Artwork courtesy James Johnson
Building Zion by James Johnson, an art major at BYU-Idaho.

Student Artist Highlight: James Johnson

Kadie Sharp SHA04007@BYUI.EDU A&E Asst. Editor

Artistic ability does not come out of thin air. Art majors at BYU-Idaho, as well as art majors elsewhere, must cultivate, encourage and develop their ability.

An art major here at BYU-Idaho, James Johnson, a junior from Boise, Idaho, has been interested in painting ever since he can remember.

“My first day of kindergarten, I kept raising my hand every three seconds to ask when it was time to color,” Johnson said.

Johnson started taking art classes in junior high and continued to take them through high school.

In college, he has taken at least two art classes every semester here in order to improve his abilities.

“It takes a lot of time for people to find their artistic style. I’m still on that journey but I enjoy painting intangible pictures, especially gospel principles,” Johnson said.

Johnson enjoys drawing people in a head-drawing class he is currently enrolled in. But he finds most pleasure in painting themes such as faith and Zion, such as his painting Building Zion.

There are many different types of employment that art majors can go into after they graduate. For Johnson, he finds it hard to choose an area because he can easily picture himself working in many of those areas.

“There are a lot of paths I could follow [after I graduate] and there are still a lot of forks in the road up ahead. I could see myself as a freelance illustrator or a children’s book illustrator, even eventually a fine artist doing oil paintings, etc., for galleries,” Johnson said. “But more than anything I just want to be able to create something that will visually and spiritually inspire people and provide for my family.”

When it comes to his art, Johnson does have a dream. More than anything, he would love to paint for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints full-time or part-time. However, it is not a job a person applies for.

“So far I’ve heard that [the Church] comes to you. So meanwhile, I’m just going to do the best I can to develop my style and talents and do what I can,” Johnson said.

One way Johnson is developing his talent is by learning from those who are teaching him.

“I love a quote that I wrote down my freshman year from the Art Chairman here, Leon Parson. He said, ‘If it doesn’t communicate, it isn’t art. Any fool can make a mark,’” Johnson said.

Inspiration can also divide just making a mark and creating art. Johnson finds his inspiration from the scriptures.

“One of my favorite scriptures that provides kind of the foundation for me as an artist is Moses 6:63, which says,

‘…all things have their likeness and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual.’ Hopefully I can create images that also fit that description to some degree,” Johnson said.