Cybling Store
November 12 - 14, 1999
Hyatt Regency Woodfield, Schaumburg, IL
http://www.doodler.com/windycon/ 		Cybling Contents

Steven Vincent Johnson
November 13, 1999
6:30 pm CT


 Steven Vincent Johnson

Steven Vincent Johnson was born on August 18, 1952 in Oakland, California. He grew up in the countries of Japan, Taiwan, Guam and El Salvador. At fourteen, Steven came back to the United States and settled down in Madison, Wisconsin, where he eventually completed his college education in both art and business data processing.

During the mid eighties Steven worked on a space shuttle mission, Project Astro, as a ground support computer programmer. Even with his busy schedule Steven continued to find time to paint the subjects he loved. His art work has graced the covers of publications by such authors as Arthur C. Clark, Hal Clement, Larry Niven and Jack Vance. Often his visions have gravitated towards alien landscapes, futuristic as well as a few controversial symbols of our times. For example, UFOs, regardless of whether one believes in them or not have indelibly become a powerful archetype symbol in our modern society. Questioning what these controversial images symbolize in the collective universal sense is what Steven has often attempted to translate in his art. His art work has been exhibited at science fiction conventions, art galleries and museums throughout the United States.

Steven currently works for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. He is involved in using AIS+, Advanced Image Processing and related data base applications.

