zak johnson's portfolio of creative work

7/27/2019 Zak Johnson's Portfolio of Creative Work

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Zak JohnsonBLA Application Portfolio of Creative Work


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tableofcontents

agriculture3

landscaping4

music7

art8


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agr

iculture

In my seven years as an organic farmer at Sweetwater

Nursery, I built cold-frame greenhouses, grew vegetables

year-round, and helped with our CSA. It was there that

I learned a solid work ethic and the skills to start my

landscaping business and maintain my own year-round

home garden.


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landscaping

As a landscaper, I strive to solve problems in an aesthetically pleasing, environmentally sensitive way. Instead

of planting water-thirsty turf grass, I redid the sidewalk strip at the Vannett residence using eye-catching,

drought-tolerant plants including Nandina compacta Gulf Stream, dwarfMiscanthus sinensis, Euonymusjaponica microphylla, and Hebe Autumn Glory. Years later, my design is thriving with virtually no irrigation.


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lan

dscaping

I also love to install pathways. At the Smith residence (above), I used flagstone planted with Corsican Mint

(Mentha requienii) and Blue Star Creeper(Isotoma fluviatilis) for both aroma and a splash of color.


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landscaping

When a snowstorm took down trees and ruined our patio garden, I resolved to improve it. I blended edible and

ornamental plants and used varying foliage shapes and sizes to create depth and texture. I used potted plants to

fill in the bare spaces on the patio and create additional rooms for a more relaxing, comfortable place to spendsummer! The Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) featured here are specimens Ive nurtured from seedlings.


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Ive always loved music and I am proficient on guitar, bass and voice. I have been performing live around the

United States for fifteen years and I am preparing to go on my first overseas trip to perform in China with the

University of Gospel Ensemble. I am also an accomplished songwriter and have produced and designed the

cover art for two of my own albums.

I am also a music educator and co-director at Harmony Roadhouse, where I teach guitar and bass. I designed

and installed our lesson sign in front of our building, and several of my paintings adorn our lobby.

music


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art

As a student at Lane Community College, I rekindled my passion for visual art and enjoyed the challenge of

improving my drawing, painting and design skills. The instrument pieces shown here are hanging in the lobby of

Harmony Roadhouse. The paintings are all acrylic on paper and the Panda piece was done cut-and-paste with

paper and exacto-knife.


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All content/photography 2013 Zak Johnson

with inspiration for Jimi painting (pg 8) from sticker design circa 1969

Lost in summers sweet caress

Made bittersweet by loneliness

While I work like the devil in the sun

Cottonwoods are raining down

The heat is rising off the ground

Were far from the season of the gun

Let go of time and let the moment take you away

Lyrics from Season of the Gun by Zak Johnson

zak johnson's portfolio of creative work

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