Jona8than Green Art and Other Things

Pictures of a new print. "Outer Dark" Intaglio [Etching, aquatint] 22" x 30" paper size. Unsure bout the purple one, might just make a few copies for myself. The darker one will be for editioning. Just bought one over to the Leyton Gallery for the Christmas Show.

Someone at my workshop last week...week before while wiping a plate commented "That there had to be a faster way". And there is of course, many.

“The Newfoundland and Labrador Arts and Letters Awards” is too long of a title as well as being cumbersome with conjunctions. The deadline of November 26, 2010 is also a lot sooner than previous year's of January. About six weeks away. Shit.

It's funny, I haven't entered it since I went to art school. A visual arts awards and I stop entering when I finally start learning about art. To my defence, I also was broke. Haven't been able to afford the framing requirements in many years. Still not sure if I can this year, but going to enter either way. They also have a requirement it be original and made this year as well as not being shown anywhere. Gallery, exhibition, not even facebook or blog. Can't post it anywhere till after 26th deadline.

Details are here for the Newfoundland residents. Some good prizes in the senior division – 15 awards of $1000 dollars. That's a grand, a g-note, I could make it rain for a bit with that. Least drizzle.

I just feel this year I should. I feel I have a good chance at it. I am making good, solid work. At the least formally. Conceptually I'm O.K. Can expand that as time goes by. I just feel confident in what I am making right now. I know you can never tell what the jury will pick, but I have no chance if I don't enter.

I have an image I want to do. A slight departure from the Arctic landscape, no far, it's of a ship in ice entering a city street. Maybe some water flowing up the street. The street scene was shot in Montreal, near the Old Port area, the buildings being beautiful and brick. Very shadowy. Great lines. I can show the city reference. I think.

Or maybe a conflict of interest perhaps. Or an unwilling or impossibility to dedicate enough time to either.

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.

“Polaris Destroyed” is a series of prints that will be started during the residency. Consisting of 6 etchings, from small to medium size, and one very large etching of a full plate size or greater. The works are based on the 1871 Polaris Expedition towards the North Pole and the events that befell them.

The intaglio prints will be printed on paper- chine colle - in low edition of seven each. Their creation will consist of many traditional intaglio techniques from drypoint, etching, aquatint and some mezzotint. They will be printed in a limited colour palette, of somber tones. The large print will consist of at least a full plate that will be etched with the plate cut in half. At the moment I am leaning towards zinc due to the low edition.

“Polaris Destroyed” is based on the 1871 Polaris Expedition under the command of the explorer Charles Hall. It is the second part of a body of work of mine which starts with “Polaris Lost”. This second part will be focused on the ship's events after the death of Charles Hall and the lost of crew on a ice floe; specifically on the ship being trapped in ice and the eventual running aground of the ship.

This work will be exploring the notion of the tragedy in Romanticism. It will use image making techniques of the romantic school of art, in particular the Hudson River School and the artist William Bradford. I wish to contrast the ideas of Romanticism against the facts of the narrative and contemporary issues.

Print is to me is not just an way of distributing ideas and mark making, but an approach to art making itself. To paraphrase William Kentridge – substituting printmaking for drawing. "So [printmaking] is a testing of ideas: a slow-motion version of thought...The uncertain and imprecise way of constructing a [print] is sometimes a model of how to construct meaning. What ends in clarity does not begin that way." Print allows me to be intuitive but with a resistance, a resistance from the materials or processes at times, that then affect the piece. The narratives that intrigue me are hardly ever the ones that go straight on course, but rather where problems persist.

Kunst. My kunst. What am I hoping to do with my big dirty kunst? That is a question I keep asking myself. It has been three months of thinking, pondering, daydreaming about where I would push a new project to. Some call it waiting for inspiration, I think I was more in the research mode myself. But who's to say?

Printed two plates today. They went swell, though one need a a bit more work. But was interesting. Need to try the bigger one with some colour, perhaps some blue. Bring out some depth in it.
I need pictures, so I can classify more than just bigger and smaller. Visuals help when speaking of visual art I've been told.

Picked up my art procurement submission today, I didn't get bought by the City, no biggie. Picked up a bottle of red wine. Ease my sorrows.

I was distracted a bit today, by my own self. Brain all over the place. Checking email too often. Looking for distractions. Cleaned out my paper cupboard. I have a lot of prints. There's still some images I need to get down though. Still feels like working up to something, something bigger, grander.

I guess I just feel I'm not getting to the reason I'm making this work, not showing the initial reasoning, showing what I'm trying to get at with the work. The heart of the matter. It's funny, I would never write it down though. Never tell verbally. Probably no wonder it is so hard to get there, I don't want you to know. Or I do. Just want you to work for it. I think my fourth year adviser Stephen Mueller is a big influence here.

