Portfolio Review 4: Jon Daniel

Jon Daniel is an Independent creative director from London.
I fIrst encountered Johns work in the first year of my degree course when writing a blog post about works I wish that I had done, the example I chose was this poignant, simple but very effective image to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the murder of Stephen Lawrence in London.

                                   

So my reasoning in asking Jon to review my work was the depth and level of meaning within his work,  this was something I myself needed and so advice and direction from somebody with the elements in their work that I crave for my own was going to be ideal and pretty priceless.
Here is what Jon had to say..

Hi Mark Have had a look at your site and I think your "watercolour" works are by far the best work on the site. I think the others featuring music and sports icons are too similar to what is already out there, and if you are to do it then maybe think how you can make if more original and in a style of your own. I also was insure with those images whether they were actually painted or just digitally manipulated photographs. If the former then you need to do something to show that either photographing the artworks so I can see textures of the canvas or scale of the image may also help. I think you could look at the watercolours too and keep pushing it again to develop your style. Or even experimenting with the media you use to paint on? Eg. Old recycled packaging or cardboard boxes could add an interesting dimension to the work. Imagine a series of sportspeople but illustrated on old sports shoe boxes? Anyways that's all I got for you right now, but I hope you find it constructive and helpful. Warmest regards Johnny

So again a very short and to the point review, but also very helpful even offering ideas for future works, with plenty to mull over and take on board.
Jon also touched the same points that Kelzo and Chris Howker made in previous reviews.
This has struck home to the full extent now, that my work though aesthetically pleasing just does not stand out and its up to me to change that.
I will provide a link to Jon's website for you all to browse and appreciate in your own time.

www.jon-daniel.com

I Wish I'd Done That

When asked to blog about an artwork I felt 'I wish I'd done', initially I felt quite over awed,
how could I possibly choose one piece of art from the many thousands I have seen and felt that small pang of creative jealousy over!?
The feeling of 'wow, why did I not think of that'.
After toiling over it for a while, I remembered a quote from my interview with Benjamin Wachenje.
The quote was regarding a piece he had done of his son.
He told me...'I had just turned down a job with the US army worth over $100,000. Since I had decided not to help them create recruitment posters I thought I had better make some pro-peace images. It really helped take my mind off the $100,000 I had kissed good bye too and made me consider how powerful art can be'.

The Image above is the one Ben referred to in his quote.

Now, my 'wish I'd done that' is more of a 'hope I could do that', meaning that if the chance arose that I could also be as true to my beliefs and uphold my integrity in such a way.

Considering the current financial climate around the world, to be upstanding and strong enough to turn down such a sum of money for doing something you love to do is a feat not found in many humans, and those that can do it, are of a moral fibre that is rarer than the proverbial rocking horse droppings.

In a point in history where I feel money is the main motivator of people and the thing that really does make the world go round, to be able to make such a choice would make me the a very proud man.

Without a doubt, money IS a motivator, after all its one of the main reasons people get out of bed in a morning, wether it be to go to work, or to 'sign on' at the job centre, making money is at the forefront of 90% the populations life long 'to do' list.

A person in the other 5% is a very rare find, so to feel like you belong within that small percentage would be an achievement in itself.

If I'm honest, and ask myself would I be able to turn down such an offer, I'm not sure I could, but I like to think I would.

Now if I refer to an actual piece of work 'I wish I'd done' im going to cite an image I came across last  night on facebook of all places.

Its a political piece which in itself is not something I would consider, but this is to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the awful Murder of Stephen Lawrence in London, in April 1993.

The creator of the piece is Mr Jon Daniel, working out of London.

http://www.jon-daniel.com/home.html 

Not only is the Image relevant, its important. 

Done in such a simple way, but carries such an important message to not just those who remember the heinous nature of this racially motivated murder of a young man who did nothing to deserve having his life cut short but its done in such a minimal and simplistic way.

If a picture paints a thousand words, then here is the evidence.

This definantly gave me that creative 'jealousy pang' I mentioned earlier in my post.

The image has undertones of Noma Bar's work, one of the first Illustrators my tutor, Joanne Spicer, introduced me to on first joining the course, this is probably another reason it stood out to me.

Before I began my course, my choice for such a topic would probably have been an image of a transformer or Spiderman fighting with The Incredible Hulk, or a graffiti piece (not Banksy, thats a whole new blog post!) but since I started the course I have had my eyes opened to eclectic world of illustration and what Illustration actually is.

So there it is, not only what 'I wish I'd done, but what 'I hope I could do'.