Meet Dolores Johnson

We recently connected with Dolores Johnson and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dolores, thank you so much for making time for us today. Let’s jump right into a question so many in our community are looking for answers to – how to overcome creativity blocks, writer’s block, etc. We’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.
I naturally do not believe in forcing myself to be creative. For me, creativity should be organic. If I find myself blocked, I rearrange my art supplies, I watch YouTube videos to gain inspiration and I reach out to others who are like-minded individuals. Sometimes I host paint nights in my house where my friends prep for art shows together. We all have something to contribute. It’s give and take. I’m also prone to listening to my body. Am I blocked because I’m overwhelmed or burnt out ? If so, I have no issue walking away , taking a nap or even just going out for a while to refresh and recharge myself. Self care is super important!

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is different dependent upon which circle you recognize me from. To the Art world, I am OoohShePaintin/ Dee Johnz. To the Music world I am Skyy and Skyler J. As a multi-faceted creative things are different but quite the same in both worlds. Everything moves at a fast pace and I’ll be honest when I say sometimes I don’t think about how fast it’s moving but more so what I feel and what I learn about myself in the moment of the movement. Life is art and Art is life.

Being an artist in every sense of the word, I love to express myself through so many different forms of art. I love to express myself by what I wear and by customizing pieces such as hoodies, jackets and sneakers. OoohShePaintin’ started out of desperation to be heard. To be felt. To be seen. In a time where my words failed, as a singer/ rapper I picked up a paintbrush and painted out the sorrow carved inside of my heart after suffering a devastating loss (actually two). OoohShePaintin’ became a way of life.

The most exciting part about what I do is bringing clients ideas to life. Whether through song or painting it’s all such a beautiful and giving experience!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, I’d have to say persistence, perseverance and being teachable has afforded me valuable opportunities. If I didn’t work as hard as I do but also if I didn’t have this unwavering faith, I would have given up a long time ago. It takes a special person to give their all when there’s no return of investment right away. I immersed myself in the culture and took a few hits on the chin along the way trying to learn and teach myself how to create visuals and art with what I call staying power. My advice to anyone who is starting is to ask as many questions , find a mentor, watch as many youtube videos as you can, study your favorites and always be teachable. Remember your why. Keep likeminded individuals close to you and have an accountability partner!

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
To be honest, my number one challenge that I am currently facing is time management. As an entrepreneur no one prepares you for the challenges of working a full time 9-5 and then coming home and working even harder for yourself. Some days it feels like there aren’t enough hours in a day to achieve certain goals but I’m so determined that I challenge myself to find new ways to keep motivated. I’ve learned to rearrange my schedule, to find a job with flexible hours that can accommodate my needs as an artist/ entrepreneur while still being able to afford my lifestyle. There have been sacrifices. Sometimes, I’ll wake up at 4 am. Sometimes, I’ll go to bed at 4 am. It all just depends on the needs and deadlines of clients. But I always remember to take my time. To breathe. To remember my why and that helps me to combat the anxiety.

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