by Tim Beeman

Brian Johnson, Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival’s Sixth Annual Poster Design Contest created a stunning design and was selected as the winner of the 2011 Pumpkin Festival Poster Design Contest. His work is featured as the centerpiece on all promotional material for this year’s festival. Johnson, 56, a freelance illustrator and designer, lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. He attended Southern Utah University, majoring in fine art, and also attended Utah Technical College for training as a graphic designer and illustrator.

Brian Johnson

Johnson uses a computer to create digital art for computer games he’s involved in designing, but he’s not only a digital artist. “I always start out with thumbnail pencil sketches to work out my composition and values,” he said. “My traditional mediums of choice are acrylic paint, watercolor and pastels. I also like to work in mixed media, printmaking and sculpture. I am always looking for new artistic ways to express myself. I continue to work toward my goal to be a full-time fine artist. I feel very honored to have been chosen as the winner of the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin & Art Festival poster contest; there were so many outstanding entries.”