Kyle Johnston — ARTIST

Kyle Johnson

Inerview with the artist Kyle Johnston —

1. Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Kyle Johnston. I live and work in Tucson, in Arizona. I am visual artist and work in mixed media, painting in acrylic, collage and assemblage.

“Thinking of Things To Show You”

2. Why art?
Art suits my thinking process and I use it to express myself in a creative and hopefully compelling matter.

Sculpture #1

3. What is your earliest memory of wanting to be an artist?
I cannot recall my earliest memory of wanting to be an artist I just always assumed that on one level or another I was an artist. I enjoyed drawing at an early age and was exposed to art in my home as a child. My grandmother was a painter and worked in pastel. I am self-taught.

“After Hour Crossroad”

4. What are your favorite subject(s) and media(s)?
As an artist I very rarely pursue a piece of work with a specific subject in mind. My paintings are abstract and like my assemblage and collage work they take on their subject as part of the creative process. I find starting a work with a specific goal or theme to be restrictive. I would not give that as advice necessarily but find it usually works best for me personally.

“Saving Grace”

“Hurdy Gurdy Doda”

5. How do you work and approach your subject?
Again, I allow the subject to reveal itself and embellish it from that point.

6. What are your favorite art work(s), artist(s)?
I take interest in all forms of art regardless of subject or media. As an artist I appreciate the workmanship and craft in the work of others. The fact that some of the work may or may not be compelling to me or aesthetically what interests me is secondary. I have always disliked what I call the short list of Art and Artists that I have been influenced by and appreciate. I think it is usually very misleading.

“Tourist Trap Four”

“Sculpture #2”

7. What are the best responses you have had to your work?
People taking interest. I guess I honestly mean that in a very general sense. It is gratifying to me that interest and enjoyment is taken from the work I produce.

“Of This Earth”

8. What do you like about your work?
That’s probably not the easiest question to bring to words. As I take on what are technically different types of work I am open to distinctly new possibilities and challenges. I have the “luxury” of changing hands so to speak and getting into a fresh body of work, going from painting to collage and so on. I generally will devote my time to a single piece of work. The issue of being focused tends to lend itself to the overall result of the work.

“Summer Penthouse”

9. What advice would you give to other artists?
Technique wise, very little. As I am self-taught I have never felt qualified to give advice to others. When and if asked directly I can only offer my personal experience. I would say that one advantage of me not being trained as an artist is that I was never told that I “could not do that” Work should always be constructed well and finished as professional as possible. Be archival. I guess the simplest advice is to enjoy what you are pursuing and do it as well and as thoughtful as possible. I have learned to give the work the time it deserves, rushing achieves little or worse.

“Myself”

10. Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
I am sixty years old as of 2016. As being optimistic and hopeful are positive I will remain as such. I will continue to work and hone what skills I have and I suspect continue to learn from my failures and ventures.

Kyle Johnson

LINKS—

 
Website: http://kylejohnston.homestead.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kyle.johnston.77?fref=ts
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/KyleJohnstonArt?ref=search_shop_redirect