Donovan Johnson

In my previous work I prioritized the meaning behind my work to the point that it limited my ability to make visually interesting art. In order to combat that I made this piece on impulse. I began By writing the story of Sir Montague Dartish: “The village children speak of a man of the woods, a protector, a grand warden who watches after the trees as the most honorable of posts. This soldier is real! but he is no longer such an honorable man. Sir Montague Dartish of Sardinia fought in many a war, countless a battle! He felled those who offended him, his country, or his unwavering code of honor. But one day, after a hard fought battle in which our Sir Dartish defended shepherds from an onslaught wolves, the soldier stopped. He did not pray for his felled rivals, he did not honor his lady, he simply re-adjusted his armor and made a straight path for the woods. Since then the good sir Dartish has been whipped around by what could only be described as a primal lifestyle. adorned in leathers, The man wanders the forest, his helmet attached to his head only by habit.” In my making process, the material I was working with guided me as much as my story and sketches. If the paper lended itself to a certain design choice, I’d implement it, this is how the pattern on the helmet was invented. If it did not want to become a certain shape, I wouldn’t push it. This process resulted in a final product that really appealed to my design sensibilities. Looking back on it, I can identify some idealogical bases for my stylistic choices. A childhood love for fantasy, escapism from the digital age, and the need for contrast to name a few.