ARTIST
THE
BOOK
My messy musings on my mixed media mash ups.
Things that make me tick + tick me off. AND…
I f*cked it… but I fixed it. Series.
A Note From Fi.
This is where the scraps, tangents, wrong turns and half-mad ideas come to play.
Part artist diary, part creative confessional, part “I f*cked it… but I fixed it” field notes.
Expect messy musings, upcycled experiments, thrifted things given another chance, mixed media mash-ups, and the occasional opinion about what ticks me off.
Welcome to The Artist’s Book — the place where the work gets to talk back.
INSTREAM CONVERGENCE
On the 15th August I spent a beautiful late afternoon reading poetry on the banks of the Hunter River in Maitland.
It was such an unexpected magical event with the predicted rain moving around us and the Cockatoos squawking.
This was an opportunity for me to share my poem The Flood inspired by the Macleay River where I spent my childhood.
A Wonderful Weekend
A wonderful weekend Creating with my Bestie
Some of you may have seen that I have been “pimping up” men’s jackets and creating wearable art. Well,my best friend Amanda Starr (she’s an amazing style guru – check out her website) and I have decided to take it one step further and we are creating a sustainable fashion label called Red Thread Redux (pronounced re-ducks) and yes we are getting our ducks in a row.
In the meantime, I thought I would deconstruct and recreate a jacket/vest for myself to wear to the opening of Upriver Downriver at Maitland Regional Art Gallery this Friday night 24th July.
UP RIVER DOWN RIVER
UP RIVER DOWN RIVER
Well, I delivered my work and the “Dream Team” at MRAG have been working their butts off creating the most amazing exhibition. They go above and beyond to create spaces where artwork can shine and I’m so grateful for their efforts.
BIG NEWS
BIG DREAM COME TRUE!
Wake me up … I’m dreaming…. Don’t wake me up,,, It’s a beautiful Dream……..
Back in March I got an amazing email from Maitland Regional Art Gallery inviting me to be part of Up River Down River 2026. So, of course I said YES!!!!!!!
I’ve been working hard to expand an existing body of print work called Architects of Extinction to put in the Gallery. This body of work will be an ongoing theme for some time for me exploring wildlife species extinction in Australia.
Below is a link to the exhibition information. Stay tuned for more information from me regarding this exhibition.
THE T-SHIRTS
SHOP THE DROP
A couple of years ago I entered the Newcastle T Shirt show and it was so much fun and it really got me thinking about what I could do about the problem of fast fashion and keeping textile waste out of landfill.
So I’ve started coming the op shops ( a favourite hobby) for old T-shirts that I can modify, paint, change in some way and resell through the Wunderkammer Shop on my website.
It’s so much fun.
Shop the latest drop.
MAGPIES
MARCH OF THE MAGPIES
Strutting on Sir Walter carpeted back yards
Listening for a hint of an elusive juicy worm
Swooping in loving defence of downy chicks
Patrolling Rooflines like avian soldiers
Evensong spent in orange gold light
A warbling rooftop chorus
A distinct Australian Anthem, natures minstrel choir.
Fiona Johnson
THE DRIP
F*CKED IT… FIXED IT!
A dodgy font, a spray-paint mishap, and one very opinionated jacket.
When a wearable art commission for Kirsty started going sideways, I leaned into the mess instead of fighting it. A lettering fix turned into overspray, drips, heart templates, and a whole new direction for the piece.
CUTTING CORNERS
THINGS THAT MAKE ME TICK AND TICK ME OFF.
Cutting corners on the road ticks me right off. It’s lazy, unsafe, and usually makes someone else deal with the mess. But in the studio? That’s a different story.
Sometimes a shortcut, a mistake, a wonky mark or a “well, that didn’t go to plan” moment is exactly what pushes the work somewhere better.
The Cross Hare T-shirt started as a thrifted piece with more life left in it. A second chance. A bit of attitude. A reminder that rushing doesn’t always get you there faster — and sometimes the thing you nearly ruin becomes the best bit.
