Meet Johnny Garcia | Artist / Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Johnny Garcia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Johnny, what inspires you?
At times I feel surrounded by things that inspire me. Most times, in fact. It can happen in a flash. Maybe I’ll see a random row of shops while driving past them and begin considering the unique esthetic and tone of everything within the area. The landscape, local fashion, lifestyle, architecture and so on.

Ideas begin to sprout in my head and one by one they begin to take form. Maybe I’ll start to imagine a trying certain color combination for a future painting because of the way the light from the sky played with the surrounding landscape. Or maybe, an idea for a clothing line based on the lifestyle of that particular town. I imagine fabrics, designs and colorways. “What would that brand be called?” I begin to wonder.

Then all of a sudden I have to slam on my brakes! Once again, I drifted too far off into my imagination and have to be pulled back into reality. Incidents just like this happen more often than I’d like to admit.

Being out in nature, observing, appreciating it’s vast beauty is a great way to get glide back into a flow. I allow myself to see it all, without judgement. Soon I can notice a harmonious marriage of geometrical and organic contours, and begin imagining how I might incorporate these natural patterns, into my own work. “How might I go about replicating that, using my own style?” I begin to wonder.

Music plays a major role in enhancing inspiration for me. I draw on energy, and music provides that energy. The lyrics, beats, and melodies all working together, creating visual lightshows in my mind. My body follows suit, and I feel like I can glide with ease. And when I’m really feeling it, I can visualize certain sounds and wonder how I might go about creating that idea into a visual form.

My faith also inspires me. I practice Stoicism and many of my works are based on stoic philosophy. My Memento Mori collection is all based on stoicism and the idea that we must all remember that we will die. It’s a grim idea at first, but they’re meant to celebrate life and a reminder to live fully.

I should of course mention that I’m always inspired by the work of other artists. Seeing a certain process or application can send me through the roof with new ideas. I support all artists, and am grateful when I see something that makes me stop and stare.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is an expression of my life experiences, observations, faith, and fantasies. Very abstract? Yes, but not so deep that it’s unattainable. Some of my art is symbolic and meaningful, a physical manifestation of an abstract idea or philosophy. Kind of like snapshot through a lens that can see the metaphysical. Other pieces are a stylized celebration of the human form, mainly feminine figures. They’re my unapologetic homage to the physical beauty of the human body.

I aim to create a harmonic balance using geometrical lines and organic contours. I look for ways to create a sense depth and perspective, blending rigid forms with the weightless and ethereal. Something from a dream. I think of the viewer and consider how they might feel seeing my work. As a designer, my instinct to make something that is visually appealing to a wider audience, so I developed styles that accomplish a certain visual appeal, while maintaining my message as an artist.

I’ve been a designer for over 20 years, starting off as a graphic designer for a marketing agency here in Houston. After working at a few agencies and then for a corporation, I started to do my own thing in 2020. I started learning about e-commerce and opened up some on-line shops featuring my designs on many different products.

In 2022 I started painting, using the cheapest canvases and brushes and paints, just to try out hundreds of application techniques. After practicing on several dozen cheap canvases, I landed on some interesting ways to maintain a consistent style, and created a processes that allow me to repeat and move quickly with confidence.

I don’t doddle or guess when I paint. I have to know exactly what I’m setting out to accomplish. Like a chef, I want to make a piece as quickly as I can, as well as I can. And when it’s done, it’s done. Serve it hot.

Was it easy? Absolutely not. It still isn’t. It took 3 painful years to develop my style, and I’m still learning with every painting. My business is just starting and it takes a lot of time and effort, but, I’m grateful for it all. I have a strong desire to create, and I’ve been given a gift to do so. For me this a duty that I’m happy to fulfill, wherever it may lead.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For food and drinks, I’d suggest;
Ninfa’s on Navigation
Pearl & Vine – Katy
Perry’s Steakhouse – La Centerra
Victor’s – Fulshear
Pappadeaux
Pappa’s BBQ
Churrasco’s
Capone’s
Mamasan Sushi – Memorial
Tacos Adrian – Katy
Pho Saigon

Obviously we’d hit up the art district and see the art museums.
art galleries and shops around the Heights
Golf at any golf course in the city
House of Blues
Astros game
Texans game
Rockets Game

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This is dedicated to my dudes and mentors Tony Moles and Patrick McDonough. 20 years ago they showed me the ropes of the marketing and design business, and we’ve survived many adventures together.

Website: https://www.johnnygarciaartworks.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnnygarcia.artworks

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnygarciaartworks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnnyGarcia.Artist

Image Credits
Johnny Garcia