Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian David Johnson.
Brian David, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
After many years designing and building custom furniture in my native Austin, I began playing with smaller pieces based around a series of flower vases. The work struck a chord with me on many levels and a big shift toward decor began to take hold. In recent years, I have been making a substantial amount of sculpture and wall pieces. In December of 2016 I established Eastwood, a line of wood and resin jewelry designs.
All my pieces are made from sustainably harvested domestic hardwoods, my favorite being black walnut and cherry. Though I use varying construction techniques, my primary mode of joinery is stack lamination of solid layers. It’s achieved with proper wood milling, glue, clamps and hours of sanding. The decorative line work is machined by hand and the resin is mixed and poured in studio. Most decor pieces are done in a grain and resin matched series.
My work is available for purchase and viewing at Cloud Tree Studios & Gallery, along with collection of other great artists from Austin and elsewhere. The space is located at 3411 e. 5th Street just up the road from the beloved Justine’s restaurant and bar.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I have given the better part of the last 20 years of my life exploring my own creative voice, curios impulses and inspirations. It’s been an amazing and arduous journey that I wouldn’t trade for anything though at times it’s seemed an impossibly hard way to live a human life. While many friends I grew up with here in Austin invested time and energy into families and professional careers, I have been investing in myself, my craft and finally what I’ve grown to call my art. Though I was always kind of a sculptor hiding out as a furniture maker early in my career, it wasn’t till about nine years ago that I began to feel comfortable calling myself an artist. Though I still do the occasional custom commission, my primary focus these days are my wall pieces, sculpture, vessel forms and jewelry designs. I also have a side project called Craft Works Dialogue that’s available on iTunes and at bdj. gallery. CWD is an in-depth and personal conversation I have with various craftspeople, designers and artists about their work and their lives as professional creatives. It is a very rewarding side project I have been working on since 2012 and the talks are often recorded in other cities when I travel.
How can artists connect with other artists?
I have always worked in cooperative spaces or multi studio spaces. This helps, though it can also be a distraction at times. Also, having good studio assistants helps in this regard 🙂
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
On line at bdj.gallery or at Cloud Tree as has been mentioned. By investing in myself or another working artist.
Contact Info:
- Address: Brian David Johnson Cloud Tree Studios & Gallery
3411 East 5th street
Austin, TX 78705 - Website: bdj.gallery
- Phone: 512 797 8852
- Email: brian@bdj.gallery
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briandavidjohnson/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bdj.gallery/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bdavidj
- Other: https://soundcloud.com/craft-works-dialogue
Image Credit:
Brian David Johnson
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
