Tony Johansen: Up Close And Personal

This is my journey as an artist. It is the ordinary things that happen, the personal observations, the context within which my creative world thrives.

I write, I take photographs, make web pages and all the other things that artists do to satisfy that internal urge to create things. For me this web page is as important as a giant mural. It needs to be crafted and stitched together in a mixture of heart and skill. It is as much my art as pushing paint around canvas. I do that too sometimes, but often the manipulation of digital images in the computer is just as satisfying. In this new world of processors and software, and especially internet, artist's are presented with problems not envisaged by artist's until recently. For some it is a crazy new world that seems to bear little similarity to what comes out of an oil paint tube.

Me? Well I see it as all opportunity. Opportunity for new ideas, for being a pioneer in a new land of art. I can play with color, and then create a new way of communicating with the world. I am doing it this very minute. As you read, you and I are sharing a journey that was not possible just ten or fifteen years ago. Think about it - this humble page is a walk into the future in many ways. Thank you for coming with me these few steps.

How To Use This Web Site

Go To Diary Main Page
This web site consists of several pages plus the embedded diary in the form of a blog. At the top of the side bar is a link to the diary main page. You can click it to easily browse the most recent 25 posts. To make it even easier for you, you can also click here: Go To Diary Main Page

It is not intended that the posts are made to a rigid schedule. Rather they record events or just things that come into my head - like all things in life, in a mixture of frquently and infrequently. That way nothing is just manufactured because of a deadline. It is meant to be real, and responsive to real life.

The Diary: Recent Posts
The 10 most recent posts of the blog diary are listed in the side bar. Clicking on a post title takes you just to that story.

The Diary: Archives
Older posts are found in the archives, and the archive menu is also listed in the side bar. Archives are listed by month of creation. It is a good way of going back in time. Of course it only goes to the beginning point of this web site, but one day I may do a 'memories of times before this blog' page for this site.

The Diary: Categories
If you want to find story's based on certain subject matter then click on one of the listed categories. The categories are listed in a form that means that the words increase in size according to the number of story's in that category.

The Diary: Monthly Calendar
The calendar in the side bar is always for the current month. You can click on any day that has a post (the days with posts are grey) and it will take you to all the posts made on that day whether one or more. It is an easy way to find a story if you know the date.

The Diary: Comments
Comments can be left on any post in the diary. Just click the comment link at the bottom of any blog post. TypePad members can sign in and non-TypePad members will need to leave a valid e-mail address and other details. This information is not used for anything and remains confidential. It is part of a strategy to avoid comment spam left by either machines or individuals. It is sad that spam exists. I do, however, welcome genuine comments. For more personal communications please use the "email me" link in the side bar.

Background Information
This web site also has a menu of permanent pages that give the background to my world. You are looking at the first of those pages now. Other pages describe the city environs that I know and love so much. There are also other related material including a map, and a review of the device that is central to making tyhis whole site, the remarkable K800i, a camera phone with extraordinary abilities and with me at all times ready to record the images of my world. The menu to the various pages is in the side bar.

Other Side Bar Functions
The side bar has two more functions. It has photo albums, the first one of which is images of my art work. The side bar also is a place for cartoons and news and other practical things that I myself use, so that when I visit the site it is as much to look and discover for me too, as it is to make posts.

There is also the feeling of the artist being in touch with the rest of the world, not just the inner one. It is as important to look outward as inward. It is also important to just be amused at times too. This is the artist's world.

Glossary
I know that not everyone who visits this page is familiar with blogs and the specialized language that often accompanies things on the web. I have, therefore, started a page that is intended as a glossary of common web terms and words. I have defined them in simple ways that hopefully will help you better understand some of this new tech language, and hopefully help you enjoy the net just a little bit more. The Glossay is found in the Background Information menu.