Why buildings and Cities?
My name is Trenton Johnson, and I'd like to share a brief overview of my journey into architecture and cityscape art. The artistic side of my story is relatively straightforward. From a young age, I was always drawing—receiving pencils, sketchbooks, and classic art kits as birthday and Christmas gifts. I eagerly filled these with the whimsical doodles of an eight-year-old, and drawing remained a constant passion throughout my early years.
At 15, I became captivated by photography, believing it would be my lifelong passion. I spent countless hours shooting, often focusing on the buildings that framed my viewfinder—particularly old, abandoned farmhouses and weathered brick structures. Their intricate details fascinated me.
I pursued a college education in photography, but due to a late start and staff shortages, I found myself needing to fill a gap year. I enrolled in an introductory drawing class and a figure drawing course at the community college. To my surprise, I fell deeply in love with drawing, more than I had initially admitted. My professor, noticing potential in me that I hadn't yet recognized, encouraged me to take the classes seriously. Her support helped me realize a new passion and excel in it
My time in school was short-lived, primarily because I discovered my dislike for the commercial side of photography, which dominated the curriculum. With my academic pursuits behind me, I transitioned to working full-time, and the days began to blur together. However, at a family gathering, my passion for art was reignited when my cousin saw some of my drawings from the figure drawing class and eagerly wanted to purchase two of them. Her enthusiastic reaction sparked a renewed drive in me to create, marking the true beginning of my artistic journey.
That year, I dove into oil painting, producing around 60 pieces, and revisited charcoal drawing, filling half a sketchbook with anatomy studies and figures. One day, my lifelong friend Nick approached me with a request: he wanted me to draw Seattle’s skyline. At that time, my experience with pen work was limited to basic crosshatching exercises from school. Despite this, I took on the challenge with no particular expectations.
To my surprise, everyone who saw the drawing was impressed by how closely it resembled Seattle. This experience sparked a deep love for the meticulous process of pen and ink work. I became fascinated with creating detailed cityscapes that, upon first glance, could be mistaken for black-and-white photographs
Interested in a Commission
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