Do you feel more creative freedom or more restricted in any way and why?
Well…. I love location scouting for photo shoots and constantly changing up locations! That’s on hold. I love shooting new people! That’s on hold. I love going on the road with bands! That’s on hold. I love covering new types of events! That’s on hold. Yeah…. I’m going to have to go with “restricted.”
Have you explored any techniques or mediums during this time that are new to you?
Not really. Again, it’s hard to change things up while being stuck in one location and using one set of tools.
At the same time, I can’t help but to keep thinking about creative new things I want to try when this quarantine is lifted.
If you were going to pick a piece of art work you’ve created during quarantine or in the past that encapsulates this time, what would that be and why?
I haven’t done any painting during quarantine, so no…. no new art reflects this pandemic yet. However, two things come to mind.
First, I did a painting for an art show called “Black Plague” about ten years ago. It was a very subtle homage to Michelangelo’s Pietà. The painting was of a frail dying man in the arms of another man who was wearing a plague doctor’s mask. Behind them is a dark and tattered pride flag. The idea behind the piece was to draw a parallel between AIDS and the Black Plague.
Aside from attempting to tie a current social issue into a “Black Plague” themed art show, I felt placing AIDS in league with a historic event of that scope would help people better understand what we were (still are) currently dealing with. Now, with COVID-19 on the forefront of everyone’s mind, this painting has taken on a renewed relevance and I keep thinking about the piece.
The other thing that comes to mind is…. well…. myself. I have always considered myself to be my primary work of art. I do not mean that in a douchey, narcissistic way. If that is what I meant, I would have said I was my own “masterpiece” or something.
As they say, art is in the eye of the beholder, so y’all can judge my quality if you’d like, but that wasn’t my point. The word I used was “primary.” I have always treated myself like an ever evolving metaphorical canvas. I only try to incorporate things into myself that make me better, more entertaining, more intriguing, more real, more profound, more whatever…. whatever I think makes me a better person.
Think about a work of art that you haven’t finished yet. When you step back and look at it there are an infinite number of choices you can make. You can always add anything, but you don’t. You only add what makes your artwork better. That is how I approach myself.
I think others do it as well, but without defining exactly what it is they are doing. I know there are many people who I connect with as if they are fellow artists, but they don’t consider themselves artists. I look them dead in the eyes and have to tell them…. you are more of an artist than most self proclaimed artists out there. You are creating yourself in a brilliant way! Your body, your fashion, your surrounding and especially your mind…. those are your canvases! I see it so clearly even if they do not, sometimes to the point of my frustration if they think themselves anything less than brilliant.
So, what was my point? It’s that if I had to pick a focal piece of art created during this global pandemic, it would be… myself. This is a time when I will learn more about myself, find ways to improve myself, find out what works and doesn’t work in my behaviors and actions in a scenario I’ve never before experienced.
What kind of art have you been consuming and why? Is this different than what you typically consume?
Aside from in-person things like going to museums and art shows, I don’t do much art consumption at home. Well, that’s not completely true. I always enjoy seeing new works online by my friends and colleagues, but those pieces find me without my looking for them.
I also occasionally dig around the internet to look for new works by my favorite visual artist, Clive Barker. His imagination is a real escape for me. I’d like to live inside his head.
Anyway, it’s uncanny that you asked this question because this morning I was feeling a strange desire for comforting visuals, so I spent an hour getting lost in some of the art that I loved as a child. Back then it was all about artists like the Brothers Hildebrandt, Frazetta, et.al. …basically anything that was on the cover of Heavy Metal or Dragon Magazine. I haven’t looked at any of that material for years, but revisiting it today made me feel like I was thirteen years old again.
It made me realize something too… there are a lot of really talented artists out there now. When I look at the works of my contemporary colleagues (many of which I am fortunate to know personally) I realize they are as good as…. no… actually better than the artists I grew up loving! The talent out there is mind blowing.
How is your mental health? Do you feel that you have been doing things to take care of yourself and if you do what are those things?
My “mental” what now? I’m afraid I might not like my own answer.
Honestly, we’re all doing our best to stay somewhat sane, but so much of this is out of our control.
I’m filled with anxiety about all my friends (and basically everyone) being ok right now. It’s keeping me up at night and giving me nightmares when I do sleep.
At the same time, I’m also making a conscious effort to not keep contacting people to check in. …but I’m failing at that. I keep checking in on people. I guess that’s helping with my sanity a bit. …but not much. I don’t always hear good news when I check in. Maybe that’s another reason I’m trying to not do it obsessively. That hadn’t occurred to me before, but it’s likely true.
I’m just way too protective of the people in my life (and everyone), it’s almost to a fault and right now it is eating away at my sanity a bit. It’s sincerely making me emotional just saying this. How’s that for honesty, Barbara Walters?
Is there anything you like about self-quarantining that you may take with you when this period is over?
I hope not. Aside from the experience and growth…. I’m good. This can be a once in a lifetime experience. I’d be fine with that.
Unfortunately, I fear it will not be. We will very likely find ourselves here again multiple times in the upcoming years.
I’m sure most people will keep a little more toilet paper on hand at all times. That would be good advice.
I’ve been vegan for a decade and vegetarian for at least twice that, so I can’t say anything will change on that front. However, I am hopeful some people will re-examine that aspect of their life and stop unnecessarily imprisoning and killing animals. I’ve always been firm about my beliefs on that topic, but I try to refrain from being too preachy, so I’ll just leave it at that. Deep down y’all know what the right thing to do is.
Did you have any planned showcases that have been postponed or cancelled? Or were there any shows or concerts that you were looking forward to attending?
Yes! That’s the biggest disappointment about all this! …aside from all the death and poverty, of course.
There were a few art show and charity events I was very excited to be a part of this year. The cancelling of each and every one of them was painful because they were all for good causes and for things I am passionate about. I’d give you more info, but my involvement in them had not yet been officially announced.
Fortunately they haven’t been completely cancelled. They have all been postponed until later this year or early next year, so I’ll save that “splash” until the time is appropriate. Stay tuned, kids!
Has your financial situation been affected by the spread of Covid-19?
Well, groceries cost twice as much now.
I remember studying “hyperinflation” as an economics topic at university. It was one of those uncommon byproducts of recession, usually fueled by the “creation” of money, and resulting in the devaluation of currency, the killing of interest rates and longterm price increases. I’m guessing we’re entering into one of those right now.
This is definitely going to be a long term effect. The inflation aspect won’t go back. We’ll be lucky if time simply reduces the extremity of it.
But that’s not what you’re asking me. You’re asking about me personally, right? Well, I’ll tell you this…. my groceries cost twice as much now.
What can we do to support your work at this time?
Ooooh! Here’s the part where I shamelessly plug myself! Joking aside, I sincerely appreciate people following me on social media! You can find all the relevant links on my REBELLION AND TRUTH website…. rebellionandtruth.com
I will say this about all merch sold through REBELLION AND TRUTH…. 100% of every purchase goes to supporting animal rights. I don’t keep a single penny. All the details can be found on the REBELION AND TRUTH online store.
Did I say “REBELLION AND TRUTH” enough times? That’s called marketing.
Thank you very much John Charles for indulging me in this interview.
If you want to see more of John Charles’ work, visit his website or follow him on Instagram.
Dahlia Jane is a wicked writer living in Los Angeles. She writes about the dark arts scene, goth life and fascinations with the macabre. Dahlia spends her free time obsessing about skulls, devouring true crime and occult books, sewing and making messes.
Read the entire article here… http://uponamidnightdreary.com
