"You Ought To Know!" -- An ArtStudentGallery.com (ASG) July 2009 Feature Interview with emerging Graffiti Artist, Jon Turner
Interview written & submitted by Chelsea E. Hutcherson
Contact: hutcherson.chelsea@gmail.com
Introducing Jon Turner, an extremely talented Graphic Design/Illustration student at the University of Miami. Graduating in 2010, JT definitely ain't stoppin' there. Read up a little bit on this unique artist below, view his portfolio at http://www.relishink.blogspot.com & be sure to follow Relish Ink... coming soon!
ASG: What do you like most about what you do; about being an artist?
Jon: I am currently a graphic design student at the University of Miami, and what I like most about it is having the personal ability and freedom to put together work that may not usually be used in the field, but turning it into something that my professors can really appreciate by dedicating hard work and creative innovation. I may not be the most knowledgeable 'computer whiz' that some of my fellow classmates represent, but I do feel that I make up for it with the work I create outside of an Adobe program that crosses multiple bridges and makes my completed art that much stronger.
ASG: What have been the keys to your success? Any great personal success stories, or setbacks?
Jon: I don't consider myself truly successful; YET, because I have not put the time into a formal and professional arena with my artwork. However; I do feel that once I am consistently happy in the finished product of my art pieces that represent personal challenge and visibly better works than my previous projects, I will indefinitely achieve a great personal success in my eyes, and this is of utmost importance to me at this stage in my career.
ASG: What are some ways you have found success early on in promoting your career as an artist?
Jon: Word of mouth is essential, keeping in touch with friends is key. Relaying pictures on to friends from different areas helps to keep people in numerous outlets updated with new art and work that I am creating, and also the Internet is beyond important; using my BlogSpot website has proven very useful.
ASG: Why do you think, or not think that it is a challenge to pursue towards success in a career based upon passion and creativity?
Jon: I would have to say that the hardest challenge is the fear of not being financially stable. Going into college, for the first two years I was under the impression that I would graduate with a Business degree because I doubted the possibilities of making money with one in Art. However; when I was introduced to a class in Graphic Design, I realized what I had been missing. I recognized that this was one of the first steps in the right direction that I could take to potentially get paid decently and still be able to put forth my creativity and talent.
ASG: What practical skills do you believe are needed to develop as an artist?
Jon: I think as an artist in general, it varies in the realm of skills that an individual needs to work on obtaining because of different medians, but one that I believe to be universal, without a doubt is patience. Being able to allow yourself to produce something incredible may (and usually does) take more than one try. It may be visibly crystal clear in your head, but once you begin to put it to canvas, the idea may seem to fall apart. Once you recognize that you can correctly solve your problems without falling short or becoming fed-up if it isn't turning out the way that you had hoped, you will become a better artist.
ASG: What advice would you give artists, or recent graduates that resemble similar to yourself, trying to accomplish the transition between creating their art into a profession?
Jon: This is definitely the chapter of my life that I am currently standing in, and I am about to make this very transition within the next year. The advice I would offer that I abide by myself is to constantly keep building my portfolio, and to keep learning. I try to challenge myself with tasks and art in approaching ideas that I might not normally do; I like to bring old projects back to the table and look at pieces I have created in the past to see what inspirations and influences arise.
ASG: What have you enjoyed and/or disliked about your art-related education up to this point?
Jon: Ever since I was a kid, the University of Miami has been my dream school, so I transferred before my Junior year of college. The main aspect of art education that I have enjoyed the most is definitely the ability my professors hold to teach their students something that they wouldn't normally learn in a class, or even read in a book. The experience they have held in their lives relates to all of us as college students, and they have shared honest opinions of their day to day business by informing us of the correct way of doing business with our potential careers and how to reap its benefits. Also, constantly being introduced to so many art forms from the past to the modern day forefront has been amazing. One of my favorite medians today, is silkscreening; this past year I have completely fallen in love with the physical aspect of re-creating your work and being able to produce multiple copies without the use of a computer.
ASG: Were you always a painter?
Jon: I started spray painting my freshman year of college, but before that I was never taught much in any specific media. I have learned a lot from this, and am still learning everyday. I have been doing a lot of screen printing recently and have noticed that my work continues to get better with a greater understanding of the craft in constant practice. You have the ability to draw anything you would like to turn into a painting, and create the masterpiece you have visualized with as much detail as you could possibly imagine. Then, you can reproduce it as many times as you want. With a creative mind, the possibilities are endless.
ASG: What areas in the United Sates, and/or the world do you see as being vibrant art centers, particularly for emerging artists like yourself who are just beginning?
Jon: My goal, personally is to move to New York within the next year or two and begin working on obtaining my Master's Degree. With that being said, I truly believe that NYC is and always has been a thriving, cultivating artistic center that will remain for years to come. I have yet to travel all of the places out of the country that I hope to within my lifetime, but some other vibrant locations I would love to visit from an artistic standpoint would be Paris, Amsterdam, Tokyo and London.
ASG: Any local and/or online resources that you would suggest to emerging artists to check out?
