202x Steve Lotz and Don Johnson in front of Lotz’s painting (FTU alumni, 1976)

Unknown artist

Two longtime friends—artist and UCF art professor Steve Lotz and Don Johnson—stand before one of Lotz’s large blue-green canvases. Lotz’s art often combines botanical and cosmic imagery: oversized leaves and floral forms, curling shell-like motifs, and intricate patterning that suggest growth and movement. The immersive scale and luminous color aim to surround the viewer with an atmosphere of light and living forms. Both Don and I (contributor Walker Watson) were students at Florida Technological University (FTU, now UCF) in 1976; this personal photograph documents a studio visit and an enduring friendship.