I really enjoyed this interview! My first thought was: I like looking at these paintings! Whenever I visit a gallery or museum I always feel a little silly. Usually, I find some pieces I love, but a lot of it goes right over my head, which is fine, but also I think a lot of those artists are trying to go over my head, which is also fine, but sorta strange too. Anyway, I really appreciated hearing about his journey and his thoughts on what makes something art. I also agree that his story seems very typical, which is what makes it so interesting!
As for the pay phone, I’m really tempted. Sure, the price is better than the iPhone, but you had me at 70s drug dealer.
Speaking of vice, I like the trash photo but I feel like it’s missing a sex-related sin. Maybe a discarded sex toy or something. I dunno. But get it together, Brooklyn😁
This might get me trouble but they say on average writer IQs are higher than artist IQs. So if we don't "get" the art it's for sure the fault of the artist.
One of the most important moments in my development as an artist was when I got an opinion about art. I started out naive, open to everything, non-judgmental—and it was beautiful, to be so open—and then I learned to dislike some things but I felt bad about disliking them, as if it were somehow my fault that I didn’t understand. But the breakthrough came when I realized that some art really just genuinely SUCKS. Execrable. Abominations. Peepee dicky. And then I was so much happier, to finally see the light. And from that moment on I devoted myself to making candy for the eye and brain.
I like your focus on the art of giving up. Years ago I tried to take up tennis. Lessons, practice, the works. One day it dawned on me that I just didn’t like it and being a gym rat was more my style. What a relief.
I loved the paintings and interview with Jonathan Butterick. His paintings seem half Van Gogh/half photorealism but unique. The painting View From My Window reminded me of illustrator Tibor Gergely’s work (and that’s a compliment).
Thanks for the support! And you can have a painting, although they seem to be selling like hotcakes so maybe you should act fast! Prints are cheap: https://goodnightnur.se/prints/ and obviously I need to paint more to replenish my stock.
This is another great one, Anne. Also: you'll recall that on an episode of The Brady Bunch, Mike and Carol installed a pay phone in their home to teach the kids a lesson. ("Sorry, Right Number" Season 1, episode 9, streaming on Hulu.)
I googled this and found a plot summary on TVMaze.com. It sounds so wonderful:
"With nine people in the house, Mike gets frustrated when he can never get any time on the phone for himself. He decides to install a second phone line, but that only makes the problem worse. Thanks to one of Alice's ideas, Mike decides to install a pay phone in the family room. The plan works ... until Mike needs to use the phone one day to set up an appointment with a hard-to-please, heavily scrutinizing developer ... and when the phone company cuts the call off and Mike doesn't have a dime, the developer isn't too amused at all. But in the end, the pay phone proves its worth, both for Mike's blood pressure and securing a multi-million-dollar contract for Mike's firm."
Oh! I forgot to answer your question. I’ve quit plenty of things in my time, but the two things that were a joy to quit were practicing law and screenwriter. I was a better screenwriter than lawyer, but both made me pretty miserable.
I can't believe you were lawyer! I wonder if there are more former lawyers than there are lawyers. It certainly seems to be an occupation people love to leave.
I’ve wondered that too. Law is a very easy profession to quit. A few years after I quit, I got a job at a publication where I mostly interviewed lawyers who had gone on to non-legal careers. Everyone I spoke to was thrilled with their decision.
If purchasing your own payphone is of interest, there was a great post linked in today’s Today in Tabs all about how someone did it! Love that payphones.com made itself known to me twice in the span of a few minutes...maybe it’s trying to tell me something? https://bert.org/2022/06/02/payphone/
So glad people are starting to learn about Jonathan's art. The guy's a mad genius.
He does seem to have a lot of layers. I'm looking forward to seeing what he does next!
I really enjoyed this interview! My first thought was: I like looking at these paintings! Whenever I visit a gallery or museum I always feel a little silly. Usually, I find some pieces I love, but a lot of it goes right over my head, which is fine, but also I think a lot of those artists are trying to go over my head, which is also fine, but sorta strange too. Anyway, I really appreciated hearing about his journey and his thoughts on what makes something art. I also agree that his story seems very typical, which is what makes it so interesting!
As for the pay phone, I’m really tempted. Sure, the price is better than the iPhone, but you had me at 70s drug dealer.
Speaking of vice, I like the trash photo but I feel like it’s missing a sex-related sin. Maybe a discarded sex toy or something. I dunno. But get it together, Brooklyn😁
"Get it together Brooklyn!" LOL
This might get me trouble but they say on average writer IQs are higher than artist IQs. So if we don't "get" the art it's for sure the fault of the artist.
