I hope I wouldn't actually have to stare at it non stop for a year,
but if it would just be up on my wall I'll be boring and go with
something that matches the decorating ;) If it's not cheating I'll
pick something I already have on my wall or plan to put there. Like
this amazing painting by Michel Garnier that's going up over our bed
(a print of course), "The departure of the dragoon guard":
(http://jaffa.johannaost.com/The%20Departure%20of%20the%20Dragoon%20Guard%20by%20Michael%20Garnier.jpg)
It's beautiful and exciting and there's a lot going on. Plus tons of
gorgeous clothes.
Tell us about your creative process.
I usually draw things with pencil first and then paint it with water
colours and a little bit of acrylics and pen. That's pretty much it.
Here's my desk: http://jaffa.johannaost.com/IMGP3533.JPG but I think I
sit on the sofa more often actually. I don't have a photo of what that
looks like right now though.
Do you ever find weird connections between life and art?
I don't think so.
As an artist, are you Technical or passionate?
I'm not technical as in caring about making things look correct and
fussing with perspective and things like that. Most of the time I do
have a more or less clear idea of what I'm going to draw though. I
don't know what that makes me. I want my pictures to be like
interesting little snippets from a story, and inspire people to
fantasize about what is going on, so the idea is a very important part
of it.
How do you determine when a work is finished? Or is it ever
finished?
When I'm happy with it :)
Do you think there are boundaries you would never cross in
your art making?
I have no idea what that would be.
What frightens you most about your art?
Nothing at all.
Do you have any magic cures for creative blocks?
I'm afraid not. But I don't get them very often.
Do you dream about your artwork?
I'm sure I must have done it some time but I can't remember it.
Which of your own works are you most proud of/ is most
meaningful to you and why?
I tend to be most fond of my latest work, which in this case is the
strongwoman, but I have many favourites.
Some of my all time favourites are Strongman, Wild Animals,
Columbine, Sailor
and Swamp Princess.
Which art mediums and brands do you prefer to use?
I don't use any specific brands but I usually use pencils,
watercolours and pens with a little bit of acrylics used for
highlights. I also love doing things with clay, mostly dolls, but I'm
keeping away from it now so I won't make a bunch of things that take
up place.
What kind of art education do you have? Do you think it is
important?
A couple of years ago I started taking an art course but I quit before
it was finished. I don't think it's important at all, or rather, it
depends on what you want. It can be a good way to try out techniques
you haven't tried before and finding out what you like, and I think
figure drawing can be very helpful when learning to draw proper
anatomy, if that is what you want to do, but you can also do both
those things without a school.
What kind of career do you ultimately want? And what kind
of career do you think you'll end up having (or already
have) realistically?
I'd like to live comfortably off my art but I'd also love to work with
historical clothing somehow, in a museum for example. I think both of
those are sort of realistic.
Is your family supportive of your art? Who influenced and
nurtured your creativity most?
Definitely. My mother is very creative and I guess that might have
influenced me.
Which direction do you see your art heading in the future?
It will probably be pretty much the same but better and better. Maybe
I'll start making some bigger paintings.
Who are some of your heroes outside of the visual art
stream?
I wouldn't really say I have heroes but some poeple I admire are Björk
and (the obviously fictional) Scarlett O'hara.
Posts
Johanna's artwork so inspirational to me. Each piece is like a moment out of a fairy tale. She reminds me of the artwork I used to create as a child: where each character in the drawing had a detailed story complete with names, favorite colors, and occupations.
ReplyDeleteI have been following her work for some time now and she never ceases to amaze me.