Sunday, February 28, 2010

Two shows coming up in March


Hey all,

just wanted to let you know about two shows coming up in March.

On March 5th is the annual "Everything But the Kitsch 'N Sync" show at La Luz de Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles. This is the second year I am participating in this show.

Opening Reception: Friday, March 5th, 8-11 pm
4633 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027

La Luz De Jesus Gallery proudly presents our 13th annual juried group exhibition, "Everything But the Kitsch 'N Sync". This gigantic, no-theme exhibition features work from some of the freshest and most relevant artists working today. We invited commercial illustrators, graphic designers, tattooists, scenic painters, students, and animators to submit, and we sorted through tens of thousands of submissions before finalizing the list below. The show includes artists we have previously exhibited, who consistently produce some of the most interesting paintings and sculptures in pop contemporary, as well as a large selection of work from a brand new batch of undiscovered, underground talent. Since openiong our doors in 1986, the focus has always been to grant exposure to emerging talent while continuing to showcase our established stars, and that esthetic remains more true than ever before this year. In fact, we have the highest concentration we've ever had of artists making their art gallery debuts in this exhibition. Add to that a wide percentage of professionals making their Los Angeles and North American debuts, and that makes this an exhibition you really can't afford to miss. This is a wonderful forum for us and our public to get the first glimpse of tomorrow's stars. It is also an incredible opportunity for art collectors to peruse close to 300 pieces of juried artwork by nearly 150 artists all in one viewing, and obtain undiscovered art at undiscovered prices. Please join us for our lucky thirteenth as we continue to support the latest and most original efforts from the nation's alternative art scene.

Also, I'm participating in this show at 19TEN Gallery in Portland, OR and will be attending the opening as well! Can't wait to see how the prints turned out!




HUH Magazine

My work on the HUH magazine website!

HUH. Magazine is a free, arts & culture paper based in London. The magazine is released sporadically and contains interviews and features on both established and little known creatives.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Communicorn.net

A little post about my work on Communicorn.net. Thanks Jason!

http://www.communicorn.net/blog/jon-macnair/

Late February brief update

Haven't written in a while, but thought I'd do a quick update. I've been busy with a lot of submissions lately and trying to get more exposure. I've been working on a drawing for a book project for a few days now, but not really making a whole lot of progress on it. I will work on it tonight though. A slight downer is that I did not sell any work at Recoat gallery in Glasgow. The show ended almost a week ago, but no sales. I sort of had a feeling that might be the outcome with that, but I don't regret doing it. It's still exciting to have shown work in another country. Good news is that I will have a second chance for sales because they are putting the work in another show. Here's hoping................

Also, got some business cards made. Never done this before, which is kind of embarrassing and astounding to think about. Long overdue.

All right. That's all for now. Better get to work.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Back to work

I just got back yesterday from a trip to Florida and Maryland. I was gone longer than expected because of a severe snow storm and my initial flight back was cancelled and I had to wait and extra 3 days to get back to MI. Now I'm just trying to get organized and back in work mode. I've got a wall full of post-it notes of stuff that needs to get done, and my mind feels like a snow globe that was just shaken. Just need to concentrate and do one thing at a time.

"A Diabolical Act of Persuasion"

Just thought I'd post a picture of the piece I have in the show "The Devil Made Me Do It" at WWA Gallery in Culver City, CA. The show just opened on Friday and will be up until March 20th.





Funswant Magazine






Here is the latest issue of Funswant magazine. Just got two copies in the mail the other day. Funswant is an art and culture magazine out of Taiwan. I have two spreads in the issue and an interview. Here's a couple pictures and the translated interview.


Please introduce your background with art.

