Garden View
ILLUSTRATOR VIRGINIA JOHNSON INTRODUCES WALLPAPER INSPIRED, IN PART, BY HER OWN BACKYARD BLOOMS.
I’VE WANTED TO DO WALLPAPER for years. Having a broader surface to paint on is probably every illustrator’s dream. For the collection, I looked at flowers I had in my garden or in my house in Toronto.
I’M ALWAYS DREAMING of gardens. When I travel, I try to stay in hotels with gardens where I can sit for hours. As the wallpaper samples were being printed this past February, I was sitting in a little hotel garden in Santa Monica. Even though it was only 12 degrees, it made me so happy.
THE CABBAGE COLUMNS PRINT came out of a bouquet I received from a dear friend on my birthday. It had kale, cabbage and pale roses, and lots of celery-shaded greens. I painted it because it was so beautiful — and I can never resist ruffled edges.
EVERY PRINT STARTED as original art. First, I painted with watercolours, then the art was scanned and put into a “repeat,” which is what I’ve done for my textiles for years.
TRELLIS WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING, because I hate drawing in straight lines. I tend to just wing it and, obviously, if the lines have to meet up for the repeat between rolls, you can’t do that! This print always makes me feel like I’m outside; it’s elegant and calming.
MY FAVOURITE PRINT is Geranium because it’s quirky and happy, and it reminds me of something my grandmother would have put in her kitchen.
THERE’S NO QUESTION THAT A ROOM with wallpaper is livelier than one without. I’d love to see my papers used in rooms that reflect a garden — living rooms that overlook a garden, a bedroom with floral furniture… in other words, surrounded by like-minded friends.