*Last month I attended the opening of an exhibition of my paintings and drawings at Pensacola State College in Pensacola, Florida. The gallery director had asked for an "Artist's Statement," to be included in the catalogue accompanying the exhibition. If you've ever written an "Artist's Statement," you understand the challenge. If you've ever had to read one, I feel your pain.
A SORT OF TIMELINE
By Jonathan Twingley
-My Dad’s a retired high school art instructor. He has a Master’s Degree in printmaking. A three-foot-tall painting I made on the back of one of his test-proofs when I was three years old hangs in a frame on the wall of my studio today.
-My Mom’s been a college librarian for thirty-six years. When I was a kid I often spent Sunday evenings with her at the library, reading books and listening to Jazz records on vinyl in a private listening room. The library was built on a snake pit, so I always inspected the listening room thoroughly before reading and listening to Jazz LP’s.
-I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in drawing from the University of Minnesota Moorhead, but I spent a lot of time in the English Department there, too.
-Five months before I graduated from college, I applied to a prestigious graduate program in New York City (“Illustration as Visual Essay” at the School of Visual Arts). My application was accepted, probably because the people at the school wanted to see the look on a kid from North Dakota’s face when he was dropped off at the corner of 23rd Street and Lexington Avenue in midtown Manhattan for the first time.
-After I left North Dakota, people back home always asked me: “How long are you gonna stay in New York City?” I always replied: “I don’t know. I could only afford a one-way ticket, so I suppose I’m saving up for the return.”
-It’s a ridiculous notion that you can somehow make a living making paintings and drawings. Don’t do it.
-On the other hand, “making a living” is a tricky thing to do these days, generally speaking, and a lot of the time simply “living” is a brain bender. So draw in a sketchbook and make a mess with some paint from time to time, even if you’re not an artist. None of us are “artists.” We’re all just trying to make up a life, and drawing and painting are fun.
-On June 19th 2005 I met Helen Putnam at Columbus Circle on the southwestern corner of Central Park in New York City.
-On June 19th 2011 Helen Putnam changed her name to Helen Twingley on Miss Bea Beach on the island of St. Croix.
-Fall in love sometime. It’s a hoot.
-Life is short.
-Death is long.
-Try to enjoy yourself.
