Artwork and story from Johnny Moore
I’m a self-taught visionary painter who came to art the way some people come to breathwork – out of necessity, not ambition. For most of my life, I carried the quiet weight of neurodivergence and PTSD, and I discovered that creating images became the one place where my mind settled, and my nervous system softened. Painting isn’t a hobby or a side passion for me; it’s the tool that helps me stay connected to the world, and the language I use when ordinary language fails.
Art takes up a vast, living space in my life. It grounds me, heals me, and gives form to experiences that otherwise stay trapped inside my body. When I paint, I feel a sense of clarity and purpose that’s hard to find anywhere else. At the same time, being self-taught means I’ve hit the limits of what I can figure out alone. My imagination runs wild, but my hands haven’t always known how to keep up.
My biggest challenges are mastering anatomy and improving my draftsmanship. I can feel the images I want to create – they’re vivid, detailed, and full of feeling, but without strong classical foundations, I can only reach part of what I see. I want to learn how to draw with confidence and precision, to make my work more expressive by grounding it in real skill. That’s why the Drawing Academy speaks to me: it offers the kind of classical training I’ve never had access to, in a format that feels structured, compassionate, and serious about the craft.
Winning the Drawing Academy course would be a turning point. It would give me the guidance I’ve needed for years and help me grow from a self-taught painter into an artist with solid academic roots. I want to learn realism, anatomy, and classical methods so I can bring my visions to the canvas with accuracy and emotional depth. This would be more than an educational opportunity for me—it would be a chance to change the trajectory of my art and my life.
People should vote for me because art genuinely saves me. Every piece I create is the result of trying to transform pain into something meaningful, something that might resonate with someone else who feels different or overwhelmed. I’m committed, I’m learning every day, and I’m ready to take the next step in my artistic evolution. With the Drawing Academy’s training, I believe I can create work that not only helps me heal but also reaches and supports others.
