We were lucky to catch up with Jeff Johnson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jeff, so great to have you on the platform. There’s so much we want to ask you, but let’s start with the topic of self-care. Do you do anything for self-care and if so, do you think it’s had a meaningful impact on your effectiveness?
Swimming in the ocean; jumping into glacier-melt alpine lakes; hiking; drinking iced coffee and writing – these activities provide me with much-needed sustenance. As a creative soul and highly sensitive person, taking care of myself is paramount. I used to not take care of myself at all, treating my body and mind like a machine. And it didn’t take long for me to break down…like a machine. Becoming ill forced me to slow down and take better care.
Acts of of self-care are actually where many of my most creative ideas come from. During my morning coffee walks, my mind is actively composing melodies and coming up with new art ideas– not because I’m trying to force those ideas, but when my mind is at ease, the ideas flow naturally. A trip to the mountains helps me create new works of art, first in my head. And when I return to the studio the ideas are primed and ready to come out on the canvas.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I create fine art and compose film scores. My paintings are bold, impressionist-style landscapes that are both modern and classic in their aesthetic. The swirling, sometimes violent brushstrokes look like a beautiful mess up close, but when you step back you see that they work to create a mosaic of color that forms a lush landscape. My work causes viewers to slow down and savor each scene that is on the canvas. Meditative and hopeful, each painting ponders the hardship and beauty of life.
I am equally detailed and fearless in the creation of my musical compositions. I’ve composed and orchestrated music for TV shows, documentaries, and marching band. My favorite part of the job is conducting the orchestra through a piece of music I’ve written.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The most important thing for me is listening to my gut intuition. The intuition is the leader in my creative process, pulling on the knowledge and skills I’ve accumulated over the years to create something new and innovative.
I’ve found it to be essential that I enjoy something beautiful everyday, whether its going for a short hike, drinking tea, having a meal with a friend, or listening to music that delights me.
As a sensitive person, the place where I live has a huge impact on my overall health. That means that I shut down in loud, polluted places. I do my best to live and work in peaceful parts of the city.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I give up. What I mean is that sometimes I have to remove myself from an overwhelming situation and go somewhere else or talk to a friend or family member who I know cares for me. Or I go eat some ice cream, drink iced coffee, or take an ice bath….anything with ice. I’m drinking iced tea right now as I write this.
I’ve worked enough stressful jobs in my life where bosses yelled and created overwhelming situations out of thin air. I used to put up with that sort of behavior and work through it even though it overwhelmed me. Now I just quit or leave, because I don’t deserve to be treated like that. It took a while for me to learn which stressful situations are legitimate and can be worked through and which situations I should just walk away from. Most the time I’ve found that things don’t have to be as stressful as they are made out to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://artbyjeffco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artbyjeffco/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@artbyjeffco
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/jeffreypennjohnson
- Other: https://musicbyjeffco.com
Image Credits
Ak & Jeff Johnson