Okay, I just made that up. But still.
One of the most important moments in my development as an artist was when I got an opinion about art. I started out naive, open to everything, non-judgmental—and it was beautiful, to be so open—and then I learned to dislike some things but I felt bad about disliking them, as if it were somehow my fault that I didn’t understand. But the breakthrough came when I realized that some art really just genuinely SUCKS. Execrable. Abominations. Peepee dicky. And then I was so much happier, to finally see the light. And from that moment on I devoted myself to making candy for the eye and brain.
Really enjoyed this interview with Jonathan! The art is beautiful. I hope Jonathan is able to find a way to stay in NYC and continue with his passion.
Me too! And I love that your newsletter is about Atlanta Coffee Shops—so fun. I am subscribing right now!
Jonny is a visionary and you should buy his stuff now.
wierd trash heap = great story prompt
Oh I didn't think of that. But yes!
Who are some of his favorite artists?
Oh I hope hope hope he returns and answers these questions!
I like your focus on the art of giving up. Years ago I tried to take up tennis. Lessons, practice, the works. One day it dawned on me that I just didn’t like it and being a gym rat was more my style. What a relief.
So great! Yes, exercise that I hate has been one of the most satisfying things to give up on!
Really enjoyed it.
Thank you Best Piratebay Proxy List. I am really enjoying your name!
I loved the paintings and interview with Jonathan Butterick. His paintings seem half Van Gogh/half photorealism but unique. The painting View From My Window reminded me of illustrator Tibor Gergely’s work (and that’s a compliment).
What a great way to describe. them! Yes I think it's that "real/not real" quality that makes them so great.
I’d never heard of Tibor G before, but thanks for the comparison. His stuff is great!
Great interview and article! Would love to have one of his paintings!
Buy one while they're still cheap!
Thanks for the support! And you can have a painting, although they seem to be selling like hotcakes so maybe you should act fast! Prints are cheap: https://goodnightnur.se/prints/ and obviously I need to paint more to replenish my stock.
Yes PAINT MORE
"Just imagine, if you worked at home, you could conduct all your business from a pay phone, like a ’70s drug dealer" 🤣🤣🤣
Anne I completely LOVE your newsletter! I was reading this on the subway and laughed out so loud 🤣🤣🤣
:))) spoken like a true fellow dealer!
This is another great one, Anne. Also: you'll recall that on an episode of The Brady Bunch, Mike and Carol installed a pay phone in their home to teach the kids a lesson. ("Sorry, Right Number" Season 1, episode 9, streaming on Hulu.)
Thanks Kevin!
I googled this and found a plot summary on TVMaze.com. It sounds so wonderful:
"With nine people in the house, Mike gets frustrated when he can never get any time on the phone for himself. He decides to install a second phone line, but that only makes the problem worse. Thanks to one of Alice's ideas, Mike decides to install a pay phone in the family room. The plan works ... until Mike needs to use the phone one day to set up an appointment with a hard-to-please, heavily scrutinizing developer ... and when the phone company cuts the call off and Mike doesn't have a dime, the developer isn't too amused at all. But in the end, the pay phone proves its worth, both for Mike's blood pressure and securing a multi-million-dollar contract for Mike's firm."
SPOILERS!
I hope Jonathan is inspired to do a series of NYC crazy trash pile pictures.
He would make them really beautiful!
I’m not, but I appreciate the sentiment!
Oh! I forgot to answer your question. I’ve quit plenty of things in my time, but the two things that were a joy to quit were practicing law and screenwriter. I was a better screenwriter than lawyer, but both made me pretty miserable.
I can't believe you were lawyer! I wonder if there are more former lawyers than there are lawyers. It certainly seems to be an occupation people love to leave.
I’ve wondered that too. Law is a very easy profession to quit. A few years after I quit, I got a job at a publication where I mostly interviewed lawyers who had gone on to non-legal careers. Everyone I spoke to was thrilled with their decision.
If purchasing your own payphone is of interest, there was a great post linked in today’s Today in Tabs all about how someone did it! Love that payphones.com made itself known to me twice in the span of a few minutes...maybe it’s trying to tell me something? https://bert.org/2022/06/02/payphone/
I love the writer's description of the pay phone she received: "It didn't smell so great."
Ahhh, this is so encouraging. Thank you for finding this art, this story, this light.
Thanks DCM. It found me!