Ian Johnson: Artist lands on his feet

Ian Johnson's work is featured right now at San Francisco's White Walls Gallery, another show is coming up in Tokyo in May and a book on his art is due in August.

The 28-year-old who dropped out of art school credits his recent success to one thing: skateboarding.

"Skateboarding is entirely responsible for where I am right now with my art career," says Johnson, who is known for his detailed portraits of authors and jazz music icons from the '40s, '50s and '60s. "I've always been into art but never really considered it as a career until Western Edition launched."

Western Edition is the San Francisco skateboard company that Johnson started in 1999 with Kent Uyehara. Johnson is the company's art director. More here.