Doug Johnson - Photographer

Doug Johnson

Doug Johnson

Minneapolis, MN

email: dougj72001 at yahoo.com

website: www.mnartists.org/Doug_Johnson

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002267093933

Twitter: none

Etsy page: none

Bio:

Born Green Bay, Wisconsin.  Moved to Minnesota at age 11. BA in Studio Art, Southwest Minnesota State University.  As a young man I was a painting student influenced and inspired by New York School painters such as Robert Motherwell, Mark Rothko, Franz Kline, Helen Frankenthaler.  Later I completed a second major in English lit. and creative writing, shifting my emphasis to poetry.  Have made my living in the commercial printing industry.  Spent 25 years publishing poems in little mags, chapbooks, etc.  At age 50 I turned back to visual art, first doing drawings and mixed media pieces on paper, then discovering the joys of digital photography.

Tell me about your work? What are you currently working on? How is this different from past projects?

I think the best way to describe my work is to include here, in full, my 2014 Artist’s Statement:

BORDER INCIDENTS

I harbor a deep mistrust of Artist's Statements.  At best, they tend to prejudice or otherwise interfere with a viewer's response to the work.  At worst, they are misleading, exaggerated, pompous, confusing, etc.  The less dangerous among them take on the characteristics of a powerful sleeping pill.

That said, I believe such a statement can be of value if approached with caution by both writer and reader.  Ideally the art will be viewed first, the statement looked at later as supplementary.  An artist may wish to share, as simply and honestly as possible, something of his or her intent in creating the work, reveal sources of inspiration, or say something about process and technique.  Elaborate explanation or justification tends to go bad quickly, not unlike a banana in a paper sack.  "Art" which requires explanation or justification has no legs of its own, or if it is good work, the rhetoric only gets in the way.

I enjoy the active nature of photography, the pleasures of the hunt for the image.  For me the process involves becoming open and receptive to whatever presents itself; however, one discovers through experience that certain times of day (or night) and qualities of light may be preferable, and that certain motifs tend to insist on repeated looks.

Technically, my approach to the photographic image is to emphasize the moment of exposure rather than post-processing.  I like to keep editing to a minimum.  I am drawn to the comparative serenity of the still photograph as an antidote to the barrage of high-speed graphics pelting us out of screens everywhere.

I have little patience for overtly political or sociological concerns posing as art, which seem always to give off an odor of propaganda.  And there's the danger of compromising one's work to please a specific audience, especially in the pursuit of grants or fellowships.  Here I tend to side with the late critic Hilton Kramer who felt that art was being corrupted by various forms of political correctness, dumbed down by an obsession with gender, race, sexual orientation, etc.  He insisted that true art is manifested in the aesthetic sphere, as something which "engages the eye in a significant or pleasurable visual experience."  Art speaks to us directly in its language of lightness and darkness, color, texture, form, and suggestion of movement.  It is in no way dependent on the sanitized language of the universities or government entities.  At the core of all authentic art lies a mystery which cannot be satisfactorily dissected by academics, activists, or bureaucrats.

Recently my emphasis has been on cityscapes or street scenes in which I'm fascinated with the interplay of natural and artificial light, reflections, and an abundance of often chaotic activity.  The term "border incidents" refers to the process of playfully engaging along borders between, for instance, the abstract and representational, rational and chaotic, conscious and unconscious, or interior and exterior.  Rigid structure and flowing dream-material coexist.  My intent is to uncover beauty, which in lucky moments presents itself always with a healthy dose of ambiguity.  I'm tuning in to the slippery nature of "hard" reality, discovering porous and shifting qualities that question the clarity of objects or facts.

     

How did you decide to become an artist?

I feel this is more a question of necessity than a deliberate decision.  Perhaps it was influenced by my grandfather who was a hobby painter.  When very young I was fascinated by his process and the tools involved, loved the smell of the oil paints, etc., the texture of the canvas, the look of the preliminary charcoal sketches, the allure of the many pigments in their tubes.

What was the best advice given to you as an artist?

