| RICHARD
JAMES JOHNSON
The creator of Erth Chronicles began his career as
a Graphic Designer and Illustrator after graduating in 1998.
Shortly after he won a prestigious D&AD First
Award for 'Most Outstanding Mixed Media Advertising Campaign
for a Motion Picture', before working for several Graphic
Design companies. Currently working freelance on a number
of projects, ranging from music to film, his career as a designer
has already begun to turn full circle - Lecturing in his discipline
and leading a University level Graphic Design course in Nottingham,
England.
I enjoy the process of ‘crashing the paintwork’
and ‘spilling the pixels.’ The secret of any good
graphic design is to hold tradition and technical skill together
with the correct answer.
Erth Chronicles is a fairly ambitious project of mine
to help support my guilty pleasure - Science Fiction &
Fantasy. I began writing the first novel in the series,
The Enemy's Son back in 2002. One reason it has taken
so long is due to working full time. I don't claim to be a
writer...yet - it is something I thoroughly enjoy and is where
the basis of my ideas come from. I am hoping that the official
site doesn't just showcase and support my own writing and
illustration, but also the work of my contemporaires and those
I admire within this harsh, unforgiving landscape.
Influences
Akira Kurosawa, Dave McKean, Alan Fletcher, Orwell, Moebius,
Chip Kidd, Ridley Scott, Tolkien, Peter Jackson, Peter F.
Hammilton, Iain M. Banks, Jim Henson, Brian Froud, Alan Moore,
David Bowie, Philip K. Dick, Milton, Dante, Edgar Allan Poe,
The Coen Brothers, David Lynch, Scott McCloud, Frank Miller,
Quentin Tarantino, Clint Eastwood, Ryan Church, Chris Ware,
Ralph Mquarrie, Hayao Miyazaki.
Vital Statistics
Full name: Richard James Johnson
Date of birth: February 19th, 1976
Current Location: Derby, UK
Complete this sentence: Three cavemen are sitting round a
fire, one says to the other…"He claims
to have invented some kind of object that will change our
lives. Personally, I don’t think it will ever catch
on – as round as it is, it takes all three of us to
move it!"
What is the first visual image you can remember?
An empty grey room – waiting for a dash of colour.
Who is your most influential artist? Dave
McKean in terms of method. He made me realise how important
the most mundane mark really can be - aside from being prolific
and allowing his style to develop in many different disciplines.
The late Alan Fletcher has had a profound influence in terms
of design philosophy.
Last book you read? The Raw Shark Texts,
Steven Hall
Favourite music? Scandinavian - Mew, Sigur
Ros, Tina Dico
Favourite film? Blade Runner
Favourite TV series? Battlestar Gallactica
and 24
Favourite animated series? Cowboy Bebop
Pet hate: Small talk and Tracksuits
Share a quote: ‘Only the truly
educated never graduate’.
You are suddenly the most powerful person on the planet,
what’s the first thing you would do? Destroy
the red button.
What attracted you in contributing to Erth Chronicles?
Well…I created it, so the more appropriate question
would be ‘Why did you…?’ - To support my
writing and artwork along with the work of others. The most
rewarding experience so far is seeing how my world is beginning
to inspire other talented artists.
What’s the most important professional advice
you would give a prospective artist? Always
admit to your own faults and don’t be afraid to ask
for guidance from time to time. This is the mark of a true
professional - someone that wants to carry on learning and
realise they will never stop until the day they die.
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