I have a deep love of music and I’ve always wanted my imagery to connect with others in the way that my favorite songs connected with me. The connection that I’ve always worked toward is not an intellectual one but rather an emotional one.
This desire to create something that moves others has been the thread through all of my decades working as a creative. Whether producing art that would be hung in galleries, photographs, or designs for clients the driving force has always been the same, to make the viewer feel something.
The main difference between my painting and my design process is one of direction. Design is a targeted process where there is a specific emotion that I am aiming for. The specific emotion is always based on my discussions with the client. Paintings allows more space for the viewer’s individual reaction.
However, The two facets of my work are not completely walled off from each other and I will use things that I’ve discovered in my painting process in my designs and vice versa.
A quick note about technology; I am a huge fan! Technology happens, and as creatives we have two choices. We can either embrace it or rail against it and whine about how it is destroying art and the creative process. I am firmly in the embrace it camp. Historically new technologies have always been a net positive, driving art and design in new and exciting directions.
There have been several major technological revolutions in my lifetime: Powerful personal computers, the internet, the digital camera. and artificial intelligence (AI). All have affected my work profoundly.
Other Stuff
Born in Ilfracombe Devon 1960, grew up in London (Yup, I’m getting up there a bit)
I am a dual citizen UK/USA.
Moved to the US in 2002
Married writer Meg Wolfe (the Wolfe part of wolfejohnson.com)
Living and working in Valparaiso, Northwest Indiana (near Chicago)
Interview about art: Sunlight Press
My book: The Minimalist Photographer
Enjoy:
Keeping in shape, (but not a fanatic)
English humor
US TV
Just about any genre of music
Offline human interaction