Here I would credit my painting instructor at SMSU, Edward Evans, who taught by example with his work ethic, spending long hours day and night in the studio.  The word “talent” was almost irrelevant, it was diligence and persistence that mattered.

I would also cite a passage from the Tao Te Ching, Stephen Mitchell translation:

A good traveler has no fixed plans

And is not intent upon arriving.

A good artist lets his intuition

Lead him wherever it wants.

How do you sell your work?  How do you market yourself?

Thus far I have sold work only through word of mouth, my mn artists website and Facebook page, and a few opportunities to exhibit in local galleries.

Who are some of the Minnesota artists you enjoy?

Duane Ditty http://duaneditty.com

Donna Bruni http://donnabruniart.com/

Jack Dale http://www.jackdalefineart.com

Eleanor McGough http://www.mnartists.org/Eleanor_McGough

James Wrayge http://www.jameswrayge.com

Donna Dralle http://www.donnadralle.com

Shawn McNulty http://www.shawnmcnulty.com

Dean Hawthorne http://www.2001aspace.com/index.html

Richard Cooper http://artconsultingminneapolis.com

Howard Christopherson http://www.iceboxminnesota.com

Michael McGraw http://www.michaelmcgraw.info

Chris Faust http://chrisfaustphoto.com

Robert Roscoe www.robertroscoe.com

And many others!

If I were to follow you around to see art in Minnesota, which places would we go? What would we see?

Rosalux Gallery http://rosaluxgallery.com/

Instinct Gallery http://www.instinctmpls.com/

Circa Gallery http://www.circagallery.org/

Flow Art Space http://www.flowartspace.com/

Icebox Gallery http://www.iceboxminnesota.com/

2001 A Space http://www.2001aspace.com/index.html

And of course the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the Walker Art Center.

In addition to www.Local-Artist-Interviews.com, where do you go online for good art resources, whether to find a new artist, or to see what is going on in the art world locally and otherwise? 

Mnartists.org http://www.mnartists.org/

Walker Art Center http://www.walkerart.org/

Minneapolis Institute of Arts http://new.artsmia.org/

ArtStack https://theartstack.com/

Do you have any exhibits to promote in the near future?

Yes, I have a solo exhibit coming up at 2001 A Space, opening September 19.  Please see attached e-postcard with all the information on this show. www.2001aspace.com.

Image List:

1-Sea Change, 2013.jpg

2-35W Bridge, 2012.jpg

3-Pre-dawn Mississippi River, 2011.jpg

4-IDS 4, 2013.jpg

5-Residual, 2014.jpg

6-Wells Fargo from 7^th Street, 2012.jpg

7-Inner Space, 2014.jpg

Kristen Arden - Sculptor

Bindings Series #1

Kristen Arden

Name:  Kristen Arden  

City/State:  Minneapolis, MN

Email:  kristen@kristenardenstudio.com

Website:  www.kristenardenstudio.com

MNartist.org profile: Arden, Kristen

Facebook page:  Kristen Arden

Twitter: @kardenstudio

Bio~ 

I graduated with a BA in Painting and Drawing and spent my 20’s working in various art-related jobs, including completing a Master’s Degree in Art History with the thought I could teach and do art on the side.  When it became clear I had to choose between Art History and Art I returned to art-making after I moved out to San Francisco. I fell in love with building, sculpture, and working with metal (both casting and fabricating) while taking classes at CCAC and working.  In mid-2003 I moved to Minneapolis from San Francisco and started working out of my Northrup King Building studio.  I currently work full-time doing custom commercial and residential work and have work in corporate and private collections including with Loram, the Westin, and United Health Group.

Bindings Series #2

Tell me about your work? What are you currently working on? How is this different from past projects?

I work in series.  I come up with an idea or premise, start to work it over in my head and then work it out through sculptures, both wall and free-standing pieces.  I rework it as many times as I feel the idea or series can remain fresh.

I’ve recently begun working on some new series, and am continuing work on others. The most recent series I’ve been working on are my Architectonic Series that are installations based on architectural styles, and what I’m calling my Botanic Series, first inspired while thinking about Carl Linnaeus’ drawings and approach to the ‘natural world’.  I’ve also started thinking about symbolism, but am still working some of that out.  In both these series I’m abstracting, enlarging, and then reassembling snapshots of either a design or plant as an installation.  Both new series have a relationship to my past work, but are more sculptural in nature than my Earthworks Series, in particular.

