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Cable
star candidate for big time
by
Tony Atherton, television columnist for the Ottawa Citizen.
Now
that local cable stars Tom Green and Y.B. Normal? have
gone on to greater glory (Green to MTV, and the Alymer
comedy troupe to the Comedy Network, where Y.B.'s second
season will air this summer), the hottest prospect on
Rogers Community 22 is probably Kristen Johnston.
Johnston
is the engaging host of The Decorative Painter, which
debuted this past season with seven episodes. They're
now in re-runs (you can watch one tonight at 8:30),
but another batch is planned for the fall.
A
sometime props master (she spent four years making props
for the Ottawa Senators among others), Johnston has
carved out a new niche as a master of faux-finish and
trompe d'oeil painting techniques, working on contract
to private customers.
Last
year, she became a regular visitor to Community 22's
Daytime magazine series, ad proved popular enough
to be given a shot at her own show.
Johnston
has showed viewers how to paint over old linoleum to
make it look like clay tile, how to paint walls to look
like leather, and pillars to look like marble.
"I
try to choose techniques that I think are fairly simple,
because I find that a lot of people watch these show
and say `That's a great idea, but...`"
The
show also has some quirky filigrees. Every once in a
while, for no apparent reason, the Dyjanothat Guys pop
up, two unexcitable men (Mike Connelly and John Douglas
James, Jr.) who swap bizarre tidbits of information
that a barroom know-it-all like Cheers' Cliff
Claven would sell his mother for. Viewers can learn
how much mucus a human stomach has to produce to avoid
digesting itself.
Johnston's
husband, Steve, helps with the show's writing, but Johnston
herself is the main attraction, an artist with an ease
on camera and the knowledge of a craft that, judging
from the success of Debbi Travis' Painted House
on WTN, is in demand.
Johnston,
a finalist for the best on-camera performance award
at the recent Ontario cable industry's Galaxi awards,
hasn't had much time to pursue the possibility of a
life beyond the community channel, but says she would
like to see The Decorative Painter grow. Our
bet is that she'll have a deal for a national series
before the paint dries on the second season.
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"...the
hottest prospect on Rogers community 22..."
"... our bet is that shell have a deal for a national
series before the paint dries on the second season..."
Tony Atherton,
television critic, Ottawa Citizen
so
who's Kristen Johnston?
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personal
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Kristen has been involved with art and decor her
entire life. from
faux finishes, to 3D wall art, to framing prints
and collectibles, Kristen has amassed an incredible
amount of experience.
She has a naturally engaging personality and always
manages to bring out the best in everybody.
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experience
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talent
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Kristen was a regular on Rogers'
daily television series Daytime, where
she appeared weekly to demonstrate numerous paint,
craft, and decorating techniques
host of HGTV pilot The Finished Basement:
Kristen co-hosted a pilot for HGTV called
the The Finished Basement
host
of The
Decorative Painter: Kristen was the
host of this Rogers weekly television home improvement
/ decorating / lifestyle series demonstrating
different paint techniques. *as well as hosting
this show, Kristen was responsible for scripting
and production. The
Decorative Painter saw three seasons
of production
voice
artist for a number of projects including voice
over and commercial spots
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decorative |
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The Frame Shop/Rothwell Gallery
- Kristen has 4 years as a professional picture
framer
The Ottawa Senators Hockey Club
- she worked as the props master for the Ottawa
Senators club for 5 seasons
Connolly Flooring - various
transfers onto flooring
Rogers TV- stage / set
decoration.
Sound of One Hand - re-decorating
Distortion Recording Studios
- complete decorative refurbishing
Kristen has given numerous seminars
and workshops as well as host charity fundraisers,
special events etc.
she also runs her own personal
decorative business and maintains a host of clients
(corporate
and private) requiring
consulting and coordination for their decor, paint,
space and art projects
Kristen also creates and markets
her own line of conceptual artwork
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production |
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Ottawa
Senators (1993 - 1997) - game day producer/director:
responsible for information circulating in the
building including additions/revisions to the
script locations and directions of all the entertainers
locations and directions of all the camera crew
working with talent during the game
Ottawa Rough Riders/Ottawa Loggers
(1995 -1997) - game day producer/director: responsible
for information circulating in the building including
additions/revisions to the script locations and
directions of all the entertainers locations and
directions of all the camera crew working with
talent during the game
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