Interview with Jonathan Canady

q) Well, first of all please tell us a little about yourself.

a)I was born in Denver, Colorado in 1972. I grew up in the very boring suburb of Aurora and was in several different weird music projects as a teenager. At that same time I did a few album covers and shirt artwork for underground bands. The only stuff to see the light of day was for the groups IMPULSE MANSLAUGHTER and EXIT 13. Later I went to college, where my artwork made a lady in one of my art classes throw up and another girl cry (I type this with a friendly smile). My degree was in graphic design so I have worked in that field since. Graphic design is a perpetual compromise, so out of frustration I began creating my own “fine art” last year.

q) Had you always planned on being an artist [or had you other hopes]?

a)As a child yes, I wanted to be a painter. Then as a teenager I really hoped to be a professional musician. I think my eccentric taste in music and lack of talent prevented me from getting very far. I have had moderate success in the experimental / noise genre with my old project DEATHPILE and current one ANGEL OF DECAY. But very few people creating noise can make a living at it. I have now come back to my childhood dream of being a professional artist.

q) Do you have a preferred medium to work on? Why?

a)At the moment I prefer gouache on paper. I settled on this medium because I am very impatient. Gouache gives me a desirable effect in a very short period of time. If I were forced to work in oil on canvas I probably wouldn’t have attempted to be a serious artist. Since my gouache work has gotten some positive attention I will most likely move onto canvas soon. A professional artist friend is pushing me to move into oil so I will probably do that eventually as well.

q) How would you describe your style?

a)I feel that I have created a style of my own.

q) Do you go through any certain processes while trying to produce your work?

a)I reference print pornography and make a freehand drawing. Usually the abstraction happens intuitively during the drawing process. If the drawing is good enough it becomes an underpainting for a gouache or an india ink drawing.

q) What are you working on at present?

a)I am in between art projects at the moment. I just finished several new paintings for a group show here in my current hometown of Philadelphia. Next I plan on trying to develop my style further, possibly making things more abstract and moving onto canvas. I’m never really 100% sure what will happen next though.

q) What about recent sources of inspirations?

a)There is only one… Le Dernier Cri. I just recently discovered them and they truly stand head and shoulders above the rest of the “low brow” art world.

q) What are some of your obsessions?

a)Aside from the obvious ones… I would say any weird cinema. I particularly love Italian horror and Japanese Yakuza and exploitation films of the 70’s and 80’s. I also read books quite a bit and am a big fan of weird and obscure music of all kinds.

q) Which galleries have you shown at and which galleries would you like to show at?

a)At the moment my first solo show is at The Museum of Porn in Art in Zurich and I am in that group show in Philadelphia I mentioned previously. Also, one of my pieces was in this year’s Detroit Erotic Art Show and another was in a small group exhibition in Italy. I would love to have my work shown at Mondo Bizzarro in Rome, as well as Span and Vanilla in Japan. The new Last Rites Gallery in New York looks promising as well.

q) If people would like to contact you, how would you like to be contacted?

a)My e-mail is malsonus [at] yahoo [dot] com - If I could only communicate through e-mail I would be very happy. Phones are evil. In person conversation is overrated as well.

q) Do you have any suggestions or advice for artists that are just starting out?

a)Since I’ve only been painting seriously for less than a year I don’t think I’m very qualified. Ask me again in five years.

q) Who are your favorite artists?

a)Francis Bacon and Hans Bellmer are always at the top of my list. I also love the work of: Antoine Bernhart, Trevor Brown, Stephen Kasner, Hermann Nitsch, Mark Pauline, Bruno Richard, Pieter Schoolwerth and Joel Peter Witkin.

q) What books are on your nightstand?

a)“The Gas” by Charles Platt and “Japanese Movie Posters” by Tetsuya Masuda.

q) To what weaknesses are you most indulgent?

a)Definitely drinking alcohol. I know it’s stupid but I really enjoy it.

q)….your contacts…

a) http://art.malsonus.com/