Nadine Johnson AFCA

I Remember The Day I Decided To Take CVP!

I remember the day I sat down with my husband to talk to him about CVP. It was February 2020, a few days prior to the deadline to register. He wasn’t really enthusiastic about it and asked me what CVP would do for me? Why I felt I needed to take it, and if I did would I really be able to commit to doing the work. I had been painting pretty consistently for about 11 years then and working from home provided me with enough of a distraction and a good excuse to avoid doing the one thing I loved. 

The Things I Was Sure About!

I told my husband that I felt CVP was the one piece of the puzzle I had been missing. I was sure CVP would help me to make stronger more sophisticated work. It would help me with my process, work schedule, daily practice, the business side of art-making.

I really had no idea what CVP was but trusted Nicholas Wilton. 

What CVP Did For Me!

CVP changed everything about my art practice and who I am as an artist. I completed all 12 weeks, worked on 21 panels, finished 15 paintings, and watched all of the bonus content while living in lockdown with my family and the dog.

Not only did CVP help to create daily habits that directly influenced my work but CVP taught me so many things about making my art stronger. Nick and the CVP team have created a course that literally was so much more than I ever expected. When you listen to Nick explain as only Nick can what a garage sale is, why we need to pack a lunch while traveling through a painting all you can do is smile and laugh while learning important principles about making strong, sophisticated art. 

What Actually Happened!

CVP  was the catalyst for the success and gratitude I have for what I have accomplished since 2020. I participated in 7 exhibitions and sold 33 paintings in 2020. I am represented by a local gallery and online. I received my Signature Status with the Federation Of Canadian artists, won a number of awards with the Federation Of Canadian Artists, have been a juror in 2 exhibitions and have begun teaching. And in Dec 2022 I became one of the permanent artists at the 500 Collective in Calgary.

You likely have heard a number of artists say how life changing it is, well it’s true. This year I will be a 4 time returning alumna to CVP!!! I am just as excited to participate as I was in 2020. I always pick up some little tidbit and it’s a great refresher for me, it keeps me on my toes!

If you would like to sign up for CVP you can click on this CVP link.

If you have questions as I did about CVP I would be happy to help you with them. You can send me an email at nadine@nadinejohnson.ca or a DM through my Instagram account.

I am excited to be participating in “Limitless” Online Exhibition with the Federation of Canadian Artists. This is the Federation’s annual outreach exhibition, which awards established artists while supporting emerging ones. Featured artists compete to win cash prizes, and the Federation donates $1,000 from the submission’s fees from this call for entry to a student enrolled in a visual arts program! You can view the show from November 1st – 30th by clicking the link below.

“Limitless” Online Exhibition click here

I’ve taken a different approach with this limited palette series. Not only am I using only one or two colours but I’ve reversed my process. I built layers and then damaged or wore down the surface to create texture and design. The addition of collage and paint help to create a juxtaposition of new and old on the surface of the painting. I used paint, collage, pencil, and crayon, and then finished with cold wax.

You can enjoy the Federation Gallery’s annual exhibition from November 1st – 30th. Featured artwork image by Feral Nifty.

Fresh Start!

Do you feel this sense of excitement in January?  Starting with a clean slate allows for endless possibilities.  2021 was a successful year for me, with a lot of firsts. Creating a new and exciting body of work, as well as some amazing accomplishments, were just a few of the highlights. The trick will be how to keep up the momentum!

My-Word-Of-The-Year

“Innovative” is my Word-of-the-year! Every January I start a new body of work, that will be new and creative in thinking. With the intention to carry these ideas into all areas of my studio practice, my sketchbook, my works on paper, journaling, and of course my paintings. “Innovative” is perfect for me! ⁠

What I’ve Accomplished!

Receiving my Signature Status with the Federation Of Canadian Artists was a crowning moment for me. Undeniably, being awarded my status by a jury of my peers was such an accomplishment. Earning my AFCA status allows me to teach and be a juror for the Federation Of Canadian artists, which I am pleased to say I did for the first time this fall.

Having never had an injury that directly impacted my work I was not prepared to deal with the difficulty of having a stress fracture in my foot. All through July and August and into September I was forced to work with a compression boot on my foot. Surprisingly, I made it through! Consequently, I learned a lot about myself. Being proud of what I was able to do, how much work I completed and how dedicated I was to my studio practice is exhilarating. Culminating in the launch of my new series at the Abstract’d Art Collective Art Walk in Oct. To say that the event was a success would be an understatement, we had well over 500 people attend. 

Additionally, I had set another goal for myself in 2021. Acquiring more representation by the end of the year was something I had worked towards all year. Christmas came early for me when I was notified that I had been selected as one of Singulart Online Gallery, Paris, France’s newest artists.

Shortly, how to keep up the momentum!

Keeping Up The Momentum!

My year was filled with shows, commissions, new collectors, new connections, and new representation. I’ve been asking myself over the past few days, how do I keep up the momentum? What are some things that I need to do in order to achieve the outcome I want?

Below are a few of the things that I have decided will help me achieve this!

• I am participating in a winter residency with the Artists Alliance. This is a stay-at-home residency that runs from January 3rd to March 31st.
• I will return and complete the Creative Visionary Program as an Alumni, which starts on Feb 24th and ends on May 31st.

• I will be “Innovative” in my thinking when working on a new body of work. I am coming full circle and will be working on abstract florals for the next 6 months.  This will be my biggest challenge. 

THANK YOU!

Thank you for your continued support, new connections, celebrating my successes, and to those of you who have shown an interest in or purchased artwork this year. I am grateful for all of you and wish you prosperity, health, and happiness in 2022.

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