Johanna Spinks Honored at the 2012 Mayor’s Arts Awards Event


Classical Portrait Artist, Johanna Spinks, was honored as the 2012 “Artist in the Community” recipient at the Mayor’s Arts Awards event at the Ventura County Museum on November 15, 2012.

Mary Perez, Program Director, Vita Art Center and 2011 Mayor’s Arts Award recipient, introduced Johanna at the event.

Nominated by Alfred Lewis, award-winning Ventura portrait artist Johanna Spinks knows faces inside out. For years, she worked as a top Hollywood makeup artist, applying her artistry to many famous faces. After retiring from the industry, she devoted herself full-time to her love of classical portraiture, working mainly in oil on canvas. Her work, which includes still life and landscape, has won her national acclaim and juried recognition from American Art Magazine, Art Talk, Oil Painters of America and the California Art Club. In January 2010, Johanna embarked on a yearlong journey to create at least one drawing every day. This project led to her recent creation of 56 portraits of real Venturan’s from all walks of life. Painted in single, two-hour sittings with no photos, each shorthand sketch was an attempt to not only document the sitter’s life story but to expose them to the world of contemporary portraiture. From the proverbial butcher, baker and candlestick maker to the harbormaster, police chief, and homegrown movie star, each stretch appeared in the Ventura Breeze accompanied by an article detailing the sitter’s story.

Video Producer: GeorgeAlger.com

Floor Manager: Petrina Sharp

Lighting: Greg Collier

Camera/Audio: Alan Alger

Sponsor: SkyworksMarketing.com