We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Magda Johnson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Magda below.
Alright, Magda thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
I always thought when both my kids would be old enough to attend school full-time I’d go back to teaching .. well that quickly changed. Since I started painting, I’ve been lucky enough to have much of my work resonate with many people. Because of this, I’ve had the freedom and flexibility to have conversations about which career I’d like to pursue. Making the decision to take a step back from teaching was nerve wracking. While I was a stay at home, I began painting and somehow generated an income which then gave me the confidence to say ‘yes, this could actually work if I apply myself’. As unpredictable as the artists’ life can be, I’ve been loving the balance between part-time artist and part-time teacher.
With that said, these past few months have been keeping me much busier with painting. I have so much inspiration gathered from summer adventures that I can’t wait to get them down on canvas. This, coupled with needing to fill up the two galleries, and much more… I’m feeling an organic progression of my artistic career slowly taking over the other and I’m totally here for it.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
One of the most frequently asked questions I get is “you must have always planned to become an artist” or “for sure you must have been painting since you were little?” Both couldn’t be farther from the truth. While I’ve always enjoyed the arts and naturally gravitated towards creative projects, I grew up with one expectation: go to university. This probably resonates with many first-generation immigrants whose parents had similar expectations. Having this deeply ingrained in my system, I fulfilled their expectation while putting aside any thoughts of having a creative career. I graduated with a Bachelor of English Literature then went on to complete my Bachelor of Education which propelled me towards teaching high school students for many years until I became a mother in 2017.
Fast forward to 2020… I had been a stay-at-home mom for the past three years, birthed my second son, was ready to finally get back to teaching, socializing with adults, and just being out of the house – but then the world shut down on all of us and I felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me. The isolation coupled with my desire to get back to ‘me’ was enough for anyone to pick up a new hobby. Amongst this fog, I gathered a few old paint brushes and acrylic and began painting places around Vancouver which brought me the most joy. I had been casually posting my work on Instagram, thinking nothing of it, until a short while later an old coworker fell in love with a piece and purchased it. From this very moment, I knew the landscapes that surrounded me my entire life also carry deep memories and emotions for many others.
It’s now been an incredible four years of painting, connecting with collectors and galleries, and navigating the fine art industry. I am deeply connected to each of my paintings and it’s a dream when a collector makes the same connection. There’s no better feeling than seeing someone bring home an authentic piece of art that resonates and brings them back to their happy place. I’ve always romanticized the locations of the Pacific NorthWest, particularly Tofino, as the sunsets and misty mornings are second to none. My artwork embodies this atmospheric sentiment that I feel in my bones when putting my brush to canvas.
One thing which sets me apart from other artists is that I’ve let go of releasing collections with set dates. If I’m truly to paint from the heart, I walk into my studio selecting colours that reflect my mood that day or week. If I were to set a timeline for myself or attempt to push out a body of work that is solely one palette or theme I’d quickly run into painters block. I love savouring the process and spending quality time with each painting. If you take a look at my work from the past four years you’ll see how I’ve gravitated from neutral taupes, purples and blues to brighter palettes.
Looking back on the past four years, the one thing I am most proud of is picking up that paint brush and revisiting my creative side when I really felt I had lost my identity. If you’ve ever had that nudging feeling where you’re meant to try something new, then let this be a sign to go for it!
How did you build your audience on social media?
The whole purpose of starting my Instagram account was to simply connect with other people who shared similar interests. At first, I created a separate art-related private account for friends and family. When neighbours started approaching me about commissioning paintings I began to feel like this might be something worth pursuing. When I saw my smaller paintings fly off the shelves I thought why not make this public and see where it goes? At this point in time, I never thought it would snowball into a career of any sort.
Switching my profile from private to public made a huge difference in audience reach, especially after learning about the various ways to extend audience viewings (hashtags, locations, sharing, etc.). I had created my account a few years before Instagram implemented its new, and ever-changing, algorithm was able to attract followers much quicker back then. If you take a look at the trend now, Instagram no longer seems to favour creatives who wish to share their work without paying the platform a fee which, IMO, is unfortunate and discouraging for many young and aspiring artists.
With all that said, don’t fall into the rat race of trying to post everything always at all times to gain more followers. You’ll burn out and attract the wrong people. More followers does not mean more collectors. Instead, focus on posting what you have in real time. Using Insta stories is a great way to show viewers a little behind the scenes and gain interest. And when that interest comes trickling into your DM’s and don’t be afraid to make personal connections – creating relationships goes a long way and will help you slowly build a community of like minded individuals.
The best way to support a friend in their creative endeavour is to simply comment on their posts, repost, share their work, and engage in their stories. As small and insignificant as it may seem to you, these tiny actions make a world of a difference.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
You know, before I became an artist I felt like it was this big competitive world with no room for anyone new. The creative ecosystem, whether it be fashion, design, art, etc., thrives on innovation and new ideas, and there will ALWAYS be someone out there who loves your unique interpretation on something which is why there’s this industry in the first place! As someone who has just broken into this artistic realm, I see the importance of lifting up the creatives beside you and cheering them on. I am stronger and far more confident now that I was when I first began, and I do feel indebted to all the creatives I’ve connected with over the years.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.magdajohnsonfineart.ca/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magdajohnsonfineart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magdajohnsonfineart/
- Other: Kurbatoff Gallery (Vancouver, BC) https://www.kurbatoffgallery.com/artistsdoc/Magdalena-Johnson.html Mattick’s Gallery (Victoria, BC) https://www.thegalleryatmatticksfarm.com/magda-johnson
Image Credits
Kristen Turner MacDonald https://bobbydazzlerphotography.com/about