In the seven years since a stroke left Jenna Johnson in a wheelchair, the Invermay creative has relied on art for emotional expression.
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A new children’s book, The Ballad of the Selkie, demonstrates Johnson’s extraordinary artistic ability.
The Ballad of the Selkie explores the plight of a Selkie, a figure from Irish mythology, who is both woman and seal.
Johnson’s narrative explores the Selkie’s confusion as she grapples with her devotion to her family and her desire to be a seal.
“For me, it has parallels with walking again,” Johnson said.
The 42-year-old wrote the tale when she was 22 years old and taking creative writing classes.
“When I wrote it, I don’t think I had much on my mind,” Johnson said.
She only illustrated the story recently, which she found cathartic.
“My art is always escapism,” she said.
“If you look at the rest of my art ... I’m very good at feeling sorry for myself,” she laughed.
Johnson created art a “fair bit” before the stroke, but “never pictured” herself being an artist professionally.
Prior to the stroke, she had been doing a social work degree. Johnson said the stroke gave her an “excuse” to be an artist, which was a positive.
“I thought the most I could do was paint some nice pictures for my wall,” she said.
She begun to embrace art, and receiving compliments around her work motivated her to continue. Art helped Johnson convey the “scared” feeling which enveloped her after the stroke, which occurred when she was 35 years old.
Johnson’s creative expression extends to the written word. She is currently working on a novel about a woman “escaping and reinventing herself after tragedy”.
“I’m fascinated with the way that people cope with tragedy,” she said.
“People cope with a lot more than I have, and I find that fascinating how they just keep on going.”
Johnson dedicated The Ballad of the Selkie to her beloved three children.
The book will be launched by Launceston artist Jonathan Bowden at 10am at Niche Market Bazaar on Saturday, December 3. Johnson will have a market stall.
The Tasmanian-made market, held between 8am and 3pm at Albert Hall, Launceston, is a St Giles venture.
It is hoped the market will raise $10,000 for the support service.
