Reader of the Week: J.L. Schnabel

Painter from Philadelphia

By Jihanah Rasul
Published: February 26th, 2008 | 10:05am

What kind of art do you create?
I make paintings on wood. Sometimes the wood is store-bought, and other times I find it on the street. I like to think the wood had a past life before it reached me. I use acrylic gouache and colored pencils to achieve a delicate matte effect.

When did you first pick up a paintbrush?
As a little kid I was very creative. I would make “books” of my writings — stapled-together pieces of construction paper that had accompanying drawings. I’m lucky because my parents nurtured my creativity at a young age.

It wasn’t until my senior year in college as a writer in 2005 that I was brave enough to begin to reconnect with the process of making visual art. There were a lot of different types of artists around me that inspired me to try new things and I will always be grateful to have those experiences.

Since you started as a kid, did you aspire to be an artist as an adult?
I always wanted to be an artist; it was just a matter of finding the medium that best expressed my ideas and themes. A large portion of my writing centers on art and artists, so it was a natural progression for me to teach myself how to paint. However, I felt more confident in being a writer and went on to receive an MFA in creative writing. I never stopped painting and I had shows of my work while I was in graduate school.

Your work reminds me of Frida Kahlo’s. Do you have any influences as an artist?
I love Frida Kahlo. She has been a great inspiration throughout most of my life. A retrospective of her work just opened in Philly that I look forward to seeing. Contemporary artists such as Jenn Porreca, Jon Todd, and Fuco Ueda also influence me. My favorite local artists are Kris Chau, Bob Dix, and tattoo artist Jason Goldberg. Writers Darcey Steinke, Anne Sexton, and Kelly Link play a large role in inspiring both my verbal and visual work.

Your paintings are very feminine and seem to be layered in content and meaning. How do you go about creating a new painting?
I always start a work with the intention of exploring the personal images and ideas that I feel strongly about. I am interested in the inner and outer landscapes of others and myself. These complexities are revealed in my work through the emotional expressions of women. Often these include love sickness, doom, and the idea of being haunted by psychic trauma. I use bright, feminine colors to balance the darker themes in my work.

I draw directly on the wood instead of in practice sketches because I don’t like to over work an image. Once I have a drawing I feel is ready, I start painting. Being self-taught, I struggle a lot with color harmony and anatomy but I research techniques and get advice from established artist friends so I’m always learning and progressing.

Are there messages or symbolism in your work?
Since writing is my first love, I layer narratives and metaphors into my work. There are secret messages and words written throughout each painting that the viewer has to look closely to see. Re-current symbols in my work are wisdom teeth, octopi, blood spills, clipper ships, and Siamese twins. These symbols are always in relation to a female character. I feel connected to my experiences as a woman and feel it is important to express them through the figures in my paintings. I also draw ideas from historical women such as Joan or Arc, Marie Antoinette and Queen Elizabeth. The paradox of their strength and tragedy interests me.

Where can we see your work?
At myspace.com/lipstickpulp as well as at Mew Gallery in Philadelphia, which is owned by two supportive DIY women.

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