Interview

Jul 8

John D. Rosenthal

At the age of seven, John had decided that he wanted to be an artist and not really knowing what that would look like, he was excited to go surfing and to one day be painting something. John spent his fourth year of elementary school drawing – drawing characters every day. As it turned out, he did not pass grade four, although he did get a few gold stars for his drawings. From 12 noon until 5pm in grade 7, John spent the afternoon in the art supply room, the door wasn’t locked. He made a float-plane frame out of balsa wood strips – the wing span was as long as my arms. In Grade 9 art class, half of John’s drawings were taken and so his grade was low. He was a little bothered by it. After high school, John started to paint. He received his B.F.A from Emily Carr University, with a Major in Visual Arts. He is an independent author who has worked as an artist in residence, art instructor, children’s book author-illustrator, in-home muralist. His greatest desire and primary motivation is to paint, encourage and engage children of all ages.

Art is the question you create an answer for. Although, the only one John can encourage as well to motivate would be his seven year old self. To paint and that painting creates more paintings. Discover reading, writing, more reading, drawing, riding a whale of a long-board, going street surfing can be and will lead you to be totally stoked in the pursuit of happiness. Continue to be stoked and continuing to paint. Push with your, foot bend your knees and look where you want to go creating a safe fine balance on the boards and in life.

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“A desire to be an artist at the age of seven, starting with drawing always drawing and colouring. Grade four was spent drawing and always drawing in and at every lesson plan, although I did not pass grade four. My teacher liked a lot of my creations. I started to paint in my late teens and by my early 20's, I painted everyday for a year preparing a portfolio for University. With a recognizing of my inner eight year old with drawing, skateboarding and a deep desire to one day be surfing. All of these elements are put together to form my painting years at Emily Carr university in Vancouver B.C. Canada also a short bus ride from where I was living. This work today is an eight foot long-board skateboard, and wanting to share some words that were not given to me growing up when I wanted to be an artist.”

What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?

“With painting, my desire and hope would be to encourage you the viewer, scroller, swiper to paint to create something and to encourage your inner eight year artist and not to forget you are awesome.”

Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?

“Drawing, drawings and more drawings to be infused into the piece I am working on, drawings to painting and always changing along the way and eventually will complete the piece.”

Are there any art world trends you are following?

“As for this long board as well for the other skateboards and long-board-skateboards that are in this series. They are painted to look to be in a style of a silk screen with the black outlines and bright colours. with a quiet encouragement, Possibly a trend, skateboarding and mostly the graphics on them are a trend, It strongly appears that anything go's with the graphics on boards.”

What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?

“Drawing is the first thing, measuring the plywood, drawing out the shape, cutting, gluing, then hand shaping the final shape.”

What does your art mean to you?

“To make my inner artist eight year old feel recognized, as well for my eighty eight year old self to cultivate creativity. And really to give something of encouragement for someone to create something and maybe a little laugh, looking at what I have painted.”

What’s your favorite artwork and why?

“The rich and vibrant paint strokes and colours of Vincent Van Goth and the Group of Seven. The works of Frida Kahlo and Jean Michel Basquiat are also truly bold.”