Among a broad portfolio, Tom Johnson also has a serie of 30 scratched panels he made for a project. It’s one inch think wood which is painted in 20 to 30 coats of different paint colors. He then sanded them unevenly to create these paintings. But he couldn’t remember which panel has which colors exactly. So as he started sanding the layers of paint away he’d find himself surprised of what he’d find.
He gets obsessed with his work. When Tom starts a project he goes at it full on. He makes a bunch of work in one style. This isn’t uncommon with artists, but Tom thinks he gets that more than other colleagues. He gets bored quickly, is easily inspired to investigate things he sees and learns from others. It’s important to his learning processes, experimenting to learn new skills. There’s not really an agenda in his work, so no need to delve too deep in the meaning. Sources of inspiration are different. Geometrical shapes are inspired by mathematical illustrations, but there’s also some Tibetan and pseudo religious influences as well, you’ll find purples and greens or turquoises in his pieces. Even with the geometrical shapes. The world of geometry, the symmetrical is inexplicable in it’s attraction, almost like a religion in itself.
