2
The Importance of Graphic Wit
Johnny Smith
The Importance of Graphic Wit
3
Johnny Smith Johnny Smith is an image manipulator and actor hailing from Houston, Texas. He has acted in over 34 commercials, written, acted in and directed numerous short films and was featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno when his YouTube series “Scaring Evelyn� went viral. He is an avid fan of comedy and tries to share that through his collage work. He enjoys image manipulation which he exhibits online through social media.
4
The Importance of Graphic Wit
You gotta work hard if you wanna lose it
Johnny Smith
The Importance of Graphic Wit
5
Johnny Smith
Evil leprechaun
6
The Importance of Graphic Wit
Brad Pit
Johnny Smith
Humour enters my work because it’s such an important part of my world. Life is really fucking hard and stressful and laughter is an immediate and momentary escape from that. I surround myself with very funny people and I would say I spend a good chunk of my day laughing with them. I need to laugh for survival. Also, I’m too scared to try stand up comedy in front of an audience, so I hide behind digital collage and try to inspire some chuckles while in my safe place…on my couch.
The Importance of Graphic Wit
7
Johnny Smith
Art porn
8
The Importance of Graphic Wit
Johnny Smith
The Importance of Graphic Wit
9
Johnny Smith
Is there a difference between funny art and witty art? I do believe that there’s a difference. Witty art forces the viewer to think a little deeper, the humour in it is not so obviously apparent. It’s a little more intellectual, a little more of an “a-ha” moment. And not necessarily LOL funny. Kind of like the difference between low brow and high brow, which I feel like my tastes vacillate between the two. I’m usually trying to share ideas that make me laugh with other people, which is why Instagram is such a perfect platform in particular. I hope I make people laugh with my ideas. I think I am a pretty funny individual (or so I have been told) and if I can convey that with an image, all the better! I don’t take myself too seriously and I think that people pick up on that. My art is pretty silly and nonthreatening and I, myself, am pretty silly and nonthreatening. (Whoops I forgot a comma - I am pretty, silly and nonthreatening.)
10
The Importance of Graphic Wit
Stank
Johnny Smith
The Importance of Graphic Wit
11
Johnny Smith
Have you ever engaged in humorous work for a client? I would say that my work for clients has had a 50/50 success rate. Half the time the clients are into what I have made, and the other half not so much. I am approached because they enjoy my humour, but sometimes they may have another idea of what the art should be and that’s fine. I prefer to not do commissions because I am bad at taking direction with my art. And my art is based on what I am feeling in the moment, an emotional response to a given moment. Graphic humour can go beyond advertising when it brings joy and lightens one’s mood. In my specific work, I am only advertising my thoughts. However, it may be a fun challenge to advertise a product one day. I think I may have a good 50/50 success rate at that.
12
The Importance of Graphic Wit
Johnny Smith
Some graphic humour is strained. I don’t sense this in your work. Whats the secret to natural graphic humour? Humour in art is great in getting away with having to deal with the everyday monotony of life or the scarier side of things. I just make what I want to make and share it. I don’t have to alter anything or appease anyone, thus it’s very natural. The only restrictions are the ones on Instagram or Facebook, where you can’t show private parts, so it’s a fun challenge to suggest sexuality without overtly presenting it.
The Importance of Graphic Wit
13
Johnny Smith
Finger food
14
The Importance of Graphic Wit
Kims
Johnny Smith
The Importance of Graphic Wit
15
Johnny Smith
It’s EricFuckingAndre
16
The Importance of Graphic Wit
Pool tables
Johnny Smith
The Importance of Graphic Wit
17
Johnny Smith
Nope
18
The Importance of Graphic Wit
Art porn
Johnny Smith
The Importance of Graphic Wit
19
Johnny Smith
20
The Importance of Graphic Wit
Operation
Johnny Smith
The Importance of Graphic Wit
21
Johnny Smith
Fatherhood
22
The Importance of Graphic Wit
Sunday
Johnny Smith
The Importance of Graphic Wit
23
Johnny Smith
Pizza
24
The Importance of Graphic Wit
Genre Blendin’
Johnny Smith
The Importance of Graphic Wit
25
Johnny Smith
Pop! Goes the Weasel!
26
The Importance of Graphic Wit
God bless America
Johnny Smith
The Importance of Graphic Wit
27
Johnny Smith
Your image manipulations are always incredibly witty and original. How do your ideas come to fruition? Especially in the case for more absurd designs, such as the Abraham Lincoln memorial receiving a blow job? HAHA thank you! That particular image got me in trouble with my dad. He was livid and found it completely disrespectful, so I knew it was a success! That manipulation was suggested to me by a buddy of mine when we out drinking one night, so he truly was the brain behind that particular creation. A lot of times I have an idea and search for images to creaate it; However, a lot of the manipulations come from a bank of photographs I have saved that I then see which ones will successfully blend together effectively and aesthetically.
28
The Importance of Graphic Wit
Johnny Smith
The Importance of Graphic Wit
29
Johnny Smith
30
The Importance of Graphic Wit
Johnny Smith
The Importance of Graphic Wit
31
Johnny Smith
Eat shit
32
The Importance of Graphic Wit
Johnny Smith
The Importance of Graphic Wit
33
Johnny Smith
Do you have a philosophical reason for using humour in your work? No, it’s just a part of my life and who I am. And who I hope I will always be!
34
The Importance of Graphic Wit
Johnny Smith
The Importance of Graphic Wit
35
Johnny Smith
36
The Importance of Graphic Wit
Team work
Johnny Smith
The Importance of Graphic Wit
37
Johnny Smith
Twister
38
The Importance of Graphic Wit