Creative Q&A with local artist Mariah Johnson

WASILLA — Local caricature artist and hairstylist Mariah Johnson recently participated in a question and answer interview to discuss her adoration for art, the value of creativity, and her long-term goals for Art for Kids, a grassroots group she created to donate art supplies to Alaskan children in need.

Q: What are some of your long-term goals for the Art for Kids program?

“Now that I’m raising a younger generation and I’m seeing kids grow up, I really want every child in Alaska to have access to art supplies. I’m not going to stick with just one nonprofit. I’m going to donate art supplies to a lot of different organizations… I would love to keep expanding…I want to talk at local high schools and teach classes… I’m not gaining anything out of it except for knowing that I’m making a difference. I can’t adopt all the children. It’s important to me to just know that I’m doing something. I think a lot of people get really stressed out by trying to solve all the world’s problems. This is at least something I can do. I really wanted to volunteer and make an impact on the community.”

Q: When did you discover your love for art?

“Art, in general, is a great way to express yourself, and it’s a great coping mechanism. That’s what I’ve done my whole life… The first thing I remember doing is drawing on my walls like any kid does. When I was in first grade, we lived in Colorado and my parents had these friends who lived up in the mountains they had this really cool octagon-shaped house and they had art all over their walls. I walked around in circles in their house for like two hours just staring, and it was so inspirational,” she said with a laugh. “The woman who owned the house, she said, ‘Mariah? Do you like art? You could be an artist someday if you want to,’ and so I just started practicing. I think I found my love for art just by how beautiful her art was and it moved me at a really young age.”

Q: How did that develop over time?

“People asked me to do art for them all the time. I guess I always drew people. That was my thing. I really enjoyed drawing people. I just loved it… I got good at it, and in high school, I won a lot of awards. I started doing caricatures when I was 12. I made my first four dollars at the park… I thought, ‘this is what I’m doing for the rest of my life.’ I worked at Universal Studios for two years and I also went to beauty school in Orlando. So, I kept the caricature thing but I’ve also been doing hair for 10 years. Hair is another creative outlet, it’s like painting a canvas.”

Q: How long have you had a caricature booth at the Alaska State Fair and what’s that experience like?

“The first year was 2019. A hugely successful year. I did harvest fest in 2020 and last year I had my crew back in our booth. I hope to stay at the Alaska state fair for the rest of my life,” she said with a laugh.”Honestly, it is such a fun time and I am really blessed to have that opportunity. The experience at the Alaska state fair is definitely a unique one. Being a booth owner you have the hustle of getting everything ready and you’re waiting for a crowd. Once that crowd comes you’re sitting and drawing and painting for up to 12 hours, the line doesn’t stop, time just really doesn’t exist. Having the other artists in the booth is also a blast. We have so much fun together. Being around a bunch of crazy nerdy, philosophical, artist is always a great time. When we’re exhausted, our hands are sore From drawing for 10 days straight, we’re covered in paint and reality seems like a cartoon, at least we’re all in that headspace together. I love seeing repeat customers. I remember drawing kids from 3 years ago and they get bigger every year. It’s really a huge dopamine hit to show somebody their caricature. To see your subject laugh out loud and say they want to hang it up in their house or keep it forever. I love to make people feel happy.” t

Q: What value do you think creativity has to offer in a general sense?

“I think people need to create in order to feel like their purpose is being fulfilled in life... All of our ancestors made art. We need beauty in our surroundings. It gives us such a sense of pride and purpose... Art is just good for your soul.”

For more information about Art for Kids, call 907-713-6524 or visit facebook.com/artforkids.ak.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com