Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christy Johnson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Christy, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Looking back, I was an entrepreneur from a very early age. My (twin) sister Wendy and I were big into drawing when we were little. As soon as we could hold a marker, we were scratching out pretty epic pieces of artwork. They were typically done on the old school computer paper we got in bulk from my grandpa, which he’d gotten from his work. Each art piece usually had a story, too, which we’d dictate to my mom and she’d write our ramblings near each part of the illustration. For many years I thought I’d go to school to be a fashion designer, but in the end I pursued a degree in Mass Communications because I wanted to play college softball, and no fashion schools I was interested in had athletics programs.

After graduating from college, I worked at a regional magazine as an editor and writer for four years, and while there I realized I wanted to pursue graphic design. So I went back to school to earn an Associates degree. I stayed on at the magazine as a freelance writer, but left for my first design job at the Science Museum of Minnesota. I started doing some graphic design work in my off-time, too, including branding, logos, printed collateral, and wedding and event stationery. My favorite thing at that time to make was note cards that featured my illustration work, which I sold at small art shows and a few local shops.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

While I was doing the wedding/event stationery and note cards, I was asked by an editor friend—for whom I’d designed personal wedding stationery—to make some mock reception cards for an imagined couple, which would run in a wedding magazine. I came up with the idea of a couple celebrating a “Minneapolis themed” wedding, and dreamt up little table cards that featured mini illustrations of Minneapolis landmarks. After that assignment, I realized I really liked making those tiny drawings (I frequently drew on a very small scale, even back when I was a kid), so I created a few more. I printed them as giclées on my at-home printer and found some wee frames at a store. Then I brought the landmark prints, which I called State Icons, to my next art show. They were such a hit, I knew I had to keep making them. After a few years, I filtered out the note cards and wedding/event stationery, and focused on the thing that was bringing me the most joy, my State Icons. My collection grew to states other than Minnesota once I was accepted into art shows, craft fairs, and other pop-up events all over the U.S.

State Icons are memories in a frame. My mini illustrations highlight national landmarks that are historic, quirky, and everything in between. Whether recognized worldwide or known only by locals, I understand the attachments people have to them. Anyone can hang in their home a mass-produced poster of an international monument they bought at a big-box store. My thought is: Wouldn’t you rather decorate your home with handmade art that pays tribute to the cities and states you love and have made memories in?

What sets my State Icons apart from other print makers is that they’re 100% handmade. I start by drawing my State Icons with a mouse—yes, a mouse—on my computer, and then I carefully print them in my studio with archival-grade paper and inks. I trim the high-quality giclées with scissors and then place them into wood frames that my parents make by hand. My dad is a retired electronic-engineer-turned-woodworker who toils over my frames, and my non-artist mom sands and paints each frame by hand. I cannot thank them enough for the 18-plus years they’ve been doing this for me.

The frames are so great. They’re lightweight yet sturdy, and thick in depth, so they can stand on their own on a shelf, desk, or any flat surface. Or they’re ready to display on a wall since I affix a hanger on the back of each one.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The stories I hear from fans of my State Icons. At art shows, I’ve made some really great connections with people who’ve stopped into my booth, especially when they chat with me about their memories surrounding a particular landmark I’ve drawn. The one that stands out the most is when I was in Austin, Texas, for the Renegade Craft Fair, and a woman came into my booth and immediately picked up my State Icon of Big Tex. I saw her gazing at it for a few moments, and when she turned to me, she had tears running down her face. She told me she used to go to the State Fair of Texas with her grandpa, who had died a few years ago, so seeing my print brought memories flooding back to her. As she spoke with me, I found myself getting emotional, too, and eventually I shed quite a few tears with her. It was so touching. I still think of her every time I see my Big Tex piece, and hope she looks at the one she bought and remembers the good times she had with her grandpa.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Around 2018 and 2019, I was ready to slowly let United Goods fade away. I had lost my passion for the grind of being a small business owner, and doing events every weekend in the summer and throughout the holidays took its toll on me. I’m an introvert, so participating in these shows would zap me for days afterward. I had too much on my plate and didn’t have the strength to say no to things. I was burned out. Then COVID came along, and I was able to slow down and re-evaluate my life and what was important to me. It only took a few months into the pandemic when I realized I still loved United Goods and what I was doing. I started digging into online business trainings and seminars, and really enjoyed trying new things when it came to marketing and e-commerce. It was extremely satisfying when I’d learn something, try it, and see results. So I emerged from the shutdown with a revived sense of power and passion for my brand. I hope it shows. I love what I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.unitedgoodsusa.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unitedgoodsusa
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unitedgoodsUSA
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjchristyjohnson

Image Credits
Wendy Nielsen Photo