About Me

The most common question people ask me is NOT "Do you grind your own ink?", but "Where did you get your name?" I share my name with a Bulgarian champagne, an Estonian solar dish company, and V.I. Lenin’s newspaper of the Russian revolution. You can decide for yourself which of these inspired my father to put "Iskra" in front of "Johnson."

I come to my design career with a background in Asian arts and T’ai Chi, a BFA in painting, and years of study in western calligraphy. In my work I try for finesse and depth, and I have been honored to be published in Print, Communication Arts, U&lc, and the annuals of the Type Director’s Club. My work is also included in Trademarks & Logotypes of the World II, The Creative Stroke, Super Logo Design II (Tokyo), Excellence In Lettering & Typography and numerous other anthologies.

I work in a creative compound in the middle of a garden. A recent feature on my studio can be seen at Madelyn Mulvaney's Persisting Stars: http://www.persistingstars.com/2011/03/iskra-johnson-art-and-alphabet/. My daily life includes weeding, listening for hummingbirds, sojourns in the fine art studio, and long walks with the camera. I am always on the lookout for inspiration, whether from graffiti on an ancient wall in Lisbon or the intricate patterns of nature in my own back yard. To see more of my life in art and letters visit http://www.iskrafine art.com.