I’m Johnny Who Arts

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about where I’ve been giving my time and energy…

For a long time, I thought of myself as “the artist named Johnny.” Art became my work, my community, my identity, and a huge part of how I spent my days. But lately I’ve been slowly returning to the person I was before art became such a big part of my life.

And honestly, I’m still figuring out who that person is.

I’ve spent a lot of time asking myself, “What do I want to do after art?” But maybe that’s the wrong question. Maybe I don’t need to figure out what comes after art. Maybe I just need to figure out what I want my life to look like beyond it.

I think I’ve had it backwards. I’m not an artist who happens to have a life. I’m a regular dude, with a life, who arts.

Art is something I love, but it doesn’t need to be my entire life. I have a family that depends on me, people I love, and responsibilities that matter more than keeping up with the expectations of an online world. I want to put my time where it actually matters and do right by the people who count on me.

I want to enjoy life again. I want to spend time with my family, read a book, travel, and simply be present without feeling like everything needs to become content or another painting.

I’ll still paint. I’ll still create. I’ll still share when I can be genuine. But I’m not going to give my whole life to it anymore.

In a perfect world I hope no one relates to this. Or has to. But if it does hit close to home, I hope it helps to know you aren’t alone in it.

Maybe this isn’t about finding what comes after art.

Maybe it’s about finding “me” again.

And letting art be something “me” does.

Maybe the art evolves like “me” does.