So… how’s everybody? To all the millions who’ve been frantically checking my blog for the past year, I have some exciting information to share with you: Jack is back. You’ll have to ponder the possible symbolic meaning of negative space as content on some other blog. Where have I been? Why, selling my soul to the devils of capitalism, of course! And let me tell you, it was a hard sell. Here’s a quick run down of career-related adventures in my so-called life post-graduation to get you avid fans up to date.
Immediately after graduation I decided to take a break from drawing and give in to the (assumed) nagging from the movie industry to bless the silver screen with my raw, unpolished, “outsider” acting skills. Thus, I made my first foray into film. I know, I can hear you saying, what can’t this guy do? Well sir or madam, acting is certainly not one thing that this guy can’t do:
Despite the amazing critical and commercial success of Evan Almighty (above), I realized my true passion lay with Paramount’s King’s Dominion. After a few graphic design companies must have forgotten to call me back, I emerged as one of the few elite artists accepted from the competitive application process to draw Caricature artworks at a theme park. Really, this did end up being a great experience alongside some fantastic artists. I should’ve been doing it throughout college. One Fredo Gonzalez drew this kickin’ picture of yours truly:
While I studied the fine art of drawing people with exaggerated noses during the day, I immersed myself in graphic design at night. At this point, I had become discouraged with illustration for a number of reasons. I wanted to switch to something still involving art, but not necessarily involving constant stressful all nighters, almost certain years of near bankruptcy, and mountains of debt hanging over me as the cherry on top. Worst of all, I never felt satisfied with the work I made so many sacrifices to produce. So, I began educating myself on graphic design, with the gracious help of some condescending graphic designer friends (holla!).
The winter after my season at the theme park ended up being a challenging time regarding money, finding work, teaching myself a new discipline, and not getting any decent snowfall for the third year in a row. I spent this period alternately avoiding paid work so that I could work on my portfolio in my “free time," and squabbling for paid work when rent and my stomach won out over ambition. During this period I did a lot of freelance and contract work in mural painting, web design, caricaturing, and etc. in addition to promotional portfolio work:
Mural for a friend
I ironed sheets and and scrubbed floors via photoshop for a few mind-numbing weeks, and my sanity has never fully recovered.
Dave and I painted this mural for children to throw balls at.
As fate would have it, just as my student loan grace period ended, with nothing left in my bank account for the fifth or sixth time since winter started, I landed a great graphic design job. I’ve been working for Urban Views Weekly for almost a year now doing all the print, web, and collateral design. It’s a fantastic job, I feel extremely fortunate to have it.
Which leads me right back here. Now that I can put bread on the table, drawing and painting are calling me again. I can’t leave those old friends behind! I want to share new work, get feedback, and stay in better touch with the art community in general with this blog. This blog’s existence should also be extra incentive for me to actually deliver new work on a consistent basis, especially if a dialogue starts up (as I hope it will). I intend to post something new almost daily, even if it’s something quick. I’ve come up with a lot of ideas as far as directions I’m interested in exploring over the past year of absence from dedicated picture making, so I have plenty to produce. Stay tuned & bookmark it.
