Chatting with Johanna Parker
Chatting with Johanna Parker
Stunning, whimsical and incredible are all fitting descriptions of Johanna Parker's Halloween folk art. Find out more about the lady behind the art, a contemporary folk artist who has been featured in over 20 national magazines over the past few years and is well-known among collectors for her whimsical characters.
Johanna's work is all one-of-a-kind characters from paper mache. Every piece is created from scratch, hand-sculpted and painted, each developing their own personality as it comes to life.
Embellishments include hand-sculpted collars or sewn accessories made from vintage crepe paper. She also is known to use wire appendages to serve as wings, whiskers and arms, all hand-formed. All the characters are signed and often given a special name.
Johanna related that her passion for illustration lends itself well to the handmade paper hats she often applies for that signature, Johanna Parker look. She started using the highly detailed paper hats in 2003.
Shown above:
Sir Hootsalot (he's wearing one an illustrated paper party hats) approx. 10" tall
Sold for $625
Next >> Starting Out Young
Starting Out Young
When asked when she started selling her art work, Johanna Parker answered:
"I actually started selling my artwork when I was 12 years old. My mother, Kathy Parker who is also a folk artist, encouraged me to make and sell my creations alongside her at various arts and crafts events. The thrill of seeing someone find joy in my art left a positive impression on me. So, after a 6+ year career out of art school as a TV News Art Director at Denver's NBC affiliate, I found myself yearning for the tactile arts once again."
"My first high-end professional venue was exhibiting at the Gallery of American Craftsmen in Pennsylvania back in February of 2004. Although I was naive and new to the industry, the experience was a kick start to bigger and better things, and I found myself inspired to continue down this creative path."
Shown above:
2 original Bat candy containers
"Screeching Batrina" on the left ~ approx. 9" tall ~ Sold for $595
Smaller bat candy egg cup on the right ~ approx. 4.5" tall ~ Sold for $385
Next >> Where to Buy
Where to Buy Johanna's Folk Art
After her first collector show Johanna learned she didn't want to do limited editions and today all her original art is one-of-a-kind.
Johanna exhibits at a handful of art shows including the Ghoultide Gathering, Denver's Halloween Trunk Show, Denver's Gifts for Yule and her own Holiday Open House. She always suggests to those interested in her art to join her email list for occasional updates.
Johanna also does occasional web sales hosted on her website which are announced via the email list.
And she also tries to list one original a month on eBay, as well as a Collector's "Catch" series when she spontaneously posts an original piece up for adoption on her website She said it's always fun to see just who will "catch" it and how long it takes for the piece to be discovered.
Johanna is a busy lady, but will also, when time permits, offer a Halloween original on the EHAG Emporium during their last day of the month updates.
See contact page for email, websites and blog links.
NOTE: If you love the look of her art, but want more affordable pieces, look for her licensed pieces through Primitives by Kathy and Bethany Lowe Designs. (Johanna does the designs, but the pieces are commercially produced.) Both companies carry a fun variety of her seasonal goods with a focus on Halloween. They also offer collectible product lines for Christmas, Easter and a few patriotic and Valentines items.
Shown above: "Smilin' Simon"
A unique collectible from the new series of Rhyme Time Originals, exclusive to eBay
(a one of kind sculpture with an accompanying poem)
8.5" tall
Sold for $890 on eBay
Next >> Johanna's Inspirations
Johanna's Inspirations
From Johanna:
With a birthday on October 31st, I am constantly inspired by the nostalgia and happy spirit of Halloween. I truly love this holiday as the imagination is free to run wild, and there are no limits and no judgments. Beyond Halloween, the flowing lines and style of the Art Deco era greatly interest me and inspire much of the pattern work when I paint my folk art design my illustrations.
Shown above:
October 31st Bulldog Candy egg cup
approx.
5" tall
Sold for $395
Next >> Most Challenging Pieces
Johanna's Challenging Designs
Johanna was asked about her most challenging designs.
"This is very difficult to answer as each piece I create tends to be a highly detailed and consuming process from start to finish. Generally, my candy egg cup and kettle cup characters are a challenge in that they are smaller items and so my focus needs to be more acute. However, I must admit, the Base Chamber Vase series that I started in 2009 has been a challenge to perfect as they have 2 compartments for storing or stashing goodies and beyond.
