Interview -Rao Johnny

1. Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your journey as an artist? 

My artistic journey began very early, during my pre-adolescent years. At that time, like many children, I expressed myself through drawings in school notebooks and sketchbooks. It was something private, something that remained closed inside those pages, but it already contained a very strong inner world. Over the years, I continued to live many experiences connected to art, even if mostly in a private and personal way. Art was always present in my daily life, through different forms of expression, observation, imagination, and creativity. In the last few years, thanks also to technology and the possibility of communicating with the world online, I started to put myself more seriously into the artistic field. I began to create and share my work with more intention, transforming a private passion into a more complete artistic path.

2. How did your passion for art begin during your childhood?

 During my childhood, my passion for art began in a very natural and intimate way. I did not draw constantly, but there were periods when I loved creating shapes, abstract forms, and imaginary worlds. I was also very attracted to the smell of tempera paints and watercolors. I had a dear uncle who painted, and I remember the smell of those materials in the storage room. That smell stayed with me and became connected to creativity, memory, and imagination. As a child, I did not only draw or paint. I also liked building things, inventing, imagining stories, and creating small personal worlds. Everything remained very private, but inside that private space my artistic sensitivity was already growing.

3. Which type of art do you love the most, and why does it inspire you? 

I love many forms of art, so it is difficult for me to limit myself to only one type. I do not see art only as painting, but as a wider visual language that can include different techniques, materials, photography, and even new technologies. At the same time, abstract art is probably the language that represents me the most. Through abstraction, I can express emotions, intimate feelings, love, memories, and inner states without explaining everything directly. I am inspired by art that leaves space for mystery and interpretation. Sometimes I prefer to communicate in a very abstract, almost hermetic way, because it allows the viewer to enter the work with their own sensitivity and imagination.

4. What inspires your creativity and helps you create beautiful artworks?

 My creativity is inspired by many different things: music, smells, emotions, memories, stories, and the lives of other people. I do not take inspiration only from my personal experience, because I believe art can also absorb the energy of the world around us. I am inspired by what I observe, by human situations, by atmospheres, and by everything that creates an emotional reaction inside me. Sometimes even a small detail can become the beginning of an artwork. The feminine world is also a very important source of inspiration for me. Femininity, in its beauty, mystery, strength, and sensitivity, gives me a powerful creative energy. In many of my works, there is a connection to the feminine presence and to the emotional depth that it represents.

5. What is your thought process when you start making a new artwork? 

When I start a new artwork, the process often begins in a very spontaneous way. If I am creating something material, such as a canvas or a textured piece, the idea can arrive suddenly, almost as a moment that I need to capture. Sometimes an artwork is born from something I have just seen or experienced: a conversation, an intense look, a story, or a confidence shared by another person. Listening to people is very important for me, because certain emotions and situations stay inside me and become images. I often transform these moments into artworks in a very abstract and hermetic way. The story is present, but it is not always immediately visible. It becomes hidden inside the colors, textures, marks, and atmosphere of the work.

6. What techniques or methods do you use to bring your art to life? 

I like to experiment with different techniques and materials. I use acrylics, textures, layers, paper, canvas, and sometimes even unusual tools or everyday objects to create marks, signs, and movement. For me, the gesture is very important. A tool does not always have to be traditional: anything that can leave a trace, an incision, or an emotional sign can become part of the artwork. I also work with digital art, photography, and video art. I like the idea that an artwork can live on a screen, but also be transformed into a physical piece through canvas, photographic supports, or special papers.

7. How long does it usually take for you to complete one artwork? 

It depends on the artwork. Some pieces can be created very quickly, almost in one instinctive moment. Others need more time, silence, and distance before they find their final form. Sometimes an artwork can remain unfinished or closed for a long period, even for years, and then return at the right moment. This can happen with physical works, but also with digital pieces. For me, an artwork is finished only when I feel that it has found its own answer.

8. What challenges have you faced in your art journey, and how did you overcome them?

 One of the biggest challenges was overcoming my own shyness and the fear of exposing myself as an artist. In the beginning, because I did not attend art schools or academies, I sometimes had doubts and felt almost like an outsider in the art world. Over time, some experiences and situations pushed me to enter the artistic field with more courage and with my heart, without listening too much to my insecurities. I started to share my work more openly, and the positive responses I received helped me understand that my artistic voice had value. Of course, the art world also has its difficulties, including marketing and visibility, especially in the digital era. But every experience has its own time. Today I continue my path with authenticity, and I remain open to both digital opportunities and more physical, real-life artistic events in the future.

9. What emotions or message do you want people to feel through your art?

 I do not want to force people to feel only one specific emotion through my art. For me, an artwork must remain free. Each person can feel something different: beauty, energy, mystery, confusion, rejection, or even incomprehension. All these reactions are human and natural. Of course, I hope my works can transmit positive emotions, energy, and connection. But I also believe that every viewer has the right to enter the artwork in their own way, with their own sensitivity and personal experience. For me, the artwork is a presence. It can carry a story, a language, and an emotion, but it also belongs to the people who look at it. My mission is to create works that communicate honestly and leave space for authentic feelings.

10. What advice would you give to young artists who want to follow their passion and become successful? 

I feel a little embarrassed giving advice, especially on a subject where I am still learning and fighting my own battles. Sometimes, jokingly, I think advice is made exactly to be ignored. But if I had to say something sincerely, I would tell young artists to keep going and not allow destructive criticism to stop them. People may criticize out of instinct, taste, or negativity, but this should not destroy the desire to express yourself. It is important to look ahead and follow your own path. Success may arrive, or it may take time, but the most important thing is not to stop because of other people’s opinions, insecurities, or the impostor syndrome. That kind of fear can block a person from doing anything. So my advice is: continue, protect your creativity, and do not give others the power to silence your expression.