Ohio Baby!!!

Well, well, well.... Look who finally decided to post a blog update! ME!!!! I know its been a while but I have good reasoning so it's all good.

Yes, Yes! I was just in Youngstown, Ohio for the Revive Music & Arts Festival and I had a blast.

I honestly don't know what had me more excited; the fact that I got invited to a different state to showcase my work, or the fact that my NAME WAS ON THIS FLYER!!!! And when I tell you this was everywhere, I mean it was EVERYWHERE! I had never seen my name that big before. There were a lot bigger flyers posted around town. Goes to show you just how easily I can be impressed right?! lol The people of Youngstown were so warm and welcoming. It was such an amazing vibe. Great music, awesome entertainment, food, you name it. It was one of those experiences that I will honestly never forget.

The entire Ohio experience made me look at myself and my accomplishments, completely different. Coolest thing that happened to me, happened in Wal-Mart believe it or not. I'm in the store, shopping around getting prepared for the event, and I notice this girl keeps popping up in every section that I'm in. I don't want to make it obvious that I'm aware of her being there, but I don't want to let down my guard either lol. So I'm shopping and she low-key snapped my photo lol. I have no idea who she is, but she clearly recognized me so that was pretty cool to me. I also got invited to come back and showcase in a gallery downtown!!!                                                                          WHAT?!?!?! 

YOUNGSTOWN ARE YOU TRYING TO KIDNAP ME?! ( If you are, I'll come along willingly :D )

If given the opportunity to come back and showcase again, I would do it in a heartbeat. The art scene in Ohio is absolutely beautiful from what I've seen. Downtown is gorgeous. The people are fantastic.

So if you're reading this and you're the one who snapped my photo... I seen you girl ;) lol. And just know that you made my day so thank you very much. I had an amazing time. Thank you to everyone who showed so much love to myself and my art. I WILL be back <3

Character Development

Okay folks: 
So do you remember when I posted the Twin Pic and asked "Who is #KiyoshiYuuko?" 

Well for the ones who were paying attention, you might recall me saying that I had something big coming up. I've been working on my comic for a while now, and I've finally decided to release some background info on some of the main characters. All of this is copyright #KareemahJohnsonArt so I'm not worried about people trying to steal my ideas; lest they want to take the chance of having a lawsuit on their hands.

Anyways... Here it is. Please check it out, let me know what you all think. COMMENTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT WITH THIS SO PLEASE HELP ME OUT 

Kiyoshi Yuuko©

An Original Story Created by Kareemah Johnson

Character development:

1.Kiyoshi Yuuko:


Daughter to Takashi and maka yuuko, kiyoshi was the second and last born to her parents. she grew up leading a very privileged life. her father being a general in the army and a very prominent leader in her village, and her mother being a well-known and sought after geisha. Though she was raised to be a geisha, like her mother, she was also taught the way of the warrior. Trained by her father as well as some of the greatest soldiers in his army, including her brother, lu. Kiyoshi witnesses the death of her parents at the age of 9 and grows up vowing to seek revenge. her entire life becomes consumed with the obsession of finding and killing yuji kizaki, her father's once trusted friend and close advisor. she also is seeking her lost brother, lu yuuko.

2. Takashi Yuuko:


Father to kiyoshi and lu, husband to maka, takashi was the general of one of the greatest and most powerful armies in all of northern japan. a feared man, yet greatly respected by the people in his land. takashi also acted as the mayor of his village. under the threat of another army coming from the east, takashi sets up troops to guard the village, only to fall to his death at the hands of his once trusted friend, yuji kizaki.

3. Maka Yuuko:


A very beautiful woman in her mid forties, maka was one of the most well known geishas in all of northern japan. with the voice of an angel and talent beyond belief, maka had a great reputation and was highly admired in her village. she was a loving mother and a devoted wife. she raised her daughter to be very delicate and often took kiyoshi to the geisha house where she was being trained along with her best friend Tsubaki. maka was tragically slain alongside her husband during the battle against yuji kizaki and his army.

4. Lu Yuuko:


Eldest and only son to takashi and maka, lu was a very stern and strong young man. he began training at the early age of 5. his father put him through daily rigorous exercises and mental training. he is a master swordsman and honorable soldier. at the age of 17, lu was the highest ranked soldier in his father's army. during the battle against yuji kizaki, lu is kidnapped and held prisoner in yuji kizaki's camp where he is beaten and tortured repeatedly.
5.Tsubaki:


Love interest to lu, tsubaki is kiyoshi's best friend. they grew up together in kiyoshi's palace, where tsubaki was the daughter to one of the family's loyal servants and gardener. tsubaki was taken under the wing of maka, and trained to be a geisha along with kiyoshi, who is six years her junior. a very timid child, tsubaki has an internal strength that is the glue which helps to hold kiyoshi's sanity together even through the worst of times.
6. Yuji kizaki:


Former best friend and sworn enemy to takashi yuuko, yuji kizaki is the most feared army general in the east. once serving in the same army as takashi when they were younger, yuji's jealousy began when takashi was promoted to general and given a mayoral position in the village. takashi was given, fortune, fame, high levels of respect, and most of all... fear from other armies. everything that yuji wanted. vowing to never again live in the shadows of his best friend, yuji fled to the east, where he made a name for himself as an evil viscious man with an incredible mean streak. after killing takashi and maka... and kidnapping their only son, holding him prisoner, yuji becomes the new mayor of the village and general of a bigger army (taking over takashi's men). starting his tyranical reign for the next 7 years, yuji has no idea that his time is about to come to an end...

