In Good Company- Artist as Collector

California based artist Johanna Spinks is this week's guest blogger for the Artist as Collector Series.

Amy Crehore

 oil on 1/8" plywood

7 3/4" x 10 1/4"

collection of Johanna Spinks

This painting by Amy Crehore was originally done as an illustration for an online issue of  The Magazine issue 24,  to accompany an article on female hackers written by my daughter Rosie Spinks.  Rosie had told me the challenge of writing the in depth article and what a great illustration had been done for it. 

When I saw the image online I found it charming and whimsical, and appreciated her execution and color harmony. It's Alice in Wonderland-esque in the computer age. 

I was interested in purchasing the piece and went to Amy's site to see more of her work. She is a successful artist and most of her work had been sold. I didn't know if I would able to afford her, so I was thrilled when she sold me this piece for a price I could afford.  I was also impressed by her overall professionalism. 

As a full-time artist myself, it is hard for me to look at my own art on my home walls at the end of the studio day, so I love to fill my home with other people's art. 

We were once evacuated  from our home as we live in "fire country,"  and my collection was the first thing that went in the car, after the kids and dog!

Amy's piece will be enjoyed among some great company for a long time.

Johanna Spinks is a painter living and working in Southern California. The British born artist is as much a storyteller as she is a classically trained portrait artist. In 2013 she was awarded the Mayor's Art Award, Artist in the Community, Ventura, CA.