My name is John Barnes, though I usually go by Johnnie. I am an artist with a deep passion for visual and written storytelling. My art encompasses videography, editing, writing, drawing, and photography. I strive to create narratives that can either resonate on a deep level with audiences or make them laugh and forget about their troubles if only for a little while. I aim to document and interpret the world through my own creative lens, hopefully inspiring others to see the world with a fresh, transformed perspective. I believe every story has the potential to be good. With the right mindset and hands working on it, anything can be made into a compelling and engaging narrative.
I can’t really claim that I had a rough childhood. Things could have been better, sure, but the bad never seemed to affect me much. We struggled, but I never felt it. I had trouble making friends at school, but I rarely felt lonely. Instead, I was always off in my own world. Writing stories, creating characters, drawing scenes, that is what drove me. It was on my mind 24/7, which is probably why I had such a hard time in math class. In my early college career, I realized my passion for film and switch to a film major, which set me on the road to professional editing and writing that I’m on now.
My process for creation tends to be rather slapdash. I tend to throw everything into a pile and sort it out until it’s good. This allows me to consider every angle of the project, like solving a puzzle as it’s being made. This process applies to every creative craft I involve myself with. I celebrate the unpredictability and spontaneity of the approach, which keeps the result fresh and exciting every time. With this method, I find I am not only the creator but the observer.