CREATIVE LENS: CHLOE PURPERO JOHNSON

We'd love to begin with your story, how did art first find its way into your life, and what has your creative path looked like since?

I always loved to paint. I was always drawn to anything involving creativity. For my tenth birthday my mom bought me a Winsor and Newton watercolor set and that’s when I sort of took on a new identity. I took every art class I could in middle school and high school and then went on to get a bachelors of fine art when I turned 18. 

Your illustrations have such a dreamy, childlike magic to them. What kind of feelings or memories do you hope people experience when they see your work?

I think words that I am drawn to when I think of books and movies and art and photos that I love are “honest” and “wholesome”.

I want people to feel their world holds a little more purity with my work in it. And always nostalgia. Most of my work stems from a childhood memory, and no matter how different our childhoods, there tends to be this serendipitous overlap with our lives and our memories. 

What does your creative process look like these days? Do you work in long stretches or in quiet pockets when inspiration finds you?

I work when my son naps. At least that’s when I put ink to paper. All the hours leading up to that pocket of time were used storing up inspiration and imagining things to be.

Has becoming a mother shifted how you see or approach your work? Are there themes that have taken on new meaning through that lens?

I certainly have less time to create. But I think I look forward to painting even more now because it is such a sacred practice for me. I like to be very alone when I paint. It’s a time to reset. My son’s joy and curiosity and spunk certainly inspire me! In every way!

You’ve shared glimpses of life in South Carolina, does your environment influence your creative rhythm or aesthetic choices?

Oh, absolutely! Though I am quite inspired by life here in Charleston, I am most influenced by the years of my life spent in rural settings. Certainly inspired by a slow way of life, where you work with your hands and are surrounded by nature. 

There’s a softness and simplicity in your style that feels timeless. What draws you to certain colours, textures, or silhouettes: both in your art and what you wear?

I am flattered that you used that vocabulary to describe my aesthetic. I often feel my mind is loud and chaotic but I have always been drawn to simplicity and calmness. Many of my friends since childhood have shared these qualities, my husband is this way. I like wearing simple garments. Our home is quite simple. I think because of the cacophony I have often felt, I have made a subconscious choice to surround myself with peaceful people and peaceful objects. 

What are some small rituals or moments of joy that bring you back to yourself when life feels especially full?

A cup of tea. Reading a book. Or listening to an audiobook while looking for shark teeth. Being with my husband. Folding and enjoying the smell of clean and warm laundry. 

We’re so happy to see you in our Nightie Tank and Clémentine Shorts. How have you been styling those pieces this summer?

I can’t stop reaching for the Nightie Tank. It is so comfortable and so flattering. It is also 100 degrees in Charleston this summer, and the cotton fabric offers the perfect breeze. I have been wearing it with a pair of jeans, rolled at the bottom with a pair of clogs. Chefs kiss, all I need to wear! 

What does feeling comfortable and beautiful in your clothing mean to you right now in this season of life?

I think pieces that are both flattering but comfortable. I don’t feel beautiful when I am always having to fidget with my outfit. So I tend to wear things that just fall on me and that I don’t need to adjust. Lots and lots of linens and neutrals. I try to make my outfits a little more sophisticated by wearing layered gold jewelry. 

Lastly, what’s one piece of advice you’d offer to someone hoping to create a softer, more creative life: whether through art, home, or simply slowing down?

I think that it’s attainable for anyone to make their world beautiful. It doesn’t require lots of money or even time. I do think it requires thoughtfulness. My husband and I are very thoughtful with the objects we use in our home. We don’t buy things quickly because we want them right away, but wait until we find the right piece that speaks to us. I think that makes our world feel more creative. So I think to answer your question, I would say to be intentional with the choices you make. With how you choose to spend your time and not spend your time.