Samantha Johnson Paints Things

I'm a thirty-something watercolorist who balances the creative pursuit with a full time job, a baby, and a neurotic pomeranian (who is convinced she is also a baby). 

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Another little fairy painting.

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Something, something, actually painting something tonight.

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Ink sketches on a quiet Saturday afternoon. It feels like a lifetime since I’ve regularly picked up a sketch book… inktober #3, boots—and zero clue if I’ll do any of the rest…

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Dual Mermaids | Watercolor on paper | August, 2022

Really love how this one turned out–I’m having a lot of fun exploring adding extra detail in key areas.

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I’ve been working on a written project since late August and all I want to do is get back to overly rendered mermaid babes. I wish I could work on two creative efforts at once.

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Wandering Star | Watercolor and copper leaf on paper | October, 2022

I’ve been working on a written project, so it’s been hard to set aside the time to draw, and everything I do draw is related to the story, so yeah. 

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Migraine | March 2021

I need to revisit this one, because I didn’t execute it how I wanted! But there’s a lot that I like.

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I wish I had a scan of this, but it’s so big. There is a lot I would do differently, but this painting is about how weird I felt about becoming a mother not having a mother of my own. I don’t have anyone to pull knowledge from, you know? 

Having become a mother finally, I feel a lot less anxious about it. What the say about there not being parenting guides is nonsense. There is plenty of good, evidenced-based help out there.

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Two Jesters | March 2021

I can never do jesters the full justice I had in my head. I think it’s a theme I plan on revisiting soon though.

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Mermaid with Trident | March 2021

You can see it starting, the foundations of what will be the mermaid style, but for one thing hot press paper just wasn’t cutting it for a more detailed style, and I hadn’t figured out how much I wanted to render these.

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Comfy 2 | January 2021

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Comfy 1 | January 2021

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Slime | February 2021

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Jester | Watercolor on Paper | February 2021

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A Poke in the Eye | Watercolor on Paper | February 2021

Wow, going through the folder, I did a ton that month.

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Hearts in her Eyes | February 2021

Remember that makeup trend where people drew the tops and bottoms of hearts as their “eyeliner.” Well, this was relevant when I painted it.