Dan Johnson | Metal Artist

 

Dan Johnson the metal artist with the family dog Lucy taking a day at the beach

Dan Johnson with his companion Lucy at the beach


I have been building things out of found material for as long as I can remember. As an adult I still keep an eye out for discarded items and try to figure out a way to use them again. I truly admire depression era people; they were truly the masters of repurposing. Later in my life I started working as an auto body technician and became fascinated with metal work. The enjoyment of welding and shaping metal, led me to learn blacksmithing and now I have been working with metal for more than 30 years. I am fascinated by how metal can be used in so many ways, from welding, forging, machining and casting. I have always loved repurposing found materials even my shop /studio was totally built out of recycled materials. In my latest work “Junkyard Critters” I use only used automobile parts. Putting the pieces together in such a way that they can still be identified and lend them to the desired look and personality of the sculpture. Each piece is named and given a personality; these personalities come to me during the creation process and develop almost by magic. I try to make as many parts on the Critter moveable so the viewer of the art can interact with it. Each piece is unique and one of a kind. A certificate of authenticity comes with each sculpture and is signed by me and notarized.

This is an image of Dan Johnson, the metal artist and creator of the critters made out of 100% reused materials from metal parts to the paint that colors them and gives them identity.  reusing and recycling is a passion found in Dan Johnson's art.

Dan Johnson in the paint booth giving each critter their unique coloring