These days, I regard myself as something of a ‘Self-Expressionist’ rather than a Photographer.
This has come about because of my changing interests. I still love Photography, though it does have a different meaning for me these days.
I started photographing in 1982 and very quickly, it became a major part of my life. I joined Campbelltown Camera Club in 1986 and remained a member till 2014. I was also a founding member of Southern Highlands Photographic Society and was a member there from 2004 to 2016. I still photograph, though not as much as I used to and my gear selection will change shortly, too as I look to smaller, lighter gear that suits my current purposes.
Whilst I did draw and paint as a child, I didn’t see it as a career path and occasionally, throughout my life I would have spurts of drawing though I never really considered myself any good at it.
I do remember getting interested again in the early 1990s and still have the sketches.
It wasn’t until 2010 that I took a basic Drawing course and also started to dabble in Watercolour, though that didn’t last very long and I soon started venturing into Acrylic and sometime later, Oils.
In 2008 I joined Toastmasters International which has really boosted my general confidence through participation at meetings, writing speeches, speech practice and competing in Club, Area and Division speech contests.
In 2013, I wrote my first Poem, ‘And I Know That I Will’ on a whim basically. I had been interested in Poetry ever since school and can only remember attempting to write some on a holiday once (still have them) though when I look back at them… I must have been a dreamy state that day!
I have been writing poems (which for some time I have been doing via a Fountain Pen) and then upload to this Blog.
Over the past 3-4 years, Photography seemed to be taking up less and less of my time and Oil painting was taking over.
In late 2018, I started getting interested in Watercolour again and on Australia Day, 26 January 2019 I decided to set myself a goal of doing a ‘Watercolour Sketch A Day’ and as of today, I’ve managed to do that 4 years and 63 days in a row. Along the way, I have taken up an interest in, ‘Line and Wash’ as well.
There is no specific number as a goal, it is just to do a ‘Watercolour Sketch A Day’ so that I can obtain consistent practice as I really want to improve at sketching, drawing and painting.
I have been enjoying this ‘creative journey’ immensely. If I had to sum it all up, I guess I love to ‘express my personal interpretations of the world via a brush, pigment, words or a camera.’
I wonder where this creative journey will take me next?
David Johnson
31 March 2023
Achievements:
Toastmasters International:
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Distinguished Toastmaster
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3 x 1st in Toastmasters Club & 2 x Area International Speech Contests
- Twice President of Toastmasters Clubs
- Triple Crown Educational Award
- Club Coach Leadership Award
- Leadership Excellence Award
- Served at District level
- Served as a Club Coach
Photography:
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1st S.I.E.P. (Sydney International Exhibition of Photography)
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3rd Sutherland National Exhibition of Photography
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Multiple Acceptances at National Photographic Exhibitions
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30+ 1st’s at Camera Clubs/Photographic Societies
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Photographic Judge (to National level) since 1995
Painting:
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Sold 3 Watercolour paintings
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Had a Oil painting on display at the Dragonfly Community Gallery
- A selection of my Oil paintings and Watercolour paintings were displayed at the ‘Back To Business’ networking event in Macarthur in late 2020
Poetry
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Have written over 500 Poems to date
Blogging:
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Blogging every month since 2013
Committees:
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Served on Committees of various organisations since 1986
Member of:
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Red Point Artists Association, Port Kembla https://www.facebook.com/RedPointArtistsAssociationInc
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Macarthur Art Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/202018823168017/
- Urban Sketchers Sydney See Groups
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Gledswood Toastmasters https://www.facebook.com/gledswoodtm/ ; https://www.instagram.com/gledswoodtoastmasters/
- Cactus & Succulent Society of Australia https://www.cssaustralia.org.au/
Facebook Groups
- Sketchbook Revival https://www.facebook.com/groups/SketchbookRevival
- Line and Wash in Watercolor https://www.facebook.com/groups/lineandwash
- Mastering Oil Painting Tips & Techniques https://www.facebook.com/groups/masteroilpaintingTT
- Plein Air Painters of Australia https://www.facebook.com/groups/pleinairpaintersaustralia
- Urban Sketchers Australia https://www.facebook.com/groups/uskaus
Websites that relate to me:
- https://www.flickr.com/photos/154068950@N07/
- https://www.instagram.com/communicatingcreatively/
- https://www.instagram.com/light.inspired/
Copyright 2015 https://communicatingcreatively.wordpress.com All Rights Reserved.
Communicating Creatively 
Wow! You are quite creative. I’m a writer but cannot draw, sketch or take good photographs. Haha.
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Thank you for visiting my blog, Theresa and for your very kind comment. I’m looking forward to checking out your blog and improving as a Writer.
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Very nice! Is that your beautiful painting behind the title above? Painting is a wonderful expression as is poetry. Have you ever checked out the German artist Carsten Wylen, who has the Brush Park Water Colors blog on WP, He is amazing!!
Dwight
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Dwight, Thank you! Yes, it is. No, I haven’t. Thanks for the tip. I’ll certainly check Carsten out.😎 Have a great day! David
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He is amazing!
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Just clicked ‘Follow’ on his blog. Wow! Thanks again! 🙂
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Yes, this is one I painted a few years ago. I like trying a variety of different things when I paint. Some of them work and some don’t. Glad you enjoyed it.
Yes Carsten is a WoW painter!!
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