Nothing in Progression Lies on its Original Path

How did you decide to become an artist?

I grew up drawing and spent hours looking through my Dad’s collection of art books.  I found them endlessly fascinating and still remember those books vividly.  It was pretty exciting and eye-opening to me as a kid, looking at all those paintings and thinking about the artists that created them. I think I’ve always felt compelled by art, and always wanted to create, draw, build, whatever.  I was also endlessly fascinated by my Dad’s shop and would watch him work in it.  It wasn’t til after college that I realized you could put the two together.

What was the best advice given to you as an artist? 

Probably the best piece of advice I’ve gotten was from a teacher who remarked how important taking time out while you’re working on a piece to think about what you’re doing and why is just as, if not more, important than how determined and tenacious you are in your work.  It may seem obvious but it really resonated with me.

Natural History Museum Project: Map and Boat

Many artists struggle to find ways to sell their art.  How do you sell your work?  How do you market yourself?

I found having a good website was critical for getting my work out there and found by people (www.kristenardenstudio.com).  I think it’s also important to do a lot of day-to-day things that may not seem significant but at the end of a year add up to a lot of proverbial ground covered.

Botanic Series #1

Who are some of the Minnesota artists you enjoy?

Maren Kloppmann  www.marenkloppmann.com

Eleanor McGough  www.mnartists.org/Eleanor_McGough

Jennifer Davis  www.jenniferdavisart.com

Danny Saathoff  www.dannysaathoff.com

Shannyn Joy Potter  www.shannynjoypotter.com

If I were to follow you around to see art in Minnesota, which places would we go? What would we see?

When I get the chance I love going to any of the bigger museums – the MIA (www.artsmia.org), the Walker (www.walkerart.org), and the Weisman (www.weisman.umn.edu).  The sculpture park at the Walker is always fun, as is Franconia Sculpture Park (www.franconia.org).  And of course some local galleries too when I get the opportunity to go to an opening, like Gallery 360 (www.gallery360mpls.com).

In addition to www.Local-Artist-Interviews.com, where do you go online for good art resources, whether to find a new artist, or to see what is going on in the art world locally and otherwise? 

I actually see a lot of interesting art and artists pop up through Facebook and perusing online papers like the Huffington Post. 

Architectonic Series #1

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

I have some new work up at Gallery 360 for a show featuring another artist, Natasha D’Schommer (www.natashadschommer.com), that opened in March.   I recently installed a larger-scale window installation at a business storefront in mid-March, and am working on some new pieces that I’ll show during Art A Whirl (May 17-19, 2013)  in the Northrup King Building and then move to a gallery. In addition I have some commission work I’m working on, and continue thinking about where I want to go with my work next.

Kristen Arden

Layl McDill - Mixed Media

Blue Bird Reveal's Spring, 

Colored pencil, acrylic, polymer clay, 14"x14"x2", 2012

Layl McDill

Name: Layl McDill
City/State: Minneapolis, MN
Email: layl@claysquared.com
Website: www.claysquared.com
MNartist.org profile: http://mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=232908
Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Layl-McDill/51305441418
Twitter: @  https://twitter.com/#!/LaylM
Etsy Page: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Laylmcdill

Bio~ 

Layl McDill grew up in Gillette, Wyoming where she began creating things at a very young age. She majored in illustration in art school at the Columbus College of Art and Design with plans to write and illustrate children’s books. Layl did illustrate three books for a small publishing company in Columbus, Ohio but the restraints of working on a flat surface were too frustrating.  When Layl found success selling her art at arts festivals even when she was still in art school she began to realize conventional illustration was not her real love.  Now she works primarily in polymer clay  creating series of work that tell stories about whimsical worlds including animals, women, bugs, flowers and whatever else pops into her imagination.  She is a master of the millefiore technique where she creates tiny pictures in the clay which cover all of her creations.  Layl lives and creates in NE Minneapolis with her two daughters and husband.  In 1999 she and her husband, Josh Blanc, opened their studio/showroom Clay Squared to Infinity in North East Minneapolis.  Here she sells her work and Josh makes and sells tiles.  She still does many festivals through out the year and teaches her clay technique to children and adults.

