ABOUT DOROTHY JOHNSTONE

My practice is a space in which both my alter ego may roam unapologetically and my darkest moments may be captured and relinquished, fuelled by an obsession with Pierrot, a mild God- complex and my journey with my mental health. 

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   As an artist working predominantly in self- portraiture, my work has always served as a source of exploration and self- reflection, with it now creating room for me to further understand my queerness and gender identity. 

   My work encapsulates the fluidity of life ranging from intense metaphorical and spiritual depth to the simple desire to look like a Pierrot- Harlequin hybrid.

   I was introduced to painting at a young age by my grandpa who left me with two important lessons: the first being to allow a line to have bumps and imperfections as this gives it more character, and the second and most important being to always include red as it draws the viewers’ attention - this is a rule which I incorporate both in my work and on my person.

   I paint predominantly with oils as it allows me to develop my work and ideas simultaneously.  If I wish to make changes, then chances are the paint is still malleable and I can create something new with remnants of the original idea, allowing the older ideas to guide the finished product as well as providinh 'history' beneath the surface.

   I wish to exhibit my pieces as a body of work, because while they are primarily self-serving, I would like others to view the self-reflecting journey my work brings and hope that it provides them with solace and inspiration in their own experiences.

  My work serves not only as a way for me to navigate my own difficulties but as a way to show both myself and my audience that there are lessons to be learnt from one's struggles, and that even in the darkest moments there is the potential to create and inspire.