Johnson, Dixon E.

he/him

As early as I can recall, I’ve always been captivated by color, shape, and beauty. My love of art really came to fruition in my early teens when given the opportunity to explore a wide variety of expressions and mediums including drawing, painting, print-making, multi-media, and of course, ceramics. Sadly, my Junior High School program did not have throwing clay on a potter’s wheel as an option. My love of art was largely set aside, devoting the majority of my time and energy to my Nursing career. About fifteen years ago, I genuinely began to address my need to express myself through art. I recall one Saturday while attending Ray at Night in North Park, San Diego, when the opportunity to find my groove presented itself. Very clearly, I remember saying to myself, “I am going to die if I don’t find a creative outlet." That same evening, I was walking through the door of The San Diego Art Department where I met Gabriel Reed, a talented clay artist, and teacher. Within a year of starting to throw clay on the wheel, I secured a Studio Membership because, simply stated, “I just couldn’t get enough.”

I love to take a lump of clay and transform it into a thing of beauty. Most of my shapes are classic vessels with occasional forays into more organic, less-classical forms. I am especially attracted to the placement of three-dimensional graphics on the rounded and bulbous vases that I’ve made – it’s the perfect marriage of amorphous to well-formed, flat to round, and the expected to the unexpected. Additionally, I find that throwing large bowls is a spiritual and meditative adventure; I quickly get lost in the smooth butter-like, wet clay and the perfect roundness of rotation. The transformation of clay into shape, color, and beauty is my personal journey to the same end. In my pottery, then, I share my experience and my soul with you.

Like many potters, our garage went from a table for hand-building to my version of a full-time pottery studio. Most of the basics are there: Creative Industry potter's wheel, L&L 7 cubit foot kiln, Bailey Clay Extruder, Creative Industries Cink, and lots of shelves.

I use (almost exclusively) Laguna B-mix cone 5-6

up to 2300 degrees Fahrenheit (for glazes firing)

potter's wheel

3D graphic illusion and free-hand sgraffito

rarely

Classic vessel shapes with intricate graphic and free-form designs.

I consider the studio my sanctuary or sacred space. It represents a spiritual and physical place to be who I am.

music

1. Pugmill, 2. Slabroller, 3. less clay needing to be recycled

I am taking an online (clay) sculpting class

recycling clay

I use the Oculus Quest VR device with Supernatural full-body exercise 3 days a week coupled with Pilates classes 3 days a week

I use a large piece of plastic sheeting to collect all of the clay ribbons from trimming vessels on the wheel

It is a continuing challenge for me to realize that spending enormous amounts of time on a single piece has just as much or more value than cranking out quantity.

An exotic yet strangely functional two-piece ashtray circa 1971

The ability to access unlimited creativity - or at least to discover that I already have it.

surface decoration

YouTube - 24-7 access at a good price.

House, EDM, Classical, Jazz, Big Band, Alternative Country, Electronic, Female Vocal

Creativity is a favorite path to my divine spirit.

Glenn Martin Taylor produces some of the most thought-provoking, emotional, and beautiful ceramic sculptures and objet d'art that I have seen.

Breathe.

It sure would be nice to be able to adjust the amount of moisture in clay instantly.