Bees and Keys, 

Polymer clay, Mica Powder, Colored Pencil, Acrylic, Wire, Beads, 26”x22”x3”, 2012

Tell me about your work? What are you currently working on? How is this different from past projects?

I create playful imaginative sculptures from polymer clay (a colorful oven baked clay), glitter, found objects and Apoxy Scupt (an air dry clay).  Most of my pieces are wall pieces ranging in size from a few inches to 4 to 5 feet.  My goal with my art is to provoke a feeling of wonder that is similar to what it felt like to be a kid experiencing the world for the first time.  I like to embed whimsical stories into my work- sometimes with actual words but mostly with scenes that make you wonder what will happen next or why something is happening.  In the last two years my work has steadily gotten bigger and more involved than it had been since I first switched to the mediums I use now.  In a lot of ways I am going full circle back to the types of works I made as far back as high school when I had a feeling of "anything can be created".  

My upcoming show at the Bloomington Art Center with the large amount of space to fill has really given me the incentive to make these larger more involved pieces.  A lot of thought has to go into structural issues when using my medium of polymer clay (which is usually used for jewelry).  Larger pieces also give me a chance to slow down and work on one piece for a much longer time and really enjoy the trip that the piece takes me on.  Many of these pieces have revealed truths to me about myself and life in general that I didn't realize until the piece was actually finished.  

In particular I didn't see the resemblance to my own life in "She Made it Look Easy to Control the Rhino Puppet Show" until this piece was finished.   Another new aspect to my work as been the integration of sketches into my pieces.  I have been making a series of 1 foot square pieces that start with a sketch applied to the painted board and then dimensional clay pieces are added to create the final piece. 

She Made it Look Easy to Control the Rhino, 

Polymer Clay, Wire, Beads, Apoxy Sculpt 28"x20"x4", 2011

How did you decide to become an artist?

The story goes in my family that as soon as I could talk I declared "I want to be an Artist and a Mother" and this is what I have done.  I always knew both would be equally important to me and I took on the challenge of making this work.  I never slowed down when I had my daughters who are now 12 and 15.  When they were newborns I even brought them to art fairs and nursed them as I sold work!  It has helped to have a husband who is also an artist.  I am driven to create no matter what I am lucky that I get to do it everyday of my life.


What was the best advice given to you as an artist? 

When I was at an art camp as a teenager an artist said "There is a market for every kind of art you just have to find it".  

This sticks in my mind anytime I find myself doubting that I can sell something that I plan to make.  A large part of making my art is finding an eventual home for it (otherwise it would fill up my house!) so I am always thinking about who will be it's eventual owner but it is also important for me to feel free to create on a whim without knowing for sure who will own it one day.  So I constantly remind myself of this concept.

Cup Cake Factory in the Flowers, 

polymer clay, wire, beads, Apoxy Sculpt, 35"x32"x5"

Many artists struggle to find ways to sell their art.  How do you sell your work?  How do you market yourself?

Art fairs have been my primary selling opportunity since 1993.  I really enjoy all aspects of the art fair- even packing up my car which is always a fun puzzle.  I love to meet people and talk to them.  It is true that art fairs have been less profitable than in the "old days" but I still find that they are the best way to get my work out there.  It is a great way to be seen by a lot of people even if they don't all buy.  I also like to show my work in the many amazing art centers in the Twin Cities.  I may not sell a lot at these venues but this gives me a new audience besides those that go to art fairs.  

I also have a website (www.claysquared.com) that has been mainly a great place to sell smaller works but I find that the more large works I do and post there the more luck I have had selling these too.  I love to market on my facebook pages ( http://www.facebook.com/pages/Layl-McDill/51305441418 

and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Silly-Millies/47507292705 )  It is a great way to interact with fans all over the country and I have had many sales directly related to my facebook postings.  My husband Josh Blanc and I also have a permanent showroom in the Keg House in NE Minneapolis- this means everyday I have a chance to show and sell my work to whoever walks in the door.  I also teach a lot of classes which has really become popular since the recession.