Jon: Man, anything you can get your hands on! Go to the library, ask your teachers for books, check out any and all local exhibits in your hometown, do anything that fits your interest and lets your style shine through. I have personally gained so many ideas from books dating back to the times of the Renaissance, from war propaganda posters to 60s and 70s album covers. I began to find new ideas from places like the phone book, even old magazines laying around the print shop in the UMiami art department, and this is always extremely exciting to me. I strongly believe in always keeping your eyes, and your mind open. Life is what you make it, the world is yours!
ASG: What have been the keys to your success? Any great personal success stories, or setbacks?
Jon: I don't consider myself truly successful; YET, because I have not put the time into a formal and professional arena with my artwork. However; I do feel that once I am consistently happy in the finished product of my art pieces that represent personal challenge and visibly better works than my previous projects, I will indefinitely achieve a great personal success in my eyes, and this is of utmost importance to me at this stage in my career.
ASG: What are some ways you have found success early on in promoting your career as an artist?
Jon: Word of mouth is essential, keeping in touch with friends is key. Relaying pictures on to friends from different areas helps to keep people in numerous outlets updated with new art and work that I am creating, and also the Internet is beyond important; using my BlogSpot website has proven very useful.
ASG: Why do you think, or not think that it is a challenge to pursue towards success in a career based upon passion and creativity?
Jon: I would have to say that the hardest challenge is the fear of not being financially stable. Going into college, for the first two years I was under the impression that I would graduate with a Business degree because I doubted the possibilities of making money with one in Art. However; when I was introduced to a class in Graphic Design, I realized what I had been missing. I recognized that this was one of the first steps in the right direction that I could take to potentially get paid decently and still be able to put forth my creativity and talent.
ASG: What practical skills do you believe are needed to develop as an artist?
Jon: I think as an artist in general, it varies in the realm of skills that an individual needs to work on obtaining because of different medians, but one that I believe to be universal, without a doubt is patience. Being able to allow yourself to produce something incredible may (and usually does) take more than one try. It may be visibly crystal clear in your head, but once you begin to put it to canvas, the idea may seem to fall apart. Once you recognize that you can correctly solve your problems without falling short or becoming fed-up if it isn't turning out the way that you had hoped, you will become a better artist.
ASG: What advice would you give artists, or recent graduates that resemble similar to yourself, trying to accomplish the transition between creating their art into a profession?
Jon: This is definitely the chapter of my life that I am currently standing in, and I am about to make this very transition within the next year. The advice I would offer that I abide by myself is to constantly keep building my portfolio, and to keep learning. I try to challenge myself with tasks and art in approaching ideas that I might not normally do; I like to bring old projects back to the table and look at pieces I have created in the past to see what inspirations and influences arise.
ASG: What have you enjoyed and/or disliked about your art-related education up to this point?
Jon: Ever since I was a kid, the University of Miami has been my dream school, so I transferred before my Junior year of college. The main aspect of art education that I have enjoyed the most is definitely the ability my professors hold to teach their students something that they wouldn't normally learn in a class, or even read in a book. The experience they have held in their lives relates to all of us as college students, and they have shared honest opinions of their day to day business by informing us of the correct way of doing business with our potential careers and how to reap its benefits. Also, constantly being introduced to so many art forms from the past to the modern day forefront has been amazing. One of my favorite medians today, is silkscreening; this past year I have completely fallen in love with the physical aspect of re-creating your work and being able to produce multiple copies without the use of a computer.
ASG: Were you always a painter?
Jon: I started spray painting my freshman year of college, but before that I was never taught much in any specific media. I have learned a lot from this, and am still learning everyday. I have been doing a lot of screen printing recently and have noticed that my work continues to get better with a greater understanding of the craft in constant practice. You have the ability to draw anything you would like to turn into a painting, and create the masterpiece you have visualized with as much detail as you could possibly imagine. Then, you can reproduce it as many times as you want. With a creative mind, the possibilities are endless.
ASG: What areas in the United Sates, and/or the world do you see as being vibrant art centers, particularly for emerging artists like yourself who are just beginning?
Jon: My goal, personally is to move to New York within the next year or two and begin working on obtaining my Master's Degree. With that being said, I truly believe that NYC is and always has been a thriving, cultivating artistic center that will remain for years to come. I have yet to travel all of the places out of the country that I hope to within my lifetime, but some other vibrant locations I would love to visit from an artistic standpoint would be Paris, Amsterdam, Tokyo and London.
ASG: Any local and/or online resources that you would suggest to emerging artists to check out?
Jon: Man, anything you can get your hands on! Go to the library, ask your teachers for books, check out any and all local exhibits in your hometown, do anything that fits your interest and lets your style shine through. I have personally gained so many ideas from books dating back to the times of the Renaissance, from war propaganda posters to 60s and 70s album covers. I began to find new ideas from places like the phone book, even old magazines laying around the print shop in the UMiami art department, and this is always extremely exciting to me. I strongly believe in always keeping your eyes, and your mind open. Life is what you make it, the world is yours!
Contact this artist at relish.ink09@yahoo.com. Also, be sure to check out http://www.ArtStudentGallery.com on the Web for all sorts of emerging student artists, interviews and featured works/articles about talent that you ought to know about! ;)
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