Who Am I Becoming?

It's a very deep question. Not just one that I'm asking myself, but one that I'm encouraging everyone of you to ask as well. Yes YOU! If you're reading this blog entry today, I want this message to be specifically for YOU. Doesn't matter where you are, what time of day or night it is, I want you to read this as if I'm talking to you. What are you becoming?

Last night was very eye opening for me. After I posted my Tiger Lily blog, the response that I got from it was enormous in comparison to my other blogs. Likes, actual feedback, shares, people reaching out to me, you name it. I was so thankful and humbled that what I wrote, was being taken seriously. It even made a few of my supporters laugh. I loved that. It is, after all, the GREATEST medicine known to man. So after writing the blog, I began the drawing process of my depiction of Tiger Lily. Have you ever worked on something and ended up shocking yourself?! That's sort of what happened to me last night.

Don't get me wrong, I've always known that I had it in me to create something really good. What I didn't know, was how organic and freeing working on something just for me would feel like. I hadn't done it in quite some time. There was no time restriction, no consultation needed to make changes here or there, didn't need to change the design because it was exactly how I saw it in my head. It felt great. So I posted progress photos of what I was doing. The feedback and response that I got was amazing. For so long now, I've been saying, I just want some feedback. ANY kind. I just want to know how people are receiving this image. Then I started to get wrapped up and consumed by that. I was starting to become an artist that only worried about how others viewed my work and not necessarily how I saw it myself.

So last night, I asked myself, "What am I becoming?"....

Then it hit me. Like a lightening bolt....It stung a little, but it woke me up. I realized, that I'm becoming the kind of artist that I always dreamed I would grow up to be. I created something that made ME happy. I was able to reach others in the process. Humbled and extremely thankful, I'm becoming... me! A better version of myself. This drawing was just the thing to get me started. I still have a long way to go. I'm growing up in art. Last night was like my rebirth of self. I cant wait to see what's next for me, and what's next for you. Don't be afraid to dream and don't be afraid to discover who you are.


Keep Creating,
<3 Karii J.

Finally...Something For Me!!

      I've been one busy person lately. Working with incredible local artists, meeting other artists from out of my area, traveling to NYC for art showcases etc., etc. With all of that being said, I feel like I'm kinda starting to make a name for myself. With the First Friday events, I'm actually starting to get people who are coming out with the sole purpose of seeing my work. Which is always an amazing feeling. Thank you to each and every supporter, motivator, and person who sends me words of encouragement. 

     Okay so now that I have that out of the way, I'm so excited to make this announcement. For quite some time now, I've been creating artwork for the purpose of trying to sell it, or for someone else. It's been a while since I created a piece that was just for my own enjoyment. I think that now is the perfect time for me to do that. Anyone who truly knows me... knows just how much I'm a fan-girl over Disney Princesses. Especially when they're recreated by other artists and they look more....edgy, i.e. the "Disney Punk/Hipster Princesses"! If you're still not following me, I mean THIS version of Disney:

    Pretty badass right?! Well I've always wanted to tackle this one particular character. I don't feel as though she gets the credit she needs even though in the Disney film, she is CLEARLY labeled as a princess. I like to think of her as the "forgotten" princess. Who am I talking about? This lovely little flower here:

THAT'S RIGHT!!!

TIGER LILY UP IN THIS BIOTCH!!!

    Of course, I will be doing my own depiction of her. How could I not?! She is one of my favorites because she didn't get a lot of time to shine, but when she DID... OMG did she show out! Captain Hook wanna tie me up? Toss me overboard?! I ain't stressin'... I'm Tiger Lily. Better ask about me son!

    Growing up, I always imagined that's what was running through her head. I mean... look at her pic. She's calm, cool, and collected! My kinda princess. So I'm very excited to start on this project. Knowing myself the way that I do, I'm seeing a slightly older version, tattoos, face paint, definite attitude, maybe a peace pipe or two lol and a sexy edge about her. Planning on recording my process as well so you can all enjoy this project with me. Stay tuned. It's about to get NATIVE up in here!

Keep Creating,

<3 Karii J.

Making Big Moves

So much has been happening since the last time I blogged. Numerous live shows and appearances, countless contacts and new business leads. It's just been an incredible journey.

Most importantly, I was given the position as the new lead of the Quarter Yellow Studios branch in Binghamton!!!! I'm very excited about it and I can't wait to really make my mark in this city.

I'm planning events, showcasing other local artists as well as myself and trying to get my art family more involved within our community. It's going to be an amazing year. I just would like to thank everyone who has helped me and encouraged me along on this journey. I'm doing the best that I can to make big things happen not only for myself, but also for many other deserving local artists. And keep a lookout for me because I'm coming to a local art event near you!

Traveling artist movement is about to take place!

Until next time my loves,

Keep creating
<3 Karii J.