Spotlight on the Arts: Plains sophomore Deven Johnson

For Deven Johnson, a love of art began at an early age. One of her first memories of creating art is sitting with the coloring books her mom gave her. That early interest has continued to grow into a talent for creating detailed, realistic artwork.

Johnson has been fortunate to have people throughout her life who recognized her artistic ability and encouraged her to keep developing her talents. Her aunt Cara and her art teacher Mrs. Kristen Cole continue to push her to challenge herself and grow as an artist. She has also been encouraged by others who have noticed her talent and taken the time to tell her how gifted she is.

One of Johnson's earliest accomplishments came in third grade, when she entered a contest illustrating a book and earned a gold medal. That early recognition helped show Johnson that her artistic abilities were something worth pursuing.

Today, Johnson's favorite mediums include graphite, acrylic and oil paint, with graphite being her favorite. When asked why she enjoys graphite so much, Johnson explained, "I can really make a lot of details."

That attention to detail is easy to see in her artwork. One of her favorite recent sketches is a mule deer, a subject that allowed her to focus on the realistic details she enjoys capturing. Her newest favorite piece, however, is "Woods Ducks," which she entered in the fair and received a blue ribbon for.

Johnson is not an artist who rushes through her work. She often spends much longer on her artwork than the average student, sometimes working for five hours at a time. In fact, she says she could easily spend an entire day creating art. Her inspiration doesn't necessarily arrive at a scheduled time, either. Ideas can come to her at random moments, and when she is creating, she prefers listening to hip-hop or soft rock.

If you are fortunate enough to see Johnson's artwork, you will quickly notice her love of realism. Animals are currently her favorite subjects, but she is also interested in challenging herself by learning to draw more portraits.

Although Johnson isn't sure whether she will pursue art as a career, she knows that art will always be a part of her life. She would also consider creating commissioned artwork in the future.

Her family has provided plenty of artistic inspiration. Johnson remembers seeing a dragon painting her grandmother created with acrylic paint when she was young. 

Her aunt Carla is also a creator, making unique antler lights. Creativity has clearly been a part of Johnson's life from an early age.

What drives Johnson most is knowing that she doesn't want to waste her artistic ability. She believes that everyone can learn to create, even though art can be a difficult subject to master. “It’s a hard subject to learn, but it’s worth the struggles.”

Johnson's dedication, patience, and willingness to challenge herself demonstrate that talent is only part of becoming a successful artist. Her willingness to spend hours developing an idea, learning new techniques, and pushing her abilities is what continues to make her artwork standout.

Keep creating, Deven — your artistic journey is just beginning!