Dennis Einar Johnson Artist Statement
26th May 2023
Dennis Einar Johnson
Dennis was born in Philadelphia, PA in 1945 and spent his early childhood there until his family moved to the suburb of Willow Grove. He graduated from Upper Moreland high school where he was honored with the senior artist award.
He received an Associates degree in graphic arts and illustration from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA and upon graduation in 1966, he landed a job as a medical illustrator at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, and at the same time, received a draft notice from the United States Army. The army sent him to Alaska for two years and then on to assignment in Virginia where he finished his tour of duty as an airbrush artist. Upon his discharge, he moved back to the Philadelphia area where he worked as an art director in advertising agencies and as a graphic designer/illustrator for the Prudential Insurance Company of America.
In 1977, he graduated from Tyler School of Fine Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, with a BFA in Graphic Design. In 1978-1979, while working as the graduate assistant in the Art Education and Crafts Department of Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA, he earned his M Ed in Art Education. From 1979 to 1988, he taught graphic and advertising design, illustration, drawing, and airbrush techniques at Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA. During that time, he also taught graphic design at the Baum School of Art in Allentown, PA. In 1988, he received an MFA in Graphic and Advertising Design from Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY and began his tenure in Kutztown University’s Communication Design Department, where over the years, he taught sixteen different courses. He established an International Summer Studies Program in England for the CD department, and for nine years, taught a course in design and advertising at the Buckinghamshire College near London.
Dennis retired from Kutztown University after seventeen years of teaching and is now a painter, mostly of marine art done in pastel. He exhibits his work locally and regionally. His work is a part of public and private collections in the US and in Europe. Several of his pieces are a part of Kutztown University’s permanent collection.
Dennis is a member of the American Society of Marine Artists.
Dennis was born in Philadelphia, PA in 1945 and spent his early childhood there until his family moved to the suburb of Willow Grove. He graduated from Upper Moreland high school where he was honored with the senior artist award.
He received an Associates degree in graphic arts and illustration from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA and upon graduation in 1966, he landed a job as a medical illustrator at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, and at the same time, received a draft notice from the United States Army. The army sent him to Alaska for two years and then on to assignment in Virginia where he finished his tour of duty as an airbrush artist. Upon his discharge, he moved back to the Philadelphia area where he worked as an art director in advertising agencies and as a graphic designer/illustrator for the Prudential Insurance Company of America.
In 1977, he graduated from Tyler School of Fine Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, with a BFA in Graphic Design. In 1978-1979, while working as the graduate assistant in the Art Education and Crafts Department of Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA, he earned his M Ed in Art Education. From 1979 to 1988, he taught graphic and advertising design, illustration, drawing, and airbrush techniques at Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA. During that time, he also taught graphic design at the Baum School of Art in Allentown, PA. In 1988, he received an MFA in Graphic and Advertising Design from Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY and began his tenure in Kutztown University’s Communication Design Department, where over the years, he taught sixteen different courses. He established an International Summer Studies Program in England for the CD department, and for nine years, taught a course in design and advertising at the Buckinghamshire College near London.
Dennis retired from Kutztown University after seventeen years of teaching and is now a painter, mostly of marine art done in pastel. He exhibits his work locally and regionally. His work is a part of public and private collections in the US and in Europe. Several of his pieces are a part of Kutztown University’s permanent collection.
Dennis is a member of the American Society of Marine Artists.