Embracing the
artistic journey
last word
By Barbara Johansen Newman
This
is a truth I fabrics and hand-stenciled cloth created
have learned: with my original designs. As an illustrator,
an artist’s the three things that defi ne my style have
journey has neither a map nor a precise always been character, colour, and pattern.
destination. We may stop and linger at Clearly, there could be no better venue for me
points along the way, but we always keep than a tradeshow that specializes in surface
moving forward, excited by diff erent decoration, textile design, and character
materials, new applications, and the thirst licensing.
to be creative. Looking even deeper, I now see that I can
With regard to my own artistic journey, add yet another wild artistic culmination. It’s
I am back on the road again, so to speak. the theme of ‘stuff ’. In other words, the vast
My story is simple: a long time professional amount of vintage stuff I’ve collected for many
artist once again taking a fi rst step in a years: tons of antiques and collectibles, junk
new direction. In this case, I am stepping and bric-a-brac. The ‘stuff ’ was present in the
into the arena of licensing and design, dolls and puppets, it’s been present in the
preparing for my fi rst appearance at the illustration, and now, for Surtex, I’ve created
Surtex trade show in New York City. It’s an entire line of retro-inspired fabrics and
exciting and satisfying. It is also a surprising “Art isn’t about images. My love of anything from mid-century
adventure.
During the last ten years, when asked what I
validating
and before will show up in my art and design
for licensing. What could be better? I am
do for a living, my answer would be very direct:
yourself; it’s about
immersed in and drawing inspiration from all
“I write and illustrate books for children.That’s of my very favorite things. And as I try my hand
what I do, and that’s what I love.” It was always recognizing yourself.” at design and decoration, I continue to blur the
an honest and heartfelt response. No question line between my own personal environment
in my mind. Children’s books had become a and the creativity that emerges from it. For
passion and driving force for me as an artist. If an artist, it doesn’t get much better than that.
you asked me that question today, my answer Honestly, I don’t know why I didn’t make the
would be diff erent and something like this: “I’m leap into licensing and design years ago.
an artist, and for the last ten years, I have been But, then again, I do know. It wasn’t where
in love with creating books for children, to the my journey took me – until now. Serendipity?
exclusion of anything else. Now I am branching Defi nitely. Luck? Of course. Artistic purpose?
out again.” Always. Which brings me to one of my favorite
Have I had a change of heart? Not really. quotes: “I may not have gone where I intended
I still love creating books for children. But I to go, but I think I have ended up where I
am reclaiming myself as a multidimensional intended to be.” Douglas Adams.
artist once more. I have been illustrating If there is one thing I would wish for all
professionally for more than twenty-fi ve years. artists, young and old, it is that they enjoy
I’ve painted and illustrated for magazines, every aspect of their own artistic journeys,
newspapers, calendars, advertising, greeting because the route is seldom direct. Here are
cards, corporate reports, medical reports and two more quotes. The fi rst is from Henry Ward
invitations. Bookwork is a big part of my life Beecher, Proverbs from Plymouth Pulpit.“Every
as an artist, but it’s not the only part. Before I leap at all, but the next natural progression artist dips his brush into his own soul, and paints
was an illustrator, I was a puppeteer and I also for me as an artist. Looking back at years his own nature into his pictures.” And the second
created sculptures and dolls, which I exhibited of methods and materials, I see consistent is a quote of my own: “Art isn’t about validating
at shows and galleries around the country. My threads, both literally and fi guratively. As a yourself; it’s about recognizing yourself.”
love of books has been eclipsing many of the puppeteer, fi ber-artist and doll-maker I found Live the creative life. Figure out and
other forms of art I love. great pleasure in needle and thread. I enjoyed celebrate who you are as an artist. And, most
Enter Surtex, which I now see is really not a dressing my fi gures using collages of vintage of all, never be afraid to hit the road again.
Barbara Johansen Newman has been illustrating for books, magazines, newspaper, brochures and calendars
since 1982. Since 1997, she has spent 99 per cent of her time doing art for kids’ books, by choice, and with
love. Her fi rst book as both author and illustrator came out in April 2007.
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