We had the good fortune of connecting with Kandus Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kandus, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I have always longed to start my own business since I was in college. Once I graduated, I instantly got a job as a graphic artist designing T-shirts while freelancing on the side. It’s never been my dream to have a 9-5 & I realized that even more once I started working for someone. After being treated poorly & having some ideas & designs stolen, I knew it was time to follow my calling. I was working hard achieving someone else’s dream, watching them reap the benefits & I knew I had to follow my instincts. I think it is very important to listen to your gut. It was scary at first & took a lot of time & persistence, but it was honestly the best decision I’ve ever made. You never know what you’re truly capable of until you take that leap, and my god, is it beautiful!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is a combination of the world around us merged with my imagination. I love to give viewers a new look on life & a place to escape & perhaps somewhere to find themselves. My proudest moment so far was painting a mailbox for the City of Atlanta, which was installed in Woodruff Park last year, as a way to “exchange” art or to leave something behind that could make someone’s day. I try to create everyday & even document how much time I spend on art. I’m always striving to be better than I was yesterday. With the pandemic that has taken over, it has made creating a little more difficult. I found myself being less inspired but it forced me to take a step back & a break, which I didn’t realize I needed. I had time to reflect, organize, strategize, plot & create with new eyes. I’ve definitely learned to listen to my body & mind more. I hope when people see my art, it can make them smile. I love sparking emotions & making people laugh & I would hope that my art can showcase that & make viewers feel at one or at least give them a good chuckle.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Some of the best places I have found in Georgia tend to be hiking places. I highly recommend Providence Canyon, Rock City, High Falls & Tallulah George. Historic Banning Mills is also an amazing place to hike, zip line & camp! You can never go wrong with taking a stroll through Little 5 Points if you want to stay close to the city, or East Atlanta & check out some graffiti & cool bars. When it comes to food & fun things to do, plus one of my favorite experiences, are festivals that happen in Atlanta! From Dames & Dregs to Chomp & Stomp, it’s always nice to get out & see local art & experience the good vibes. Some of my go-to food places are The Vortex, Elmyr, Flatiron & of course, the amazing breweries that keep popping up! I highly suggest checking out Orpheus, Ironmonger, Reformation, Terrapin & Torched Hop Brewing Company!

Website: www.kandusjohnsonart.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kandusjohnson
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KandusJohnson13
Yelp: www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=mJaXmiYUNZFrxG5wRIb70g

Image Credits
Kandus Johnson