Bob Johnston

Willow sculptor

©Julie Johnston

Sculptures born of the environment

Bob specialises in Victorian-style willow trophy heads
He uses up to 40 different types of willow in each sculpture
He made sculptures for a Game of Thrones season premiere

Bob initially trained as a textile weaver and feels weaving with willow is a similar process in many ways, since it also involves interlacing fibres. He now specialises in wall-hung, Victorian-style willow trophy heads, creations of aesthetic vision and skill involving manipulating a basic willow rod into a beautiful form. Basketry is one of the oldest crafts known to man. Bob blends traditional, standard weaving techniques with a more random, dense, swirling weave to create beautiful, realistic and organic sculptures that are exciting and relevant to today's world.

Interview

©Julian Calder

©Julie Johnston

How did you begin basketweaving?: After leaving college I tried many crafts including pottery, woodturning and painting, but willow work seemed to come easily to me and I really enjoy working with it. I think it can take a while to really find the material that fires you and then you are always pushing to see how far you can take it.
How is your craft linked to your surroundings?: My craft is inextricably linked to the territory and environment. Weather and soil conditions dictate how thick and tall the willow rods grow and this dictates what sculptures they can be used for. Some crops are better than others, but each year I try to treat the differences as a challenge to try new sculptures.
What type of willow do you use?: I use up to 40 varieties of willow in each sculpture. This provides a huge palette of colour and texture and gives my work a depth and intensity that helps bring it to life. It is my constant pursuit of perfection, to get the next sculpture better than the last, that keeps the craft alive and challenging for me.
Can you share a career highlight?: Being approached by Billy Butchkavitz, the very talented designer of HBO’s after-parties, who asked me to create a willow throne and three willow dragons for the Game of Thrones season 8 European premiere in Belfast. It was seven months of challenging, creative and very exciting work.

Bob Johnston is a master artisan: he began his career in 2000 and he started teaching in 2010