Creative Blast Off

Greetings fam, welcome to the first installment of Clint D Johnson's Creative to the Core Blog and Digital Journal where we explore art and more. The Allow me to introduce myself (read this like a late 80's rapper) "I'm the C to the to L to the I-N-T, God infused a real creative gene in me, from comics to music and poetry, a talent so valiant is my key." Our focus at CTTC is the pursuit, exploration, and interaction of the realm of creative endeavors. Let me give a special shout-out to Black Business advocate Crystal Mitchell and Digital marketing guru Armand Santos over at the Urban League Los Angeles's Digital Marketing class for assigning this blog project. This dynamic duo is providing the instruction and inspiration to actually start our blogging, You-tubing, IGing, DMing, and streaming, in addition to some other cool stuff to bring a brother into the 21st-century marketing and communications.

​For those who don't know I'm probably best known in the Los Angeles area as CDJ for illustrations, logo designs and book covers designs. We will definitely visit client-driven projects here. As I think back over my creative journey, way back in the day go I used to work as  the cartoonist for Holman's Black Achievers. The newspaper captured work featuring African-American leaders. This was back in the late 80s early 90s. Over the last almost two-plus decades, I'm primarily known for being the creator of the Faith Walker comic book/ strip character in which I write and draw most of the content and have had the pleasure of publishing over the years. Faith Walker is Christ-centered superhero type in a sin-ridden city. He and his gifted team of agents encounter transgression themed terrors and combat darkness all the while shouting “for the kingdom!” I have been fortunate to assist others in bringing their creative character driven concepts to printed page over the years. 

  

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​My latest dabble in the realm of comics and cartoons is “Sonny and Raynae,” a strip that loosely based on the antics and adventures of my younger sister and I. People say write what you know or write what you love, this is both. The episodes are based on childhood activity from pillow fights to cleaning up the house at the last minute before my mom arrived home from a hard day's work. The Sonny and Raynae comic strip currently appears in the American Dream News published by LA's own Dr. George Hooks. Hold on for the ride, I'm excited about the possibilities of that relationship. 

Creatively speaking, February has been a really focused month; motivated by the energy of Black History Month, I began to draw images inspired by figures rooted in black experience. So far I've found a little time to crack open my sketchbook and render a few of my real life heroes.
  "So far I've found a little time to crack open my sketchbook and render a few of my real life heroes."
This project is so significant that I'm certain it will go far beyond the month of February. Moving forward my goal is to spotlight colorful creatives and their works from actors to animators, painters to poets and other talented types. I hope that you are feeling my first post. Please help me build this blog. I will select five random people to draw as superheroes who subscribe to my blog- simply join and share right now! So until we meet again, be thankful, grateful, tell a friend and  stay creative to the core.  
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Please help me build this blog. I will select five random people to draw as superheroes who subscribe to my blog- simply join and share right now!

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