Creative Woodworks & crafts 2000-03, страница 53

Robert keeps his I'amily involved in the business as well. His wife helps with research—for example, she will cross-reference a show listed in a trade magazine with that city's Chamber of Commerce listing. He credits his children with much of his inspiration. "My oldest son, Tim, once said to me, 'Dad, what about an eagle catching a fish?'—which I Ihoucjht was a great idea."

Selling at shows

Robert spends most of the year in his shop, producing and perfecting his pieces. During the summer, he travels nationwide, selling his work at shows such as the Colcl Coast show in Chicago and the Albuquerque international Balloon Festival.

"The mosaic pieces are probably the most popular at shows—everybody seems to look at them and think about how much time it took to make them," Robert notes, "but I lean more toward pieces such as the eagle scene, because they look more like actual pictures that have been 'painted' with wood." Indeed, Robert strives for realism in all aspects of his art, and given the fragility of the thin wooden components, this can be challenging. As he explains, "It's very difficult to use wood that's 3/16" thick, to design an eagle in which the relief of the sculpture is 1/8" to 3/16", and make it look like it's Hying."

Art or craft?

While Robert's work contains all the acslhetic elements of fine art, it also involves a great deal of craftsmanship. This often makes it difficult Lo categorize him aL shows—is he artist or craftsman? Usually, his work is entered in the "fine art" category. He recalls, "At a show in Virginia, they had an exhibitor's choice award. I won first place as an artist and second place as a craftsman; so it goes both ways."

For more information, contact Robert Johnson, 1633 Madison Avenue, Toms River, NJ 08757.

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Sculptural pieces distinguish Robert's work from more conventional wood inlay.

The tranquil beauty of nature is central to Robert's art.

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Art or craft? You be the judge!

Close-up of a mosaic background—this is from the first photo shown (above left) in this article.

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