Artworks by John Johnstone
Artist John Johnstone was born in Forfar in 1941. He studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art 1959-64, and was highly commended. He received a major travelling scholarship to visit European Capitals and was a part time lecturer at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art for many years.
John is a regular exhibitor at the Royal Scottish Academy and the Scottish Society of Artists and is a professional member of the Scottish Society of Artists and Scottish Visual Arts.
“My paintings seem to be expressing something, either serious or amusing about life. They depict people acting out minor dramas. Gesture, composition, characterisation and setting are important. There is an element of gravity in them, but the humorous side probably eclipses that aspect.
"I’ve always been attracted by ‘characters’ – the types you see in illustrated books by Dickens brought up to date. The Wit, the Rake, the Philosopher, the kind of people you see in bars arguing their point. The Spiv, the Con-man, the Cheeky Chappie, the Vamp, the Naughty Boy, the Lounge Lizard, Mr Angry, Little Miss Lonely – how they all react to each other. Two or three of these characters might find their way into way into my paintings – things start happening – I try to get it all down – it never works out the way I planned, so I start sketching the next scene…”