Just Think How a Book is Like a Birdhouse,  

Polymer clay, Mica Powder, Colored Pencil, Acrylic, Wire, Beads 36”x24”x3’, 2012

Who are some of the Minnesota artists you enjoy?  

 I totally idolize Judy Onofrio (  http://www.judyonofrio.com/ ) When I want to push my art to go further I think of her work and what she has done over her long career.

An up and coming artist whom I have known for many years and just completely admire is Felice Amato ( http://www.feliceamato.com)  Her work has such depth and strength and imagination.

Other favorites are Ann Wood and Dean Lucker (http://woodlucker.com/) 

Kyle Fokken (http://kylefokken.com) 

Mimi Holmes (http://mnartists.org/artistHome.do?action=info&rid=47536), 

Eleanor McGough (http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=96594), 

Nicholas Harper (http://www.roguebuddha.com/artists/nicharper.html), 

Heidi Henderson (http://www.hkhpaintings.com/)   And many more!

If I were to follow you around to see art in Minnesota, which places would we go? What would we see?

The Minneapolis Institute of Art (http://www.artsmia.org/) is my number one go to place when I want to get some art in my brain.  

I also try to get to First Thursdays at the Northrup King Building and other studios in NE Mpls.

(http://www.northrupkingbuilding.com/) 

And my new favorite is Flow Arts Gallery (http://www.flowartspace.com/) which is in the basement of the Keg House - .  Melissa Metzler puts together juried shows along themes and brings in works from all over the country.  The variety is outstanding and it's right below our studio/showroom!

She Knew All the Best Ways to Deliver Word Kites, 

Polymer Clay, Wire, Apoxy Sculpt, Acrylic, Wood 50”x44”x6”, 2012

In addition to www.Local-Artist-Interviews.com, where do you go online for good art resources, whether to find a new artist, or to see what is going on in the art world locally and otherwise? 

My main resource for info on art fairs, art marketing and to see new art is www.artfairinsiders.com/

Etsy.com also has great pointers on marketing but I mostly go there to look for art inspiration- I like their system of putting people in your circle because you can follow what other artists like and see more art along the same theme.

Pintrest.com - I have just started to get into this world but I still find that I can find more interesting art on Etsy.

And some of my friends on Facebook post some pretty cool stuff

Do you have any exhibits to promote in the near future?

My show "Fresh Baked Stories" at the Bloomington Art Center runs from July 26th to September 9th in the Atrium Gallery. 

Most of the pieces in this show will be being shown for the very first time.

Bloomington Theater and Art Center

Website

Featured Interviews

Layl McDill

Aaron Olson-Reiners - Painting

"Retreat," 2012, acrylic on paper, 20x28 inches

Aaron Olson-Reiners

Name: Aaron Olson-Reiners
City/State: St. Paul, MN
Email: aolsonreiners@yahoo.com
Website: www.aaronolsonreiners.com
MNartist.org profile: mnartists.org/aaron_olson-reiners
Facebook page: facebook.com/studioaaronolsonreiners
Twitter: @aolsonreiners

Bio

I studied drawing and painting at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. I graduated magna cum laude in 2004 with a BA in studio art and received St. Olaf’s Fifth-Year Art Apprenticeship residency for the 2004-2005 academic year. I live and work in St. Paul, MN with my wife Annie, our daughter Carmen, our beloved Nicaraguan mutt Lily, and a steady stream of public radio.

Tell me about your work? What are you currently working on? How is this different from past projects?

I work with graphite, ink, and acrylic on paper. Working on paper is great because it allows me to start working immediately with very little preparation and is easy to store. 

I've returned to figurative imagery after working non-objectively for the past 3 years. I'm also using paint again after working exclusively with cut-paper in my previous body of work. I'm also using color now which is a pretty dramatic change. Most of my past work was monochromatic. Thematically, I'm bringing more of my personality and sense of humor into the work. I'm tired of trying to please the art-world. It's exhausting and unsustainable.

