Artist in Focus - Johannah Muriel
Johannah Muriel is a London-based artist and printmaker. Her one-of-a-kind, mixed media studies combine gestural marks and abstract shape formations, to produce layers of colour and texture. Johannah’s prints are the result of instinctive reactions to natural references, capturing her emotional response to the world around her.
Areas of varnish and detailed hand-embroidery manifests on paper into organic forms and compositional features, encouraging the viewer to investigate each layer of the work. Johannah studied Fashion Design and currently teaches Art in the UK. Her work is regularly exhibited in West Sussex and London.
How do you know when a piece of art is finished?
This is a hard one. Sometimes I ‘over-cook’ the piece and it’ll go in the bin, or I’ll leave it for months and re-visit it later. Usually, I can just tell when a piece is finished- especially in the printing stage. I know that I can add compositional features or embellishment with embroidery rather than ‘risking’ one more layer through the press!
How has your style changed over time?
My work changes constantly. Sometimes I’ll include figurative elements, and sometimes not. Sometimes I’ll use hand-embroidery to create compositional features and sometimes, I’ll use it just for embellishment. It really just depends on how I react to the source material and what I feel the ‘piece needs’.
What piece of advice have you been given that has stayed with you?
‘Just get on with it’. There was definitely a time where I was afraid to show anyone my work. But then I got over it, and when people started buying and exhibiting my art, it gave me the confidence to carry on. It’s always lovely when people are complimentary and genuinely excited by your work- it’ll never not give me a boost.
What has been a defining moment of your creative career?
A few years ago, I started entering work into the Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair open call. My submissions were accepted, and I remember, on the night of the private view, I went into the fair, expecting to find my pieces in the deepest back corner, but there they were, hung in the first booth next to Peter Blake and Tracey Emin. Totally bonkers! Since then, I have spoken as part of their ‘Women in Print’ series, featured in an online GQ article and had work shortlisted for a big art prize. The support from Woolwich has been invaluable.