toner Jonathan Keeton describe is art works as “a meditation on what I am seeing and on the impulse to honor the natural world; that everything is just so. I also feel that at night our influence wanes and the natural beauty and mystery of things takes over again, so it is landscapes and nocturnes that I am drawn to”.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Most of my inspiration comes from going on extended rambles in nature, or wandering around at night. I take photographs and work from those in the studio.
Which is the relationship and influence between your cultural background and your artworks?
I have a pretty western upbringing, but was fortunate to spend time out of the United States in Europe and South America to temper the American point of view somewhat. Also I spent many years working in digital visual effects, and so have am working through a need to make realistic images. If I live long enough, I might move past that.
What are you much focused in?
I have spent some time improving what I might call my spiritual practice in the past two years, spending more time on yoga and meditation to stay clear in order to better focus on making art. I spend a fair amount of time in nature, which is healing and inspirational.
Have you encountered any difficulties when you first started your your art/freelance career?
In my previous career, there were very tight and inflexible deadlines, demanding clients and a lot of money at stake for each project. Now none of that is the case, so all my motivation has to come from within. Also, marketing oneself as an artist is a demanding and somewhat unenjoyable task.
Over these years, what is the most important thing you have learnt from your profession?
Some of the best advice I ever got was in college, and that basically that until a work was finished, neither myself nor anyone else would know if it was successful. Also it’s important to believe in oneself and not stop working! It’s a long game.
Do you think that a creative job is just creativity or is it discipline too?
A creative job demands, in many ways, more discipline than more ‘normal’ jobs. Because one is working alone, the outside feedback and motivation isn’t there. And I find that this work is more demanding of myself, in many ways. And the craft is always slightly out of reach, no matter how one improves!
Are you currently at work on new projects?
I was fortunate to be given two commissions recently. One, a small acrylic night scene, was recently finished and delivered. The other, a large watercolor landscape, is waiting for me in my studio now to be finished.
“Until a work was finished, neither myself
nor anyone else would know if it was successful.
Also it’s important to believe in oneself
and not stop working! It’s a long game”
“My work is a meditation on what I am seeing and on the impulse to honor the natural world“
“A creative job demands, in many ways, more discipline than more ‘normal’ jobs.
Because one is working alone, the outside
feedback and motivation isn’t there”
Jonathan Keeton studied painting and theater, and worked as a schoolteacher, a waiter and actor and then spent thirty years as a pioneer in digital visual effects for television, films and commercials, before returning to his first love, painting landscapes and nocturnes. He lives in Santa Fe. (source)
Artist Website > www.jonathankeeton.com
Instagram > @jonathan.keeton
Facebook > www.facebook.com/jonathankeetonartist
Pinterest > www.pinterest.com/jonathankeeton
