"I think a lot of my stuff sucks and I think in a way that is what propels me to keep making art." - David Johnson, October 1997

               David Johnson is currently a Studio Art professor at Sweet Briar College. This past October we discussed with him his personal feelings on art in current society from an artist's point of view. When asked what he considered the definition of art to be he replied "There are as many different answers to that probably as there are artists." David believes that art is a self-referential experience and cannot fully be categorized. A firm believer in the ability for art to be all things he accepts the craft's of society to be art also, craft and art aren't distinguishable. "There is a huge amount of space that's available for different kinds of work."

               David finds the capitalistic aspect of art as a further instance of hypocrisy. He discussed the corporate art purchasing as a marketplace scene that only purchased the sturdiest piece available. He believes that "in that part of the art world the content doesn't matter to them."

               As a painter himself, David had a great deal to say about the true worth and skill of painting. With his own work he is very critical of the physical process and the visual aspect of his work. He has a great interest in the study of art history and feels that this personal intellectual pursuit has tempered the way in which he paints.

               His painting Under the Autumn Star is a large wood panel triptych that contains an array of images. Some are more prevalent than others but altogether they create a feeling of displacement in the viewer while grasping full attention and enveloping them into the art. A great deal of the female faces seen in the work are reminiscent of classic art history images throughout time. David also gouges the wood to further define the images and create a deeper sense of texture. His combination of classic imagery and modern arrangement and treatment creates a style of art all his own. It is a piece that regardless of size can capture one's full attention and challenge their preconceived notions on art.

               David believes that durability is very important in labeling something art. There is an aspect of craft involved with any medium and it is that craft that enables art to survive and enlighten future generations.

"I believe painting has been better than it is now, in general, in the past. Painting is a received tradition and if your just ignorant of what was physically done to make a painting last for 400 or 500 years than your kind of just.... to some people that means nothing, but to me it does."

Painting