PDJ004
Hello!!!
Hello, everyone. I hope everyone is safe and healthy at this time. I know COVID-19 has changed our lives in several ways, but I wanted to see how everyone adjusted to life under quarantine. What's changed, has any businesses in your area reopened, etc. I'm also curious if anyone has gone out and participated in protests related to the Black Lives Matter movement. If so, let me know how you're doing your part in combating police brutality and systemic racism.
I wanted to give an update on what's happened. I'll start off by saying that I graduated from MICA with a BA in illustration. I was supposed to graduate on May 18th, but because of COVID-19, that was postponed by over a month. The same thing happened with my senior show. Both events happened online. My senior thesis project was to create a cookbook based on my favorite comfort foods. This was a year-long project and I've had this idea in my head for about a year before I started it. It's also the reason why I made those food paintings. The links are available below for everyone to see my classmates' work.
https://www.mica.edu/events-exhibitions/the-2020-show/
Here's my thesis if you want to check it out!! I also plan to make physical copies of my cookbook, so if anyone is interested in buying one, let me know.
https://www.mica.edu/events-exhibitions/the-2020-show/student/persis-johnson/
I do have a Redbubble and Society6 account where I placed my food paintings (and other artwork) for sale. Feel free to check them out if you're interested. The links to both pages are located below.
Society6: https://society6.com/persis1993
RedBubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/pdj004/shop?asc=u&ref=account-nav-dropdown
Since I've finished school, I'm going to open commissions again. I'll only open up regular commissions this time instead of including point commissions. I'm currently job hunting, but I still want to make money through my art. If you're interested in a commission, send me a message so I can get the details.
What's Happening Right Now
I'll start off by saying I just finished my junior year at MICA. I've completed my first full year at that school and I'm excited to become a senior. That won't be until late August but I have time to wait. I'm gonna spend my free time doing a lot of cleaning, going back to the gym, and make personal work. I'm also going to work on my thesis for my senior year. I know what I want to do. I just want to work on the details right now. That way, I'll be ready to make it once my senior year starts. Because of this, it's unlikely I'll be taking any commissions from anyone right now.
I also have another reason why I won't be taking commissions this summer. I just received a summer internship. I'm gonna be working as a camp counselor at a fine arts summer camp in Michigan. I don't start until mid-June, which means I have plenty of time to prepare for that. I'm very excited and nervous about this job, but I'm sure I'll do fine.
There's something else I'd like to mention. I'm considering going to grad school after my senior year. I'm interested in becoming an art teacher for an elementary or high school. This is something I wanted to do when I was younger and it resurfaced after I took a class related to teaching art in schools. Thankfully, the school I attend has a program where I can spend one year in grad school and they'll help me find work. I haven't 100% decided if I want to do that yet (because I'm focused on getting my bachelor's degree right now), but it's something I'm interested in.
Hello Again
I'll start off by saying that I just graduated from DCAD with an Associates Degree in illustration. I'm so glad I can finally call myself a college graduate. I also won a Benevolent Award from the school, which came with a check. I didn't expect to win that award (and if you had seen my reaction, you'd believe me). I was also accepted to Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) with a couple of grants and a scholarship. I got accepted to the three schools I applied to, but I decided that's the school I'll attend in the fall. I'm gonna spend this summer preparing for that. Hopefully, I'll get a job while I'm home, but I doubt that's gonna happen.
I will open point and regular commissions again. The same rules will apply as last time. I'll take 3-4 commissions at once and I'll close them once school starts in the fall. I should let you know I probably won't get them done as quickly as I want to. One reason is because I won't be home as often as I used to be. I'll mostly be getting what I need for school, possibly working and spending time at Planet Fitness. The other reason is because I have some personal work I want to complete as well. This includes a web comic I've been working on since last semester. I'd appreciate it if you're patient with me. I will complete your commissions as soon as possible.
Updates
Anyway, just letting you know what's been happening so far. I completed my first year at DCAD and I'm almost halfway through my second year. While classes have been going on, I've also been looking at other schools to attend after graduation. I have 3 colleges I'm going to apply to. I went to a Breaking Benjamin concert about a month ago. I've wanted to see them perform for a long time and I had so much fun. I've sold a few of my paintings at a gallery at my school. Thanks to my work-study, I just received news that I'll be working too. I can finally earn money on my own while I'm in school.
I've just set up a Society6 account. I'll place a link below if you want to check out what I've uploaded so far. Also, if you have an account, feel free to follow me. I also set up a RedBubble account a while back, but I've started adding work there again. I'll put a link below and you can check out/follow me there if you want.
Society6 & RedBubble