John Jacopelle responds to interview questions from Linda Bigness
LB: Who have been your influences?
JJ: It would be hard to name just one. And then there are all the artists you forgot about but remember the image. To name a few, Lee Krasner, Grace Hartigan, Max Beckmann, Alfred Maurer, William deKooning, Gregory Amenoff, Terry Winters, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Cy Twombly, …San Fran Bay Artist James Weeks Theophilus Brown, Paul Wonner, Elmer Bischoff, David Parks, Richard Diebenkorn…..
LB: Does your work reflect personal experiences?
JJ: Life is personal and we connect in some way or another. The work is my reality, my inner reality but it will connect to your reality too. Look in and find out what is going on.
LB: How has your work been affected by your past experience as a painter?
JJ: You learn to become who you are. Through years of decision making, you discover yourself. The journey, the development tends to make this moment count the most. Now is more important than then…But when I was a young man I dreamed I’d find my way.
LB: When working in a series do you preconceive the direction your work will take?
JJ: I don’t work in a series. I find it too confining. Even if I tried I would deviate in another direction so why try. I work. And when the work is done I make choices. Usually there is something that will connect them. Grouping happens and I’m able to make new discoveries.
LB: Do you believe a series of work best reflects your ideas or do you feel individual works make powerful statements?
JJ: When a patron buys work they don’t buy the whole collection (I wish they did). They buy one or two. Every piece has to say something, a defining word but when you put them in a group each word tells a story.
LB: Has the digital age changed the way you see your art and others? Why or why not?
JJ: Social Media has changed the way I see my art. I have friends from all over the world and realize what I do is important enough for them to notice.
LB: Who have been your influences?
JJ: It would be hard to name just one. And then there are all the artists you forgot about but remember the image. To name a few, Lee Krasner, Grace Hartigan, Max Beckmann, Alfred Maurer, William deKooning, Gregory Amenoff, Terry Winters, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Cy Twombly, …San Fran Bay Artist James Weeks Theophilus Brown, Paul Wonner, Elmer Bischoff, David Parks, Richard Diebenkorn…..
LB: Does your work reflect personal experiences?
JJ: Life is personal and we connect in some way or another. The work is my reality, my inner reality but it will connect to your reality too. Look in and find out what is going on.
LB: How has your work been affected by your past experience as a painter?
JJ: You learn to become who you are. Through years of decision making, you discover yourself. The journey, the development tends to make this moment count the most. Now is more important than then…But when I was a young man I dreamed I’d find my way.
LB: When working in a series do you preconceive the direction your work will take?
JJ: I don’t work in a series. I find it too confining. Even if I tried I would deviate in another direction so why try. I work. And when the work is done I make choices. Usually there is something that will connect them. Grouping happens and I’m able to make new discoveries.
LB: Do you believe a series of work best reflects your ideas or do you feel individual works make powerful statements?
JJ: When a patron buys work they don’t buy the whole collection (I wish they did). They buy one or two. Every piece has to say something, a defining word but when you put them in a group each word tells a story.
LB: Has the digital age changed the way you see your art and others? Why or why not?
JJ: Social Media has changed the way I see my art. I have friends from all over the world and realize what I do is important enough for them to notice.