Need to print for a bit. Let the mind wander. Need to get a lot done before Christmas.

I attended St. Michael's Annual General Meeting tonight. First time at one. Interesting to see how they work. I'm not technically a member; but John and Mike asked me to go. There was pizza and pops from Pi Pizza. I recommend it. Good pizza. Their salmon pizza was very curious. I liked it. I was able to interject a little input into the discussion. As well, there was some praise for me for doing what I've been doing.

The praise was nice. The board was very happy to learn I'm going to Banff. It's very nice to e validated by your peers.

I've been lazy though.
I have been at the Shop, but not printing like I should. Making plates. Though I think everyone prefers making plates. I have three plates now needing editioning. One that needs proofing.
And a litho stone that needs a drawing as well as a stone that needs a final graining.
Lot of things in the fire. Just got to get back to the hunger inside.

The worst is that I bought a new little plate the other day, and have been fretting over what to draw on it for two days. I should just work through it, and thats what I'll be doing tomorrow.

Scott Goudie gave me a small print for Christmas. He did an edition of a small copper plate for a Christmas gift kinda thing. Dan is bringing me an anatomny book the next time he's in, to help ith one of my drawing, well, I guess, all of my drawings. Mike and Tia gave me a Christmas card as well. I should get my own done soon, or buy some.

My mom and brudder should be in Friday. Mom is doing some shopping for xmas, as well as bringing in some boots for me.

I still need a roommate for the place.

It's snowing out this morning. Well, snowing and raining at the same time. Very sloppy out. I drudged to the printshop at 11, having to lift my pants up like a nun with her habit. The asian variety store was out of cans of pop. I bought a bottle, plastic, which, for some reason does not sit well with me.

It's cold in the office here, more than previous days. I work at 2pm. At the call centre. Working on my aquatint till then. This one is a different, I'm kinda experimenting, hoping for an effect, that might not happen.

It feels like I've slowed down a bit. I have been gone though like last week. I suppose I must consider that.

My work, the body of work I've been making...can I call it birthing? I have been in labour with it. I wonder about it. Looking at the whole of it. Really wonder how this body will look once on the walls. It seems so disjointed at times, the veins are thick in some places, in other pieces, mere capillaries. Some times it feels I'm giving too much away, in other, not so.
Am I achieving the poetic?

I had a good couple of days in the shop. Working on two...three...four? new plates.
It's cold here tonight however. I have a plate to proof, but my hands feel too cold to do it. As wonderful as St. Michael's is, it could do to be a little more cozier. Old building. I know all the reasons why it isn't warm; but still. It just could do to be a little warmer, some nicer chairs for my back. Hahaha. Basically, I could do a little overhaul on the shop.

Another reason for my not proofing my plate tonight is I'm so tired. Well, not tired. I'm crashing. I just had my first meal a half an hour ago; chicken nuggets. My coke fix could only keep me going for so long. Now I just want to sleep.

There is a staff party tonight for the Call Centre I work for tonight. I should go to it. Free drinks and finger food. I've worked there a total of 1 week. All nights. That's not really a reason however for not going. I just feel it'll be awkward to go. I am allowed to bring a guest. I don't have a guest. Not sure if feeling the socializing and making polite chitchat conversation with people tonight. Not sure if I could. Might be a few hot girls there. I'm growing a bad moustahce however.

Yes, I should shave. But I have to see if I can do it. Just for the photo opportunities.

So lame

So my belief that my interview with the Banff Centre was horrible, may have been a little unfounded; or perhaps it was horrible but the other candidates were worse, for I got the position. Yes, I will be the next Visual Arts Studio Work Study person this coming April till November. Very jacked about that. I found out Saturday morning, finally checking my email since Tuesday while at my friends house in Port Au Port. Turns out they had been trying to call me, but having phone problems. So yeah, going to Banff.

I was out on the West Coast of Newfoundland for the West Coast Craft Fair. I went to assist with the St. Michael's Printshop Booth. We were there from Wednesday [after the 8 hour drive of course] and drove back yesterday. I had a rad time bumping in to people, and hanging with the best friends. There was some drinks, and pizza, and just great relaxing moments. Talked about grad school with some of my professors, and was positive, but Banff will come first now.

Just had a really good time, and showed some people my new prints. Even had a little talk with a class. Showed them my work, and told them about what I have been doing. Mentioned the Don Wright Scholarship a lot as well, hopefully it will inspire some more applicants this year.

Aimed at using some of the time over in Corner Brook as some sketching time for my art, but that didn't come about. Which is fine, I did other wonderful things. Just got to work on some new pieces. I got a litho stone there just waiting for a drawing, and a lot of plates to edition. Just got to get to work.

Figured since I have mentioned putting up work before, and showed some work in Corner Brook, then perhaps it is about time I put some up now. [Notice that my photography skills are horrible.] The works have titles and all that, but they're written down somewhere and not in the mood to type them. They're all aquatint, drypoint, etching combinations. Zinc plates.










