Zam Studio View by Red Haircrow
Vividly realized and visually impressive, Zam Johnson’s work is colorful, creative and on display around the world in countries like Japan, Algeria, the U.S.A., Greece, Switzerland and others.
On July 6th, at Galerie Schloss Bröllin, an international art research facility located in Germany, Zam’s newest work will be on displayed under the title: “Order With Chaos.”
Always an energetic character, a recent interview with Zam shows the often comedic yet thoughtful nature of this thoroughly down-to-earth and sincere personality.
THE “AS COLORFUL AS HIS ART”
INTERVIEW:
Zam Johnson from his Facebook page
How long have you been painting? I’ve been painting 10 years.
What are your influences, a particular painter or artist? EVERYBODY, but I’ve got my favorites, and Norton Wisdom is one.
As a musician and composer, do you listen to music while you work? Most of the time it helps to listen to music; it gives me a kick, but sometimes nothing.
Do you wish to be alone when you are painting or have people or a special person around? I usually like to work alone but sometimes if a good friend drops by when am working I’ll just say, ‘I’m into something but you can hang if you want.’ Other times I’ll have a get-together at my studio and I get an idea and just start painting.
Hanging at Zam’s by Red Haircrow
What are some of your inspirations? EVERYTHING! I see something and it will trigger an idea, and then I want to put a new twist on it!
Is there anything that hinders your creativity? There not being enough time in the day to do everything I want to do, and sometimes too many different projects running at the same time. My problem is how to turn the creativity off!
What are the mediums that you use in your work, like the unique idea of using old posters? This is an old idea of using posters, and it goes back to the time when they were first being made. I’m trying to use the posters in a new way that is actually hard. I’m mixing the mediums, using all kinds of different material, so that my painting is going into a more 3-D sculpture form. Let’s just say, ‘I’m learning by doing!’
Do you ever produce a piece you don’t like? All the time, because it’s not easy to make great art!
Relaxing at Zam’s by Red Haircrow
How long does it take you to produce a piece of art? Sometimes everything just flows, and in a couple of minutes or hours or days I’ve finished a great piece but then there are other paintings that sit around for years. I don’t want to work on them, but I don’t want to destroy them either. That can turn out good because then BAM! I get an idea and do something with one of them and it comes out great. That’s a big step forward though it may have taken five years.
Who are some of your previous clients, and why did they like your work? I would say have a look at my website to see some of the people who brought my paintings. There are also those who are collectors and do it for investment purposes, but others just like my style of painting.
I remember “Nancy” the special Berlin bear you painted last year that resides at Europarc Dreilinden, but what was your last big project? Yes, there was ‘Nancy’ last year, but this year in May I did the ‘Die Neuen 12′ for Kunstlerbundes Mecklenburg and Vorprommern E.V. 2013. That show just ended June 2nd. For the music scene, I composed music for Minako Seka who just toured South American in March.
What’s one word you would use to describe your feelings about the new exhibition “Order With Chaos? Why? Well, it’s funny but when I start to create something it will start with an idea I have, and for this one you can call that: Order. But on the other side, sometimes I just start with chaos and try to bring order to a piece I’ve started.
Hanno Boller at Zam’s by Red Haircrow
Any upcoming art or music projects? Well, besides playing live concerts right now, I am mixing a new jazz CD for 105 Lenz-Kubach-Johnson, for whom I play drums. Also, my group Taboo Berlin, featuring Craig Burton and Paul Schwingenschlögl, is in production for a new CD, and I am composing a new theater piece for Ten Pen Chii, which will be performed at Dock 11 in Berlin.
Additionally, I’ve involved with a music video production for Hanno Boller that starts shooting the end of July. Last but not least, I’m writing a big multi-media project for the world stage with some of my Indian brothers! Hey, Red, I think you’re with me on that! But oh shit, did I forget anything?
Probably Zam, you’re a very busy man!
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