The Windycon '99
Q&A


Cybling Our guest this evening is Steven Vincent Johnson...Artist Guest of Honor this year at WindyCon. First off...can you tell me why you were chosen to be the Guest of Honor this year...was there a specific reason you were given by the WindyCon Committee?
SVJohnson I was chosen for the technological aspects of my art...the layout...I'm sort of a techno Artist. I'm getting into the digital art world. My latest paintings are digital paintings meaning they were created on a computer. The cover for WindyCon's program actually shows one of my digital paintings.
Cybling So the fact that you're starting to work in this new medium, brought you to the attention of the committee...and you fit right in with this year's theme.
SVJohnson Yes.
Cybling Steven...I'm looking at your website right now and it looks very interesting. Can you tell us a little about Barry's introduction of you at WindyCon?
SVJohnson Well, I have been told by several friends of mine that Barry was very mean to me. However I must honestly say that I got clearance from Barry some time beforehand so I knew what was coming. Barry and I later had a few good chuckles over the situation. In Barry's defense, I must admit that I did not make his job easy, in the sense that I didn't cooperate in giving him the information that he asked. So it's only fair that he should have taken advantage of the situation.
Cybling What did he say?
SVJohnson Well...let's just say the word "viagra."
Cybling LOLOL...okay we'll leave it at that. You have a link on your page to Orion Works Gallery. Can you tell us a little about your association with Orion Works.
SVJohnson That's easy. I *am* Orion Works. Having been involved in computers and the internet since '94 I've had some experience in web development. In fact I designed websites at the University of Wisconsin back in the mid '90s. So it was only natural that I would gravitate towards putting together my own website.
Cybling And do you sell your work online?
SVJohnson Occasionally. I don't really sell as much work as one might think, and that's probably due to the fact that I have not actively gone out to sell myself and my artwork. A website on its own is not going to make you a ton of money. It's better to think of a website as a valuable tool or asset that you still must actively market.
Cybling You also sell other people's work from Orion Works?
SVJohnson Surfers who enter into Orion Works will note on the front page two individuals. Myself and the other distinguished artist, Darlene P. Coltraine.
SVJohnson D.P.Coltraine is my significant other. Maintaining two temperamental artists is enough for Orion Works these days.
Cybling lolol You've got a gift shop listed here...just a second while I pull it up...
Cybling OK Steve, or do you prefer Steven?
SVJohnson Steve is just fine.
Techyo I'm just wondering if the Coltraine mentioned has anything to do with the band. [G]
Techyo Hi Steve!
Cybling No. Afraid not Tech...Coltraine is his significant other.
Cybling I see in your gift shop you offer paintings, prints, greeting cards and postcards. Are all of these for sale or are some of them promotional items?
SVJohnson Truthfully they are both. I don't mass produce my greeting cards and postcards. When I do produce these items, they generally tend to be the result of a painting I just finished. And creating a postcard and or greeting card from the original is a great way to promote the new painting. And also selling greeting cards and post cards are significantly more economical than selling the painting -- easier on the pocketbook of customers.
Cybling We just had our pictures taken with a digital and a standard Nikon.... Do you think there are some pieces of art that can't be done digitally? And do you still work in other mediums?
SVJohnson Certainly. First thing that comes to mind are collages and mixed media. And if you are looking for an original piece of artwork, you will never get an original from a digital painting. It's a completely foreign concept. Second. Actually, another medium that I'm working in now is computer generated music composition. Most people know me in the SF realm as a SF and fantasy astronomical artist... most don't know that I've also been a composer. In my 20's I used to compose my own compositions on 6 and 12 string guitar. But then I had to go out and feed myself. In other words get a job.
Techyo LOL
SVJohnson And I let that part of my life slide for more than 20 years. Fortunately I did make some tapes of my original compositions that I stored away and just within the last year I've taken them out...brushed the dust off... and have gone back and re-composed them using state-of-the-art hardware and software that is now affordable. What I am doing now would have been impossible to do only a couple of years ago. With a small amount of investment, a person with musical talent is capable of putting together his own studio and compose his own compositions, burn them onto a CD and sell them.
Techyo I'm guessing the logical thing with you will be to combine the visual and sound at some point?
SVJohnson That's a definite possibility. I'm waiting for high definition to become affordable. Probably 10 years from now I suspect. Perhaps sooner.
Techyo Many have tried with some mixed success.
Cybling So you feel you need the high definition quality in the display before you can actually present your art in this manner?
SVJohnson The perfectionist part of me would say yes definitely, however, practically speaking I could begin with the resolution we have today, such as DVDs.
Techyo So would you want it limited to only play on high definition systems?
SVJohnson The truth of the matter is I'm not at the stage where I can integrate the audio and the visual together. That takes additional training. In time I will get there.
Cybling Do you do midis at all?
SVJohnson Yes.
Cybling Are they available anywhere for download or sale?
SVJohnson I have just finished my second composition. My compositions start as midi files, but they end up as WAV files or MP3. I only started getting involved in music composition earlier this year... so my apologies if I have not yet learned all the tricks to the trade. ] There are some really nifty stuff out there in midi format, I agree. Hopefully in the near future I will be able to make a contribution also.
Techyo If it comes out as beautiful as your visual art, bring it on!
Cybling We'll look forward to that.
SVJohnson There's a good chance that you will find some of my audio files at my website in the near future.
Cybling Do you have an email list or some other way people can sign up to be informed when this happens?
SVJohnson Excellent question...answer no. I hang my head in shame.
Techyo LOL
SVJohnson I'll have to work on that too.
Cybling Taking a look at one of your web pages now... at your postcards...
Techyo I'm on the digital images page. [G]
Cybling While we're waiting for Reluctant Sacrifice to come up...
Techyo nice
Cybling I know that the Author Guest of Honor, and Editor Guest of Honor are required to party until they drop.
Cybling Are you under the same requirements? And any memorable parties from last night.
SVJohnson In my younger more foolish life....yes. Being in my mid 40s no way man.
Cybling So you've been doing panels and interviews all day and that's it?
Techyo ROFL
SVJohnson Yes.
Cybling LOLOL
Techyo Some of us mid 40s types still party all too much.
SVJohnson Actually I'm down in the dealer's room most of the day where I am completely accessible and vulnerable to anyone who wants to corner me for whatever reason. Usually it's fun.
Cybling so...you turned from music at an early age because you needed a real job...and you became an artist.
SVJohnson Yes.
Cybling How do I put this...most folks have to become accountants.
Techyo LOL Jan
SVJohnson My day job is in the computer field. I am an employee for the state of Wisconsin, I work for the department of transportation in data base applications of image documentation. There's a lot of accident reports, drunk driving, all sorts of documents that are being converted into electronic form. My job is to assist in the management of these documents. So in a sense I am an accountant or clerk. And my mortgage is being paid, thank God.
Techyo Lots of job security there.
Cybling Thanks Steve...I was having a reality tear there.
Techyo Do artists tend to hang with other artists like the authors seem to do some degree at conventions?
SVJohnson Techyo, not necessarily. For me I have been hanging out primarily with Darlene my significant other who seems to know everyone at the convention. Therefore, it's an added benefit for me as I don't have to do so much work getting to know everyone since Darlene has already covered most of the groundwork.
Cybling That is nice!
SVJohnson Very practical. And besides, Darlene is a very charming person.
Techyo I think that's how it's supposed to go anyway. Kind of an apprenticeship to cons.
Cybling Okay...reluctant sacrifice just came up one our browsers here... very slow connection, sorry. Can you tell us some background on this image in the humorous section of the post cards area of your site?
SVJohnson 20 years ago, working in a data processing shop someone showed me an illustration of a huge monstrous evil bird of prey swooping down to pick off a mangy little mouse. The outcome was obvious. All the mouse could do under the circumstances was flip the bird before getting picked off. Most corporate employees can easily identify with the visual concept that is occurring in this illustration. I decided to do my own version of this timeless archtypal symbol.
Techyo Most people should too I think.
SVJohnson I came up with strange creatures being picked off by huge horrible bat-like creatures. This illustration was done more than 20 years ago and much to my surprise I've noticed that the soft plump little creatures were reproduced by none other than Gary Larson. So perhaps we have both picked up on the same wavelength of those poor pitiful creatures where ever they may be.
Techyo Yeah I was gonna say Larson has used the theme a lot too. Couldn't think of his strips name though.
Cybling I've kept you in the hot seat for about 1/2 hour now Steve. I want to thank you for joining us tonight...
SVJohnson It was truly my pleasure!
Cybling Thanks so much.
Techyo Thank you Steve!!!!
Techyo And thanks for the wonderful images!


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