SELF-TAUGHT BY THE SEA
SELF-TAUGHT BY THE SEABy Matt Mortimer
It is said that if you make a job out of what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. For self-taught artist Caitlin Johnston, this saying is her reality.
Being self-taught brings forward a love of creating things, having to channel your inspiration into your work. Whether it is our surroundings or environment, our current state of mind, or our emotional state. Having to be her own teacher is clearly not something that has held Caitlin back, and she offers this advice for those thinking they have to attend a school to get better, instead instilling a solid work effort in the creative space being more advantageous.
”If you have not studied at a university don’t let that hold you back, if you put in the work anyone can be an artist, the main thing is to be inspired…then create,” she says. Caitlin draws this inspiration from here in our beautiful Aotearoa, but also creates from a Central American viewpoint several of us could only dream of. This stems from the beginning of her creative journey and carries through to her current work too.
“I have always loved the arts, ever since I was young, at school it became my passion and continued to develop while I lived in Panama for three years. There I was inspired by my surroundings and also by reminiscing about my home here in New Zealand; the beautiful nature and waters of Aotearoa,” she says.
It’s easy to see why the natural environment of Panama has had an influence. Panama bridges the gap between Columbia and Costa Rica, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The mountain ranges, waterways, forests and tropical climate all blend into her creative works. Similar to what our lands showcase here, this has been a source of passion within Caitlin’s catalogue of works.
“Since then I have continued to study the arts myself, experiment, research and self teach myself. I find it very inspiring and easy to be creative when self-teaching.” The beauty of our natural waterways and people feature in her works, with all sorts of materials utilised in each piece. Her enthusiasm brings this to light in each creation she touches.
“I love the water, so that is a big drive in my artwork. New Zealand has such beautiful oceans, it inspires me through it’s colours and nature, also expressions of people and their journey through life, how it shapes who we are today.”This shaping of people is akin to her favorite mediums. These, much like the works, are vast and continuing to grow.
“I have many – I don’t like to work on canvas…I get bored! I use mainly acrylic, with textures such as mixed media, liquid nails for textures, varnishes, 45 layers of paint that is then carved into, wood, and up-cycled surfboards. I collate various images, colours, patterns, and inspiration. I do a quick brainstorm and a rough sketch, start to layer my media, then my colours, and build from there, my art evolves as I go on. I love sealing the work with a varnish or resin, it makes the colours pop.”
People from Panama, here in New Zealand and America have all received some of these striking works from Caitlin. Locally she is displaying work in Art Matakana gallery and the Orewa Estuary gallery. She is also a member of the latter. “I am currently studying mixed media and using different mediums to start on a new chapter of my art career.”
