Local artist completes mural for Island Bikeworks
St. James City resident and local artist Ashley Johnson has lived on Pine Island since she and her husband sold everything, bought a motor home and moved here to be near his parents shortly after Hurricane Ian. Although coming here was supposed to have been temporary, they have decided to stay. Johnson, who was asked to do a mural on the wall of Island Bikeworks at its new location, said she has been into art for the whole of her life.
“My mother’s an artist, and I grew up with a family friend who was a mural artist. I entered the graphic design world where I was self-taught,” Johnson said.
While growing up, Johnson said artistic expression was always a creative outlet for her. Although she admits the drawing medium is not one of her gifts, she said she always liked to doodle and was often found drawing on the walls, or somewhere she should not be drawing. Shortly after taking a job at Tarpon Lodge, Johnson said she began “playing around” on canvases and also painted her family’s shrimp buggy. It did not take long for folks to begin to ask about her availability as an artist and she soon agreed to paint the Barnhill’s freezer at Barnhill Seafood Market & More in Matlacha.
“That’s when it really kind of took off. I painted that and I painted several inside murals — it’s been just crazy. I’m so thankful — it’s humbling really,” Johnson said
Before painting the mural on the wall of Island Bikeworks, owner Judd Payne said although Johnson would have preferred a sketch of what they’d had in mind, they just told her what they’d wanted.
“We told her the elements of what we would like. We told her it would be nice to represent a bike path, we’d like some palm trees and foliage — island colors, sunset or sunrise, and we’d like a couple of bikes in there. She put together a rough sketch in photoshop and what she showed us originally was a far cry from what it is today,” Payne said, explaining how the project took off as Johnson’s natural artistic bent took control.
There were bike rims, painted in island colors, Payne explained, which were added to the mural, creating an air of realism to the illusion she created. Adding “island time” to the mural was essential since “Rolling on Island Time” happens to be the Island Bikeworks tagline.
“I think it will be a highly photographed spot on the island,” Payne said.
Painting around town has become a main focus, and has been incredible, Johnson said, admitting that she feels very blessed by the commission work as it’s come in on the island.
“Everyone has given me elements of what they’ve wanted, but they’ve also given me creative freedom. It’s definitely made a difference in how things go out on the walls,” Johnson said.
She explained the process by which she operates, saying how it is all done by freehand with no use of a projector, large drops are then placed where future elements will go and it all comes out without hesitation, she said.
“You just have to trust in the process,” Johnson said.
Coming up, Johnson said she has plans to do a mural for the Beacon of Hope.
To contact Johnson, email her at APJVISIONS@gmail.com.