Let’s set the record straight-- Arthur “Arty” Johnstone’s mom makes all of his clothing, and he looks great!  He is like a handsome sasquatch, tall like a brontosaurus, and he loves bad movies like The Norseman (1978). He is also a painter who loves Die Antwoord-- check out his website here!



Arthur is a light hearted sanding machine who keeps everybody happy while we work. He is known in the woodshop as The Beard of Zeus-- one who has perfected the art of sanding and shaping iPhone cases, wood watches, and wood speakers. He excels at chamfer and backsanding!

A few months ago, we wrote a post about Arty and his woodshop series of prisma color drawings that he made here in Grove’s shop! He keeps a painting studio in a space at the Recess Gallery, and has recently been working on a large volume of collaborative work, including a time lapse video of painting of a Portland’s Willamette River.



Sadly, like a meandering and lonesome cowboy on the prairie, he is now leaving Grove to move on to greener pastures. He will first embark on a pilgrimage to the major art hubs of the United States. You may catch a glimpse of him on the Amtrack train or Greyhound bus trolling through your town. He’s destined for Seattle, San Francisco, LA, Chicago, Boston, and New York City.  He wants to see how independent artists make a living outside of the corporate structure.

Arty says more than anything he will miss working with this collection of well dressed people.  While drawing his coworkers on our breaks he says he imagines us wild stallions...

Bon voyage, Arty!  We’ll miss you!

Written by Mike Schultz. He is an oil painter from Ithaca, New York.  When he is not working for Grove, he’s painting and drawing to his heart’s content.  You can see his work on his blog and his website.