Art was always the one thing I had a strong interest in, ever since I was a kid. Growing up, I did some sports, played some instruments, and did other activities that most parents want their kids to do so they will be well-rounded individuals. However, those things eventually all fell by the wayside. Art was the one thing where my passion seemed to increase as I got older. I had a few art classes I can remember doing outside of school in elementary and middle school where I learned the basics of ceramics, watercolor and that sort of thing. They were pretty much classes designed to get young kids interested in art, but there wasn’t a whole lot of instruction. In high school I started doing a good amount of my own work outside of school, and by the time senior year came I had a portfolio ready to apply to an art college. I graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2005 with a bachelors degree in illustration. My love of picture books as a child definitely had something to do with choosing illustration as a major.


How did you know that you liked to draw and make it as your career?

Because art was my main interest up until college, it just made sense to pursue it as a career. I feel very fortunate that my career path has been so clear. I knew many people who struggled with trying to figure out what they wanted to do in life, or where their passion was, but that was never an issue for me. When something makes you happy, it’s hard to ignore that feeling. You just know when something is a good fit for you and when you should follow your intuition about certain life decisions.


How do you imagine so many interesting subjects and then create them? What are you expressing through your work? (I DO LOVE your fine art work!!!)

I think many people have this notion that artists always have their heads overflowing with wonderful, brilliant ideas. As much as I wish this were true for me, it’s not. I like to brainstorm, but I try not to force the creation of new ideas too much. It’s something that happens best naturally. The only thing is, you don’t know when it will happen, so there can be times when creative droughts occur. I actually find that ideas flow best when I am calm and relaxed. When I am in bed about to fall asleep, or in the shower, or on a walk: these are the times those little sparks of creativity occur for me. I would also say that creativity comes in waves. It may take a little while to develop a concept or visual language, but once you do, the ball is rolling and you can coast on that for a while. One idea leads to the next, like a stream of consciousness expressed on paper. I think that mood is very important to my work. I want my art to evoke feelings that everyone can relate to in one way or another, whether it’s a feeling you remember from childhood or as an adult. I don’t want people to feel they must completely understand the personal symbology that I incorporate into my art, in order to appreciate it. I believe that art is truly a personal thing to both the creator and the viewer. If we all looked at things the same way, the world would be awfully boring.


Do you follow your instincts when you draw?

I definitely try to. It’s easy to get caught up in over-analyzing something you’re working on to the point where you start to doubt your decisions. That is never a good thing for me. If I start to doubt myself too much, that lack of confidence will begin to show in the work itself. You just have to trust your gut and not worry too much about failure. I think everyone worries about that, but the thing to remember is if you fail, at least you will have learned something in the process.


What are your tools for work and how do you define your style?

For the past year I have mainly been working with India ink on paper. I enjoy drawing on old book pages, sheet music, or any paper surface that has an aged quality to it. I use dip pens with nibs and small brushes for ink washes. Lately, I have been expanding my range of mediums to include graphite, watercolor and collage as well. I really don’t like to put artwork being made these days into stylistic categories. I think it causes people to have preconceptions about the work, and hinders their initial impression of it. It’s also just kind of difficult describing your own work. I think it’s much easier to describe the work of someone else.


Who inspires you? Other artist or designers you admire?

I think just the idea of creating something that doesn’t yet exist in the world is one of my biggest inspirations. Playing the role of creator in a world that I’ve brought to life on paper is extremely rewarding for me. Literature is a great influence in my work as well. Fairy tales, folk tales, and mythology have been strong influences in my work. I have so much admiration for illustrators such as William Blake, Mary Blair, Edward Gorey, Gustaf Tenggren, Kay Nielsen, Eyvind Earle, and Charley Harper. I also really love the work of surrealists such as Max Ernst and Giorgio De Chirico. I’m completely fascinated by the extreme detail found in Medieval and Renaissance art (particularly illuminated manuscripts), early Netherlandish painting, as well as Persian and Indian painting.


As a creator, what's the most important thing you think that a creator should always keep in mind?

Be true to your own vision.

Whats your hobby?

I love watching cooking shows and enjoy cooking for family and friends. I also like watching a large variety of movies. Some of my favorites include Fantastic Planet, Nobody Knows, Onibaba, Woman in the Dunes, The Ice Storm, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, and Jan Svankmajer’s Alice.


What would you do if you changed your career?

