A blog dedicated to

Art, Creativity, & Mental health


My creativity is tied deeply to my mental well being so it is easy for me to speak of them both in the same breath. Whether it is insight on my process, art tips for fellow creatives, or simply a mental health check in, I created this space to help others feel a little less alone in the world. Consider this a lantern in the dark.

Art & Writing, Art Tips & Advice Samantha Johnson Art & Writing, Art Tips & Advice Samantha Johnson

Iconic Literature 2 | Ligeia & Titania

A Tale of Two Paintings

In this blog post I talk about my experimentation with painting watercolors on wood using Daniel Smith's Watercolor ground. I also cover the creative process of conceptualizing these two classic literature based fantasy illustrations, and my general experience with this ‘new to me’ technique. My subjects were Edgar Allan Poe's Ligeia, and Titania, the faerie queen from William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

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The Dreaded ‘Art Block’

When Creativity Feels Like Pushing a Boulder Up a Mountain

First off, encountering creative blocks and resistance is normal. No one can create all day every day their entire life without hitting snags.

Second, that resistance is probably trying to tell you something, and if you stubbornly try to push past it or repeatedly throw yourself against that wall without taking a moment to assess your situation, you’re gonna have a bad time.

I am speaking from my own experience, of course.

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