Jona8than Green Art and Other Things

A new residency starts tomorrow morning, thus the past week has been a week busy with preparations for the new group of artists. I look forward to this residency, The Wanderer, as it deal with the romantic notion of the figure in the landscape and the contemporary issues with that. It is something that relates to my own art practice or can inform it a bit more.

I have finished all my researching for my new project... well, maybe finished is the wrong phrase. I have stopped researching for my new body of work at the moment, and will just start making stuff. Especially in the lithography room. If I don't use that room, I lose it in a way. It has just taken so long to get everything kind of situated for to start working at something. So glad I got an extension here in a way because if I hadn't, I'd just have two months to make everything.

Went through the hallways today, this morning, so quiet. Checking the studios for the start of the new residency, already finding it hard to remember who was in these studios just a few days ago. Trying to remember the residency before that is even harder. It's funny when you're in the Banff groove.

I just proofed a new plate, it has an aquatint on it along with hard ground and soft ground etching. Warmed it up [very cold here], inked up swell, blotted the paper well, and printed it. And the cursed, trice cursed blanket either has a depression in it or water from someone printing earlier. And so there is a large white spot on my print. I could see a ton of ink still on the plate. Just this big blot on the paper, where there was no contact.

I hate that.

The sides printed beautifully, those areas were rich in blacks and my soft ground came out. Not totally noticeable due to an aquatint being overlaid; it gave a detail that otherwise wouldn't be there.

A former professor told me I could get some good ones, from England, and if I just used them for myself, they'd last for 25+ years. Would only be 600 dollars or such. So...

Maybe I have to move to the bigger press. Another artist is editioning this week anyway, so the small press will be pretty much booked.

It's a bigger plate, 18" x 12 1/2", so on smaller plates and non aquatint plates, the blot wouldn't come out.
I still have a litho stone waiting for a drawing as well. Haven't drawn on or printed a stone in a while. Maybe do some sketching tonight for an idea.

Groceries are needed as well.

"If I were dressing you for Halloween, I would be inclined to draw on the inspiration of those old fairy tales that feature the theme of restoration: like the prince who, because of a curse, has lived for years as a frog, only to be returned to his rightful body and role through the kiss of a merciful soul;..."
Rob Brezsny, Free Will Astrology

So I am depressed, not too hard to figure out. I made a choice to focus on my art, to be at the print shop all the time. I've spurned social contacts and activities to be at my work, I've did this purposely; wanting to show that I am an artist, to prove people wrong. Some people wondered if I was going to waste the scholarship, just take off, etc. Maybe some even though I didn't deserve it. Spite is a motivation, just as much as wanting to be successful. I wanted to show people up, and show people my mettle.

It wears on one though, and thus I feel depressed.
1) Could be the season, that does happen in this transition periods.
2) Could be the shitty job I'm working at as a dishwasher [ yes, I'm lucky to have a job, but damn, lumpen proletariat doesn't inspire happiness].
3)Economics has always been tied to my moods, but it will take some psychotherapy sessions and a financial consultant to figure those problems out. Sometimes I yearn for my friends, or somebody, to go out. Then I realize I have 5 dollas to my name, and going out is not an option.
4) I have lived with my best friends for four years together, always had a girlfriend close by. Now, everything is spread apart, missing. The girl I started seeing has decided not to see me, not that it was going well, but thats gone. I swear if I didn't have the guys at the shop to talk to, be worse off again.

I try to blame it on the art, but it isn't that. The art is going well, making some great prints and exploring interesting themes. My descison to ignore people over my art, well, maybe that should of been more balanced. I wanted to be the hermit, the dedicated artist, wanted that aura about me. I fall for myths as much as anyone.
However I feel slightly overwhelmed by all these issues, I'm down, and as much as I do" being down" well, I need to get out of this. I need my swagger back. Just how? I still want to pursue my art, dislike it when I can't. That's truth there. I don't want to work some shitty job, but I know saying that is riduculous, better artists than I have done so. So many variables as listed above, though relieving one would help I'm sure.

I have been up to a bit in six weeks, crossed the island twice, trip to Corner Brook, trip to Englee for Thanksgiving. Three weeks of unemployment where I made a nice bit of art. The art making is on a good pace, like to increase it. Seen another artist who worked at the show, made more prints than I have in this time period. To paraphrase Larry Rivers, jealousy is as legitimate a form of motivation as anything else.

Working on some etchings and lithographs mostly, been wanting to draw and paint at times. Get around to it eventually. I have started a side project; a chapbook with a friend. Would like to work on a series of painting based on imagery from MMA and UFC fighters, the dynamicism and action would make great paintings I think. Would tie in to my interest male sexuality and issues, along with interest in violence.

That's it for now.

Maniere Noire lithography is tedious and ardous. That is probably a very self evident statement to anyone who has done printmaking, particularly anyone who has done such technique in intaglio as in a mezzotint [ which is even more tedious and ardous].

But it is going good so far, I have been here since 3:30ish and have been scratching away at the stone. I would say maybe half of the scratching I need to do is done, and is helping me learn how to do it. I very sharp exacto knife is the best thing I have learned so far. Ha! I think it will look good when printed, and the technique will be made good use of.

The stomach grumbles despite sunday dinner today, and I am not totally wanting to catch the next bus home yet at 8:30. Especially when there is nothing to do at the apartment, nar uncluttered space to draw too or such. All my stuff is packed up and stored about my room; figured I would just have to repack in again this week or next.

I have to go to Blue Cross early tomorrow morning to get a reimbursement for my new glasses. This week will be a tight week, the account suffered a lot last week: bills, eating out due to work, gallery events, glasses, etc. I do get paid this Friday, so I hope to make it till then.