I think a career in film editing and cinematography would be interesting.

How do you spend a day?

I usually get up around 9:30, eat breakfast, drink some tea or coffee while checking my email, start on some art, break for lunch, and work some more until dinner. Sometimes I do my work in the evening and go to bed late. It all really depends on how involved with something I am at the moment. I also try to go for a walk outside at some point during the day.


What's your next plan?

Things are actually pretty busy at the moment, which is a good thing. Aside from constantly working on new artwork, I’m always thinking about new projects. I recently finished making my first zine, and am brainstorming ideas for my next one. I’m always on the lookout for exhibitions to submit work to, and new ways to network. Networking is always a challenge for me, but it’s something I think I’m slowly getting better at. I’ve been trading artwork with other artists lately too, which is always fun and a good way to connect with other creative people. A lot of the artwork I’m doing right now is sort of a stepping stone to getting myself to start painting. It’s not something I have done a whole lot of before, but I want to become as comfortable with it as I am with other mediums, such as ink. So I’m slowly trying to expand my range of mediums and lean towards using more color in my work. I don’t want to be limited to just black and white forever. Also, I recently released my first artist prints which are available through a website called Society6, and I expect to release more in the near future.


http://jonmacnairportfolio.society6.com/store


Lastly, could you give some suggestions for the freshman in illustration?
I guess I would say three things. First, be persistent if you want to get work. You have to do everything in your power to promote your work in order to get work. Illustration is a very competitive field. Second, be patient. Don’t expect success overnight. I think I was kind of naïve after I graduated college in my idea of what it would take to get noticed. I was a bit discouraged by the lack of responses I got from potential clients, but I later realized that things don’t always pay off immediately. You never know who is holding onto your self-promotion pieces, just waiting to hire you. Don’t take the initial lack of response as a “no.” And third, I would advise people going into illustration to try and expand their knowledge to include some graphic design, as the line between graphic design and illustration seems to become more and more blurred these days.


Washington Square Review (winter/spring 2010 issue)

Just got my copies of The Washington Square Review in the mail the other day. I was asked if I would like to have my work featured in the publication a few months back and I happily said yes. One of my images is on the cover as well as five more images inside. Looking forward to reading the literature inside. Here are some pictures.


Friday, February 12, 2010

Blanket Magazine


My work was selected for the current issue of Blanket Magazine "I Think I Can Fly." Blanket is an online PDF magazine that features work from artists around the world. I'm honored to be included in this publication for the second time. Check it out here!


Also, just wanted to remind you all that there are two shows opening tonight. One in Culver City California and one in Portland Oregon. If you live in either city, consider checking them out. See previous blog entry.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Two shows opening on the 12th!


This is the second show I've been involved in with Launch Pad Gallery. The 5th Annual "Love show" is taking place at Olympic Mills Commerce Center this year. If you're in Portland, be sure to stop by. There's over 300 artists participating!



This show opens in two days at WWA Gallery in Culver City California. If you live in the area, go see it! I've got one piece in it and there are a lot of great artists involved. Other participants: Justin Aerni, David M. Ball, Dan Barry, Eric Thomas Bostrom, Julian Callos, David Chung, Dave Cooper, David Cooper, Rob Corless, Edward Robin Coronel, Jason Cullison, Deadly Daisy, Bob Dob, Thomas Fuchs, Dan Harding, Frank Kozik, Kristy Anne Ligones, Jacob Livengood, Thomas Lynch III, Jon MacNair, Lily Mae Martin, Lee Misenheimer, Josie Newman, Rey Ortega, Gary Palmer, KRK Ryden, Dylan Sisson, Jason Smith, Jared Stumpenhorst, Tracy Tomoko, Ori Toor, and Adam Werther

WWA gallery
9517 Culver Blvd Culver City, CA 90232

Monday, February 1, 2010

Fogged Clarity


Check out this month's issue of "Fogged Clarity," an online arts review that showcases literary, musical, and visual artists. I am very happy to say I am part of this months issue.

check it out HERE.