I have a lot more. And want more for my show in April. April is looking to be a good month, with having my art show and then off to Banff for the work study. I am still worried about surviving to April. The winter months are hard. Was hard getting back at my work today as well, been away a week from it, or more, because of new job. Been thinking on typography lately, and incorporating text and word into works. Most of my work is drawn from that, but it isn't acknowledged so much.

"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.

Always act fool fool, looking slightly uncool cool.

Been a quick week, lots of goings on at Eastern Edge Gallery, getting ready for the 24 hour art marathon. Like it when we're busy. Got a really good team there. I do wonder if I'm getting enough vitamins however, because i am so tired after work. Probably been eating healthier than I have ever. Maybe the heat?

Still working on my editioning of my etching, up to nine or ten, need two more I think. Then I have to print my litho. Get that over with. I have some new ideas to get on to. Wish I had some assistants sometimes, gotten a lot of ideas lately just not enough time to get them all done. Got to remember I got the rest of my life, been told that the weekend. Got to keep it in mind.

There has been a visiting artist from Ireland this month at St. Michael's, Gemma Anderson, and she did a workshop this weekend. It was on line etching and doing multpile colours on a plate. She also showed us how to smoke a plate using a flame on a hard ground. Great old fashion pintmaking technique, not used very much anymore. I was the assistant during the workshop, which was good. Got to participate in etching a plate as well; a small 4" x6" zinc plate. I proofed it today, decided it needed a little more work.
There was a little reception afterwards for work of Gemmas and her partner Sam Douglas had in the St. Michaels gallery. Was fun, met some new people, little drink, was good. The old Jonathan was back briefly, schmoozing.haha.

The plans for this week is to finish the edition of my etching. There is also the matter of the lithograph, which should take 3 or 4 hours. I have three other etchings that I should print as well. Trying to overestimate myself here, there is always my perchance for laziness or being tired. Hopefully a litho stone will be grained as well.

Despite all this work, it has been a confusing time. Lots of thoughts on what to do for the future, what goals do I have, what should be my new dreams be, do I have any new dreams? I have ideas for new bodies of work, but thats about it. No new job options or plans for September. I looked at school again, even looked at getting a trade lik welding or carpentry. Thought I could apply it to art in the future and I could. However it is really just a comfort thing- go back to school-safe there and in the familar learning environment- not dealing with the real world yet. As I said above, i'm just acting a fool. Don't even know if I should stay in St. Johns or not, I feel I shouldn't, but why? I wouldn't be able to answer you. Can I live in the moment? Just enjoyin the floating about. Why do I have to set a course so early?

I jut want to be a baller...

I wish I was feelin like a pimp, but over wiped my plate tonight. Not too happy about that Should of done it in good light, instead of acting a fool in the dark. Just haven't been thinking straight. End up wasting a piece of paper. It always comes down to the economics. Got to keep my mind sharp, can't be looking a chump to people.

Keep feeling like i got to reinvigorate myself, change some habits; learning and thinking a lot this summer, new perspective on a lot of things. Especially the art scene. Least here.

This caught my eye recently, The World's Smallest Art Fair. It's a neat idea, a simple concept but wors.

A update of my whereabouts lately:

Been workin at Easter Edge Gallery, trying to get the 24H.A.M up and on the roll.

Printing when I can get off my lazy arse at St. Michael's Printshop. Currently in the process of editioning an etching, one of my rocket images. Not sure what the edition number will be, 13 or 15 seems a good number, currently on number 5.
I've had a lithograph hanging round as well, needing to be printed. Got to get that it printed soon, so I can get on to another one. Have a few ideas churning. The edition number will that will probably be the same as above.
Been currently debating the idea of editioning as well. Not sure if I like the justification of it. Editioning is for primarily economic concerns really, all goes back to it, ensuring its limited and rare, can ask for more money. So really unsure if I agree with it, goes againest some marxist tendacies of mine.

Drawing as well, some rockets and a new project. The new project deals with using the history and imagery of the North Pole Explorers. Manliplating history, maps, imagery, text, etc to reflect my own personal exploration. Inspired by Jane Urqharts book "The Underpainter", a quote found in it.

Besides that, I have another project in mind, which I will be writing a NLAC proposal for. Hopefully I get it, would be really swell. Probably will be hammering out the idea a bit on here. Send it to my homies, get their opinion on it.

Also reading Terry Eagleton's "After Theory", which is a realy interesting read. That will be followed by some Zizek.

Outside of that, I do waste a lot of time napping like a fiend in the heat, watching Seinfeld, surfing the internet way too long. Like now. Identified that I have a addiction to caffine, particularly coke. Got headaches from now having it all day.

Anyway, that's it.