"150 Year Disappearing Act," 2012, acrylic on paper, 20x28 inches

What are your earliest memories of art?
I remember carrying around a Mead 5-Subject Notebook, felt-tipped pen, and Nintendo Power magazine. I'd constantly copy video game characters from magazines. I vividly remember copying an illustration of Mega Man from an article about the release of Mega Man 2. My parents have boxes and boxes of these early sketchbooks in their basement.

How did you decide to become an artist?
I've drawn since I was old enough to hold a pencil. It was the one of the first thing I realized I was good at. My parents always encouraged me to draw and my grandpa told me to always sign my work. When I was around 8 years old I discovered that some people got to draw everyday and get paid for it. I immediately knew that was what I wanted to do and decided I wanted to draw for Walt Disney or Warner Bros. While the specifics have changed, the I've always wanted to spend my life making art.

What was the best advice given to you as an artist? 

The best advice I've received came from Wendell Arneson. Wendell is a painter and was my mentor in college. He always prodded me to take risks, avoid old, predictable solutions, and explore unfamiliar territory in my work rather than settle for what is safe and reliable.

"In the Basement," 2012, acrylic on paper, 20x28 inches

Many artists struggle to find ways to sell their art.  How do you sell your work?  How do you market yourself?

I primarily market myself through my website: www.aaronolsonreiners.com and my facebook page: www.facebook.com/studioaaronolsonreiners. I'm still figuring out how to generate more sales without detracting from time in the studio, advancing my work, and pursuing shows. I'm open to suggestions!

Who are some of the Minnesota artists you enjoy? 

Wendell Arneson (http://www.grovelandgallery.com/artistdetail.php?aID=ArnW)

Christine Baeumler (http://www.formandcontent.org/chris.htm)

Mary Esch (http://www.highpointprintmaking.org/editions/esch_mary)
Eleanor McGough (http://www.mnartists.org/Eleanor_McGough)

Liz Miller (http://www.lizmiller.com)

David Rathman (http://www.markmooregallery.com/artists/david-rathman)

Rose Sexton (http://rosesexton.carbonmade.com)
Carolyn Swiszcz (http://www.carolynswiszcz.com)

Amy Toscani (http://rosaluxgallery.com/my_portfolio/amy-toscani)

If I were to follow you around to see art in Minnesota, which places would we go? What would we see?

Black Dog Cafe's Gallery (http://blackdogstpaul.com)

Birchwood Cafe's Gallery (http://www.birchwoodcafe.com/whatsnew/whatsnew.php)

Gallery @ Fox Tax (http://foxtaxservice.com/gallery)
Groveland Gallery (http://www.grovelandgallery.com)

Highpoint Center for Printmaking (http://www.highpointprintmaking.org)

Light Grey Art Lab (http://lightgreyartlab.com)
MAEP Gallery @ the MIA (http://www.artsmia.org/index.php?section_id=14)

Minnesota Center for Book Arts (http://www.mnbookarts.org)

Nina's Coffee Cafe Gallery (http://www.yelp.com/biz/ninas-coffee-caf%C3%A9-st-paul-2)

Soo VAC (http://www.soovac.org)

Walker Art Center (http://walkerart.org)

"Mood Swings," 2012, acrylic on paper, 20x28 inches

In addition to www.Local-Artist-Interviews.com, where do you go online for good art resources, whether to find a new artist, or to see what is going on in the art world locally and otherwise? 

www.booooooom.com
www.beautifuldecay.com
http://blog.drawn.ca
www. thisiscolossal.com
www.youtube.com/user/HennesyYoungman
www.mnartists.org
www.artistdeadlineslist.com

"Inquiring Minds," 2012, acrylic on paper, 20x28 inches

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

1) Continue working with figurative imagery.
2) Exploring the role color can play in my work.
3) Work on a larger scale- I'm curious to see how my work would read two or three times larger.
4) Incorporate silk screen printing into my work
5) Find new exhibition opportunities. 

Aaron Olson-Reiners