EARTHIWORLD RANDY JOHNSON ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY
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EARTHIWORLD RANDY JOHNSON ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY
Randy @ RandyJohnsonArt . com www . randyjohnsonart . com
Native Floridian Randy Johnson studied painting and photography at Florida State University . His first paintings were abstractions that incorporated smooth , flowing blends in vibrant colors on Plexiglas .
In the late 1970s , he became a wildlife illustrator for the Florida Department of Natural Resources , where he created the billboards , signs , and posters for the original “ Save The Manatee program ,” and later became the editor of GEOJOURNEY , the state ’ s natural resources magazine .
Moving to California in the early 1980s , Johnson designed “ Red Tail Ale ” and other birds-of-prey beer labels for the Mendocino Brewing Company . His business , SCENE 1 , specialized in wildlife T-shirts and his “ Pocket Creatures ” designs were placed in museums , Disney Attractions , The Nature Company , Rainforest Action Ne work , and the Jane Goodall Institute .
In the early 2000s , the artist returned to making nature-influenced abstract paintings — which he described as “ images of directed chaos ”— and had a series of solo gallery exhibitions in southern Oregon , including at the Grants Pass Museum of Art .
Johnson returned to Florida in 2017 and has since immersed himself in natural world photography , making brilliant photo illustrations of the lifeforms and landscapes of the Florida peninsula . His background in painting informs his approach to photography ; he has focused his attention on capturing ethereal atmospheric and lighting effects , striking color displays , and beautiful , complex patterns in water , the skies , flora , and fauna . He says , “ I find beauty everywhere I look for it .” Johnson is currently writing a book , “ Look ! A Clear Vision of Nature ,” about how we can reconnect with nature . It will be lushly illustrated with over 200 of his photographs , including the wildlife and flora of springs , rivers , lakes , the coasts , and the Florida Everglades .
PORTFOLIO MAGAZINE 19