The Art and Discipline of Painting - Jon Conkey

Jon Conkey is an artist who lives in Mora, New Mexico. I have shared his unique blog called, Themeworks, a few times. Jon creates one small painting per day an posts the painting on the blog. He started in April 2006 and has committed to doing a year's worth - 365 paintings.

I recently checked back in with Jon to find out how things are going over at Themeworks. Here is our Q&A, with several of his paintings spread throughout. Good stuff!

Lisa: Why did you start Themeworks? What purpose did you hope the site and the discipline would serve?

Jon: "Themeworks" was started to serve as a record of my progress in the art of oil painting. As a life-long artist who had always applied my talents elsewhere, (basically, where I could get paid, offering my skills as a service), oil painting had eluded me entirely. I knew if I could complete 365 paintings in one year, I would gain the elusive knowledge of oil painting much quicker, while also, overcoming motivation blocks,  gaining a genuine flow of creativity, and learning to approach subjects with little prior knowledge.

Lisa: You are half way through the 365 days. How are things going? Are you getting the value you had hoped?

Jon: I would say things are excellent! Themeworks receives daily International attention , runs near the top 10% of "Topartsblogs" and "Blogtopsites".  Before, I used to worry about keeping up with the paintings, or ruining a piece after working on it all day.  Now, I only look forward to my daily creation, and what breakthrough awaits around the next corner, literally! In addition, I have acquired a palette to achieve any color note, I have learned to draw with my brush, and have achieved a working method that enables me to move quicker, and achieve a more desired result (technique).

 

Lisa: What are you doing with all your little paintings?

Jon: Well, they are all for sale directly from my blog www.jonconkey.blogspot.com by emailing me jon@jonconkey.com, some go onto my website www.jonconkey.com.  Sold paintings are labeled on the blog, and sizes are given next to the work (generally), prices start at $250. and go up from there.  The paintings have only recently begun to sell, inquiries have come from all over the World, mostly from other artists. One collector purchased 5 works, and some nice commissions have come in as well. I am hopeful this is a sign of things to come.

Lisa: Once the 365 days are up, what then?

Jon: I have thought a lot about that. I will continue to produce work, not everyday however, I will slow down a bit and focus more on slightly larger works. I will put more into each piece; instead of just painting a subject, I will produce a more complete work; one that reflects all that I have learned in the preceding year.  Hopefully, I will have made somewhat of a presence for myself in the art world; at least the blogging community will know me!

Lisa: Do you have a favorite painting? What is it and why is it your favorite?

Jon: Actually, I have two, one portrait, #109 Olive Complexion, and one landscape, #172 Harvest Moon. First #109,  when I realized that mixing the background color into the actual subject made the subject and background one element.

Secondly #172, because it was the beginning of me realizing to use more paint (thicker) in all my paintings; I never realized I had been painting "too thinly" in many of my past works (for my preference only, as many masters paint thinly). I finally recognized that this is what I really liked about most of my portraits; the "thicker looser" looking paint, it was also what I really liked about my most recent landscapes. These two paintings, for me, were the "jewels of enlightenment" for all this work so far; and are the "benchmarks" for those to follow. They are of the quality I want in my future works from here on out. By hitting on it naturally through experimentation, I was able to recognize it and make it a conscious practice; part of learning oil painting is to "recognize what you are doing right", sometimes easier said than done.