Trying to create that secret bottom chamber was a challenge that my husband JP d'Andrimont helped me to master! These pieces are currently the tallest of what I make, again creating a challenge to paint a bold and pleasing design.
Shown above:
Series of Halloween Kettle cups
approx. 4" tall
approx. $400 each
Next >> Halloween Fire Place Screen
The Halloween Fireplace Screen
When I asked Johanna what she might be most proud of, she said the Halloween firescreen!
This piece was created by Johanna and her husband for a Better Homes & Gardens Tricks and Treats photoshoot in 2007.
The house was all decorated for Halloween, but they wanted something that would really draw readers in and knock their socks off. "And in the end, I wanted to actually keep it for myself!"
The two of them designed and built the large, decorated fire screen.
The frame was milled and assembled by her woodworking husband and the patterns from her imagination were sculpted from paper mache, sanded and painted in warm and pleasing hues for Halloween.
Shown above is their cat Jack and priceless fire screen.
Across the mantel, the 2 tall vases are Johanna's Halloween reproductions offered through Bethany Lowe Designs.
The standing owl, owl bust and black cat kettle cup are originals and the horns are vintage novelties that they also collect.
Next >> New on the Horizon
Our 1939 cottage-style house is getting a facelift from the basement level on up! So, this includes expanding my studio workspace which will hopefully enhance my productivity and allow me to create more efficiently! It may take my husband and myself a few more years to get the house in order and the way we envision it, but we foresee more folk art events hosted here at home. A Halloween folk art event on the premises is always in the back of my mind.
So, once the grounds are in order and the flow feels just right, perhaps we will give that a try!
Shown above:
Series of Base Chamber Vases
approx. 13" tall
Prices range from $750 - $950 each
Back to Start >> Contact Information and Websites
Want to buy a piece, subscribe to Johanna Parker's email news or follow her blog? The following contact links are just what you need!
Back to Start >> Chatting with Johanna
Stunning, whimsical and incredible are all fitting descriptions of Johanna Parker's Halloween folk art. Find out more about the lady behind the art, a contemporary folk artist who has been featured in over 20 national magazines over the past few years and is well-known among collectors for her whimsical characters.
Johanna's work is all one-of-a-kind characters from paper mache. Every piece is created from scratch, hand-sculpted and painted, each developing their own personality as it comes to life.
Embellishments include hand-sculpted collars or sewn accessories made from vintage crepe paper. She also is known to use wire appendages to serve as wings, whiskers and arms, all hand-formed. All the characters are signed and often given a special name.
Johanna related that her passion for illustration lends itself well to the handmade paper hats she often applies for that signature, Johanna Parker look. She started using the highly detailed paper hats in 2003.
Shown above:
Sir Hootsalot (he's wearing one an illustrated paper party hats) approx. 10" tall
Sold for $625
Next >> Starting Out Young
Starting Out Young
When asked when she started selling her art work, Johanna Parker answered:
"I actually started selling my artwork when I was 12 years old. My mother, Kathy Parker who is also a folk artist, encouraged me to make and sell my creations alongside her at various arts and crafts events. The thrill of seeing someone find joy in my art left a positive impression on me. So, after a 6+ year career out of art school as a TV News Art Director at Denver's NBC affiliate, I found myself yearning for the tactile arts once again."
"My first high-end professional venue was exhibiting at the Gallery of American Craftsmen in Pennsylvania back in February of 2004. Although I was naive and new to the industry, the experience was a kick start to bigger and better things, and I found myself inspired to continue down this creative path."
Shown above:
2 original Bat candy containers
"Screeching Batrina" on the left ~ approx. 9" tall ~ Sold for $595
Smaller bat candy egg cup on the right ~ approx. 4.5" tall ~ Sold for $385
Next >> Where to Buy
Where to Buy Johanna's Folk Art
After her first collector show Johanna learned she didn't want to do limited editions and today all her original art is one-of-a-kind.
Johanna exhibits at a handful of art shows including the Ghoultide Gathering, Denver's Halloween Trunk Show, Denver's Gifts for Yule and her own Holiday Open House. She always suggests to those interested in her art to join her email list for occasional updates.
