Meet Eric and Joanna Johnson | Sweetheart City Signs, Art and Graphics

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

Hi Eric and Joanna, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
We both grew up in creative families. Eric’s parents have owned a graphics studio for over 50 years and my parents operated a custom design-build firm for decades. When Eric and I met for the first time, it was in the art room at school, and when we reconnected several years later, we chatted that we should create a project together someday. It just naturally flowed as we grew closer and built a life together that we would support each other in our creative endeavors, both professionally and personally. I think because we watched our parents build businesses together based on their own gifts, it just seemed natural to us to take a chance on following our passions and pursuing our dreams from day one.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Eric grew up learning the lost art of signwriting from his dad and has honed his talent over the years through a variety of art media. Signwriting, children’s book illustration, product design, murals, logos, and commercial art are several of the forms of professional design he has done in his career. One of the biggest challenges over the years was seeing hand-designed artwork fall out of favor back in the 90’s as he was entering the workforce after college. He has always held on to his “drawn by hand” approach to design; when it seemed like everyone was flocking to their mid-nineties desktops to work out an idea, Eric never gave up on starting out with his pencil and sketchpad. It has served him well over the decades to always start by sketching his designs by hand first. Everything we do is tailor made and individualized to match the vision of our customers. I think the most important part of our story is that you can stay true to your principles if you dedicate yourself to cultivating your talent through hard work and commitment.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would definitely start with a trip to Estes Park to visit Rocky Moutain National Park, and a stroll through the village shops. For some outdoor activity a trip to the Benson Sculpture park and Devil’s Backbone would be high on my list also, or perhaps a drive up to the Mish to catch a concert. Most importantly, though, would be our wonderful town. We have made downtown Loveland our home for 22 years, and I would definitely focus my time on supporting our wonderful local breweries, shops, cafes, galleries, and venues that are the core of our community.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We would like to dedicate our Shoutout to our three children, who have brought so much joy and purpose into our lives. Our children inspired the four children’s books we have written and illustrated together, and we feel blessed to have been able to share their stories in such a creative way. As they have grown they have developed into talented creative people of their own, and we find their drive and dedication to inspire us to become better creators ourselves.

Website: https://www.sweetheartcitysigns.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetheartcitysigns/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericjohnsondraws/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetheartcitysigns/

Other: http://www.slatefallspressbooks.com/