Artist Jennings Lee Johnson talks about how he paints with coffee and how this 76-year-old got started in art.
Jennings Lee Johnson is an artist with an unusual, and interesting, medium: coffee. At the age of 76 years old, (started painting in 1998) he has been getting great results with this new type of painting.
Below is an interview with the artist on his start as an artist and how to paint with coffee.
Alina Bradford: How did you get your start in art?
Jennings Lee Johnson: A gentleman, my uncle, on my father’s side was a circus artist, painting side show banners and circus and carnival wagons. My grandmother on my mother's side was also an artist but mostly for her own amusement. I have several paintings from her teen age years, and some from her senior years.
Basically, I thought that with the background of art on both sides of the family, I should be able to do something with art. I started with a few lessons using oil. This was with a local person in Douglas, Arizona where I live. I wasn't pleased with oil as I thought it was too much trouble and decided to try watercolor. I also thought that oil was too forgiving. I am sure this statement would offend many of my artist friends.
My life had been spent in the engineering world and I was a competent draftsman and designer branching out from mechanical and electronic design to architectural design. This was a sideline that I followed for about 10 years during our Florida tenure. I also dabbled in photography selling a few pictures and found the composition I used in photography was helpful in my art. My draftsmanship was also a problem in that I always had to fight the tendency to measure and calculate every move on the paper.
AB: What kind of paper do you paint on?
JLJ: I use regular 140 lb watercolor paper. 200 lb is better.
AB: How do you prepare the paper before you paint?
JLJ: There is no preparation required.
AB: What kind of coffee do you use? Does it matter if it's decaf? Is there a difference in the texture?
JLJ: Cheap 99 cent store coffee, or decaf, or regular, but in instant form.
AB: How do you dilute the strength of the coffee?
JLJ: Just like watercolor--add water to dilute and layer for stronger values or use very heavy mixture.
AB: Is it brewed in a coffee machine, on the stove, or is it brewed at all?
JLJ: No - just add water.
AB: Do you mix the coffee with other mediums ever?
JLJ: Not other mediums, but I do treat the water and the finished art work.
AB: Can you describe the process that you use to start a painting, step-by-step?
JLJ: First, I guess that like any painting I have to have a feeling for the subject. I make a light sketch with pencil. Recently I used darker graphite pencil for texture. It seemed to work well with some subjects. The same techniques used in watercolor painting apply to the use of coffee. The only difference is the medium.
AB: How did you start painting with coffee?
JLJ: I read an article in a book suggesting I try other mediums, and other applications other than brushes.
AB: Have you won any awards?
JLJ: Only at the local county fair. My watercolors receive blue ribbons. I have not entered in the last 3 years and never with a coffee painting.
AB: Do you participate in shows of any kind?
JLJ: Not really, but I have donated some watercolors for charity auctions with some success.
AB: Do you do anything to ensure the archival quality of your work?
JLJ: Yes, but the long life of the technique has yet to be proved. It seems to work well with my present paintings.
AB: One last question, I have several people ask me...do you use cream or sugar?
JLJ: The title of my series is "Coffee Without Cream Number 1, 2, 3, etc." No sugar. If I get thirsty when painting, I just lick the paint brush.
Here are two great examples of Johnson's coffee art: Painting 1 and Painting 2.
