Today we’d like to introduce you to John Moonan.
Hi John, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am an artist from Austin Texas. Art has played a critical role in my life in terms of my growth and development as a human being as well as shifting my daily perspective of existence. My current medium is ceramics and my work is inspired by nature and the psychedelic experience. As a creative individual, I strive to enlighten others of their natural abilities to create, spreading the joy of making art that comes from oneself. Although I do not make art as a means to financially sustain myself, I do my best to intertwine all things art in my day-to-day job. I currently work with persons who have special needs. I have a passion for being of service to those in need. I deeply enjoy encouraging others to laugh and create.
During the school year, I host an adapted art class in north Austin every Saturday, offering activities and projects that cater to children with disabilities. Teaching others about the basics of art can bring joy to both parties in participation, a child can walk away with a special creation and I get to learn more about how art has an impact on the world. I have always been intrigued by art from a young age and over time my appreciation has flourished for all art forms. I was exposed to clay in grade school and found it fun but never considered that one day it would be my favorite. Revisiting the medium 6 years ago put me on a winding path of learning that brings me to where I am today. I work out of my home studio and participate in markets around the city. Getting to talk to others about my work brings me joy and helps me maintain a creative drive. I plan to travel in and out of the country to observe how art is taught and learn more about the many translations of styles and techniques. My journey is still in its infancy and I am eager to see how paths unfold.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When it comes to the creative process there are many things that can spark ideas for new projects. Moments in time, music, nature, and other art to name a few. Sometimes there can be attempts at making a new piece using a technique that I have never tried before and sometimes there are projects that have a familiarity in terms of my approach with techniques. Challenges and obstacles always have a presence within the process and are quite necessary for learning more about the art form itself. There can be micro hiccups, such as a glaze imperfection or macro disasters such as breaking a piece that had many hours of work put into it. These issues are always handled with fineness by having trust in my abilities and good faith in the process. Ceramics holds my attention because of the many possibilities of making something that is very tangible that also has a wide spectrum of functions. I try my best to appeal to the whole range of functionality by making art that appeals to people’s interests and/or needs.
Most of my work that I make is incorporated with textures and patterns that can be experienced through tactile and optical interactions. By focusing heavily on this, I encourage the viewers to have a sense of wonder and playfulness when looking at my creations. Also, by using found objects such as raw materials from nature or discarded man-made materials (aka trash), when people see recognizable things in a work of art whether it be a slab of wood or a strand of barbed wire, a relationship is established that can create a bridge between consciousness and matter. I have an interest in people’s relational experience with art and how the direct experience can be passed on to others through an interpretation of perception. There are many ways to tell a story and as an artist, the door is open to just about everything. Transfiguration of emotions, sensations, thoughts, beliefs, and knowledge can only be done through harnessing one’s experience. Art contributes to the expansion of the web in which we are all connected and I am pleased to be able to participate in such a venture.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Finding your way in the art world can be daunting at some points, for it is a vast realm with limitless possibilities. Following your intuition can take you to some interesting places. I create my art with the intent to open doors for others, hoping that their curiosity carries them through. Crafting an opportunity for the viewers to dive further into the works and interpret them subjectively through their relationship with what they see. Making money through my artwork can be nice sometimes but I consider the real payment to be the conversations held around such works. Art has an importance in terms of how we observe our position in daily life and can be a fertile nesting ground for understanding the world around us.
In the near future I plan on taking trips around the world to observe different kinds of art and learn more about its cultural impact. I have an interest in ancient architecture and how form can exist within a space that has the potential to create sacred relationships between humans and the world we live in. I would love to be able to provide the services of educating others about the basics of ceramics and other art forms to those who have not been exposed to such things. Essentially traveling around the world teaching art is the current dream. Life is a crazy and beautiful place, being alive means having the ability to learn and love and I plan on doing both of those things for the rest of my time in this incarnation.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Jmoo_art
Image Credits
@_da_photos_ (personal photo)
