Unpretentious Culture in Toronto

Underwater Castle
2012 Acrylic on Canvas 2012
36 x 30"

Art and music fans are invited out for a night of modern art and groovy jazz for a good cause in an unpretentious, comfortable party atmosphere on November 16th 2012 from 7-10 pm.

This show is a collection of my Ambient paintings: Background becoming a focal point. For those not familiar with my work or the story behind it, my Ambient paintings are about familiar weatherworn surfaces elevated by design. Texture, worn and distressed surfaces and the accidental are framed, celebrated and transformed. These paintings are not so heavy and meaningful as they are my type of eye-candy. They are what I love about abstract painting.

This show is more of a party than an art reception. I hired a jazz band. This is acclaimed jazz guitarist Jacek Karlowski leading his contemporary jazz trio through his spacy and groovy originals as well as putting his own stamp on some Wayne Shorter tunes. I heard some of the ideas he has for the show, and it’s going to be awesome! Music lovers, you’re in for a treat! Jacek has played in many bands around the Toronto area, thrilling listeners with his outside playing and hard grooves. Listening to him solo, you can’t help but notice this guy is a never ending flood of ideas. The week after this show, he’s playing at the Sony Center. He’s also a good personal friend.

Paintings on sale range in size and price, and are sold directly from me to you. There will also be prints for those who like art, but not the price of an original.
 And it’s all for a good cause! A portion of the proceeds goes to the Ride To Conquer Cancer. My friends Lorraine and Richard Holt are doing the ride for the second time this year, and I’m very proud to be supporting them. You can donate directly at this link:

http://www.conquercancer.ca/goto/lorraineholt 

Here’s the details for the show:

Mountain View Estates Coffee 24 Logan Ave, Toronto
Friday November 16th
Time: 7 to 10 pm
Here it is on google maps

Show runs from Oct 16-Nov 23, so you can stop in and check out the art any time.

For more information, visit the event page:

http://liamjonesfineart.com/show2012/november-16-show.html.

We hope to see you there!

Twitter: www.twitter.com/liamjonesart.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/liamj333

Thoughts On Selling Out

I met a Jazz afficionado here in Toronto the other day at a party. This guy runs a jazz show on our local jazz station. He really loves the music and it shows. Actually, it's infectious. I had a brief conversation with him.

I really hate small talk. Everyone has something unique and valuable, so why waste a potentially good talk on some random triviality. So through my socially trained head-nodding and "uh huhs", I started talking about painting. I said that I was concerned with selling out.

I commented that working a dayjob and being an artist as a hobbie are forms of selling out. I went on to say that "it seems like with great artists and musicians, there's two types: those who sell out and those who don't." To be honest, I hadn't really thought of it that way, it just came out. So this guy responded: "I'd say that there's actually about four different things that happen to professional musicians."

He went on to explain that some musicians, like one particular flute player he said was the best he'd ever heard-- took a dayjob but still practiced every day, and gigged on the weekends and that was not selling out. He was dedicated to his craft, just chose not to live off of it.

Then there were weekend warrior jazz musicians who treated it like hobbie. Then their were the people with a moderate level of expertize who practiced and played with various groups, and they were decent. Then then there are the musicians that are dedicated. That are hungry.

And that's when he said it:

"I've taken friends jazz club hopping and and they would see brilliant, seasoned jazz musicians. But they hadn't rehearsed. They'd just walk in the night of, on their experience, there for the $100 bucks, and the music wouldnt be tight. And then they'd see the young guys, not as skilled, but hungry. And these young hungry guys rehearsed all the time and that hunger and hard work came through in their music. These jazz fans said "I liked those younger guys more then the better, more seasoned musicians." Was it because the older guys had sold out? Well, no. They'd just stopped practicing and taking it seriously."

Man, it pays not to small talk.

So some thoughts on selling out: There are many ways to remain true to who you are, and produce great art, and there are many ways to prostitute oneself. There are those who get too caught up in the money, those who don't care about the money at all. There are those who have lost the love, and those who hold fast. Remaining true to your art means not losing focus, but being dedicated to making the best art you can.

So I'm not selling out. I'm hungry and dedicated, and hopefully that shows. Visit my website or eBay store to see what was and what's new and what's coming next, and see for yourself!

Welcome to

Liam Jones Fine Art

Toronto Ontario, Canada.

Visual music, devotional, decorative,

portrait, figures, landscape,

realistic and abstract paintings

in Acrylic and Oil.

Paintings in many sizes and price ranges

http://www.liamjones.ca/

http://stores.ebay.ca/Liam-Jones-Fine-Art