GRIT CITY MAGAZINE HC20 FEATURE & ARTWORK
elexiajohnson.com @elexia96
elexiajohnson.com @elexia96
CAPTURING TACOMA
Grit City Magazine is a local magazine that explores the gritty tales of Tacoma, WA through print and online media since 2017. When invited to be the featured artist of their 20th issues, a flood of complex feelings emerged. The only prompt given was, "make it about Tacoma"
I've always had a love/hate relationship Tacoma. I think for many travelers like me the feelings of returning home can be....bittersweet. But, oddly nessecary.
I first did some digital sketches exploring concepts like my love of Mount Rainier and favorite skating spots. However, these did not dig deep enough. The magazine and I gravitated toward a concept that was more rugged and authenitc. Thus, the Grit City Groupie was born.
Concept Sketches Concept 1: Lady Rainier | Concept 2: Rollar Skate | Concept 3: Lucid | Concept 4: City Woman
ABOUT THE GRIT CITY GROUPIE
One of my favorite facts abut this piece is that all of her tattoos are from real people. Sierra, GCM's owner, had collected photos of locals with their Tacoma tattoos that I used for inspiration. So all tattoos featured are from local people, made by local artists.
To complete this piece, I did several practice runs digitally before creating the final 11x20 inch piece. Charcoal aptly captured the city's gritty resilience. However, the white ink helped me create some of the smaller finer details in her stretch marks and her eyes. For this piece, I even used my own body as reference for some of her form like the stretch marks. I believe this adds to the grittiness, the authenticity, and makes this artwork unique to me.
Some of my favorite tattoos on her body are the Tacoma Dome nipple and Mount Rainier ribcage tattoos. Overall, her expression conveys perseverance through hardship - resilience - and many of the bittersweet emotions I poured onto the page.
To complete this piece, I did several practice runs digitally before creating the final 11x20 inch piece. Charcoal aptly captured the city's gritty resilience. However, the white ink helped me create some of the smaller finer details in her stretch marks and her eyes. For this piece, I even used my own body as reference for some of her form like the stretch marks. I believe this adds to the grittiness, the authenticity, and makes this artwork unique to me.
Some of my favorite tattoos on her body are the Tacoma Dome nipple and Mount Rainier ribcage tattoos. Overall, her expression conveys perseverance through hardship - resilience - and many of the bittersweet emotions I poured onto the page.
The poem that accompanies her came to me in the night. With refinement, it captured my conflicted feelings about this city and the bittersweet act of coming home. Including this personal narrative marked a poignant creative moment.
CONTINUNING MY ART JOURNEY
The original is in GCM's Tacoma office. Copies are available on their site, alongside my feature article. You can purchase your own copy of Grit City's Magazine HC20 at gritcitymag.com
Having my work recognized as the featured artist was pivotal professionally and creatively. I am now officially a published artist. I aim to continue incorporating narrative art across client projects and personal explorations. Authentic perspectives resonate, even amidst doubt. There are always more gritty stories waiting to emerge through my hands.
Having my work recognized as the featured artist was pivotal professionally and creatively. I am now officially a published artist. I aim to continue incorporating narrative art across client projects and personal explorations. Authentic perspectives resonate, even amidst doubt. There are always more gritty stories waiting to emerge through my hands.
"From finely balanced graphic design to rough charcoal drawings, I haven’t yet found something that Elexia is bad at. I intend to keep looking but I don’t anticipate finding it anytime soon."
- SIERRA HARTMAN, OWNER OF GRIT CITY MAGAZINE
LET'S MAKE SOMETHING GREAT TOGETHER
Lord knows it can be tough to navigate the everchanging landscape alone. Get the support and dedication your need from an experienced designer. Get started today and contact me on my portfolio: elexiajohnson.com
