Artist and illustrator Jamie Johnson's gently surreal compositions

Date
28 October 2016

Jamie Johnson is a Glasgow-based artist and illustrator who works across print, collage, video and drawing. His work demands inspection and gradually gives up it’s secrets, often first appearing as an abstract texture before revealing gently surreal compositions. “I study a lot of land maps and elements of landscape formation and geological research, often drawing from a rich resource like the Scottish Highlands, which I have spent a lot of time exploring. I grew up visiting tiny islands like the Isle of Eigg, which I think has informed a lot of the ethereal map-based pieces I have worked on,” explains Jamie. “From an artistic standpoint, I was influenced by early animators/video artists like Harry Smith and Joseph Cornell, and artists like Paul Klee and Paul Noble, the kind of symbols and ethereal messages these artists put forth in their work really still resonates with me.”

Currently working on producing work for his first upcoming solo show, Jamie’s portfolio is a mix of personal work and commissions that are fascinated with process. “I always begin with just drawing in my sketchbook – elements of which quite often make in to a finished piece, I like the immediacy of the sketchbook,” he says. “Day to day I’m digitally editing a lot of hand drawn elements to make finished works, but I still try to experiment with printmaking whenever I can, screenprinting or lithoprint, and have been focussing on creating original collages and paintings more recently, dyeing my own paper and creating layered imagery where the final outcome evolves as I go.” 

Jamie is also the co-founder of Harvest Skateboards, and later this year will join Edinburgh arts outreach programme Super Power Agency. “My work has been intertwined with Harvest really since I graduated in 2011. I wanted a platform to make my own board graphics, as well as give exposure to artists, designers and photographers that I respected the work of,” says Jamie. “It essentially merges my interests in skateboarding, animation, film making and design into a brand that has a strong identity and was still in some way separate from my individual art practice.”

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Jamie Johnson: Bristo Square

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Jamie Johnson: Tower

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Jamie Johnson: Doldrums

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Jamie Johnson: Lamp Ghosts

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Jamie Johnson: The Isles

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Jamie Johnson: Pool Formation

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Jamie Johnson: Rituals

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Jamie Johnson: Settlers

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About the Author

Owen Pritchard

Owen joined It’s Nice That as Editor in November of 2015 leading and overseeing all editorial content across online, print and the events programme, before leaving in early 2018.

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