Johanna also does occasional web sales hosted on her website which are announced via the email list.
And she also tries to list one original a month on eBay, as well as a Collector's "Catch" series when she spontaneously posts an original piece up for adoption on her website She said it's always fun to see just who will "catch" it and how long it takes for the piece to be discovered.
Johanna is a busy lady, but will also, when time permits, offer a Halloween original on the EHAG Emporium during their last day of the month updates.
See contact page for email, websites and blog links.
NOTE: If you love the look of her art, but want more affordable pieces, look for her licensed pieces through Primitives by Kathy and Bethany Lowe Designs. (Johanna does the designs, but the pieces are commercially produced.) Both companies carry a fun variety of her seasonal goods with a focus on Halloween. They also offer collectible product lines for Christmas, Easter and a few patriotic and Valentines items.
Shown above: "Smilin' Simon"
A unique collectible from the new series of Rhyme Time Originals, exclusive to eBay
(a one of kind sculpture with an accompanying poem)
8.5" tall
Sold for $890 on eBay
Next >> Johanna's Inspirations
Johanna's Inspirations
From Johanna:
With a birthday on October 31st, I am constantly inspired by the nostalgia and happy spirit of Halloween. I truly love this holiday as the imagination is free to run wild, and there are no limits and no judgments. Beyond Halloween, the flowing lines and style of the Art Deco era greatly interest me and inspire much of the pattern work when I paint my folk art design my illustrations.
Shown above:
October 31st Bulldog Candy egg cup
approx.
5" tall
Sold for $395
Next >> Most Challenging Pieces
Johanna's Challenging Designs
Johanna was asked about her most challenging designs.
"This is very difficult to answer as each piece I create tends to be a highly detailed and consuming process from start to finish. Generally, my candy egg cup and kettle cup characters are a challenge in that they are smaller items and so my focus needs to be more acute. However, I must admit, the Base Chamber Vase series that I started in 2009 has been a challenge to perfect as they have 2 compartments for storing or stashing goodies and beyond.
Trying to create that secret bottom chamber was a challenge that my husband JP d'Andrimont helped me to master! These pieces are currently the tallest of what I make, again creating a challenge to paint a bold and pleasing design.
Shown above:
Series of Halloween Kettle cups
approx. 4" tall
approx. $400 each
Next >> Halloween Fire Place Screen
The Halloween Fireplace Screen
When I asked Johanna what she might be most proud of, she said the Halloween firescreen!
This piece was created by Johanna and her husband for a Better Homes & Gardens Tricks and Treats photoshoot in 2007.
The house was all decorated for Halloween, but they wanted something that would really draw readers in and knock their socks off. "And in the end, I wanted to actually keep it for myself!"
The two of them designed and built the large, decorated fire screen.
The frame was milled and assembled by her woodworking husband and the patterns from her imagination were sculpted from paper mache, sanded and painted in warm and pleasing hues for Halloween.
Shown above is their cat Jack and priceless fire screen.
Across the mantel, the 2 tall vases are Johanna's Halloween reproductions offered through Bethany Lowe Designs.
The standing owl, owl bust and black cat kettle cup are originals and the horns are vintage novelties that they also collect.
Next >> New on the Horizon
Our 1939 cottage-style house is getting a facelift from the basement level on up! So, this includes expanding my studio workspace which will hopefully enhance my productivity and allow me to create more efficiently! It may take my husband and myself a few more years to get the house in order and the way we envision it, but we foresee more folk art events hosted here at home. A Halloween folk art event on the premises is always in the back of my mind.
So, once the grounds are in order and the flow feels just right, perhaps we will give that a try!
Shown above:
Series of Base Chamber Vases
approx. 13" tall
Prices range from $750 - $950 each
Back to Start >> Contact Information and Websites
Want to buy a piece, subscribe to Johanna Parker's email news or follow her blog? The following contact links are just what you need!
- Johanna Parker Design website
- Follow her Blog
- EHAG Emporium
- Facebook Page
- Follow on Twitter
- Email List -- email Johanna at: johanna @ johannaparkerdesign.com (without spaces!)
Back to Start >> Chatting with Johanna
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