Tofino Artist & Carver Sandy Johnson

Sandy grew up at Alert Bay and Gilford Island on the northern tip of Vancouver Island. He was born in 1963 to Sam and Lena Johnson. Sandy attended school in Comox, New Westminister, Surrey and Parksville. His father Sam was a car-ver who would spend would spend much of his time in the carving shed. He remembers his father instructing him to pick up a knife and get busy carving.

“ Don’t be coming into my carving shop expecting to just watch me work.” Sandy sees himself as a predominantly self taught carver. He has been putting the tools to the wood for over 13 years now. His medium of preference is Western Red Cedar but he also can be found to paint on canvas. Artistic expression is strong in Sandy’s family with two of his brothers being accomplished painters and cavers of their own. The artists that have inspired him are Sam Johnson and Simon Dick (Kingcome Inlet). His Hok, Hok, and Crooked Beak masks can be used in the traditional ceremonies.

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View Sandy’s art in Tofino at the House of Himwitsa Gallery or visit www.himwitsa.com