Our Story
Woodworking — an exploration of forms and function.
Where It All Began
JohnsonArts is a workshop, makeground, imagineering design center and studio specializing in custom-designed and built furniture, lighting, items of sophisticated function and objet d'art.
Working across multiple media including wood and metal and the graphic arts, my key areas of expertise are imaginative designs, tailored solutions, one-off productions and entertaining whimsies, particularly kinetic.
My main shop is in Monterey, California — but I can travel.
Motivations
Creation
Inspiration comes in many forms, sometimes the wood itself speaks, other times it is the insensate urge to Do, to Make, To Build.
Design
Form very much follows Function - but not always. There are times when excursions, particularly where your specific needs drive the nature of the end product, become the primary focus.
Wabi Sabi
Often in building custom furniture and cabinets, what could be considered errors or flaws lead to unanticipated changes - these changes sometimes enhance and improve the piece in ways that were not foreseen, but in the end gratefully accepted. At least by me.
The Maker
Meet the Craftsman
Coming late to woodworking, I have so much to learn that I will never be able to devote months or years to becoming an expert at any particular facet of furniture or cabinetry. I have devoted years to exploring the results of "mistakes" - which are only excursions from what I thought should be - that I employ as learning experiences. There is always something more to try, somewhere more to go, some aspect of creation yet unexplored.
