Today we’d like to introduce you to Frank J. Stockton.
Hi Frank, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
If you oversimplify the concept of “Art” to mean interpreting the world in a different way, then my journey as an “Artist” began as a child. A neighbor kid held a magnet up to our old CRT TV and permanently distorted the colors. We couldn’t afford to replace the TV, so my formative years were spent watching pirated cable in colors and hues no one ever imagined. This meant “Macho Man” Randy Savage went from outlandishly dressed, to just plain, as all the wrestlers were bathed in the same garish hues.
This had a profound impact, worthy of reflection. Your readers need to take a moment, pause and consider what it means to consume all your pre-21st-century media through Macho Man-tinted glasses. Needless to say, this changed how I approached my art.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
While obstacles are part and parcel of the creative life, one recurring challenge throughout my career has always been the concept of simulacra. It starts in art school where we copied the technique of the “old masters” by way of our teachers, who copied them from their teachers and then in graduate school where we copy the attitudes and language of faculty, visiting artists, and each other. We copy and copy until the copies somehow become our own and ready to be copied by others. And so, it goes.
As I reflect on the current state of my work, I see more copies. Copies of my older self-intermingled with my children, who are copies of my future self. There’s a possibility that removing the copies within copies could lead to a new truth. But what I think about most is that moment when brush hits paper and find out what copies are repeating again.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
One of the reasons I think that artists dream of fame is so that we don’t have to answer the awkward question, “What kind of art do you do?”
If I say, “I paint,” the inevitable next question is, “What do you paint.” To which I answer, “Avant-Garde,” which inevitably leads to a face-to-phone Instagram search.
To be fair, I don’t only paint. I also draw, write publicly about art, and organize exhibitions. I think of it all as part of the same Art Soup. I’m just trying to be interesting to myself, participate in my community, and leave a paper trail, so that at some point, an archivist or researcher in the future will discover some of what I’ve contributed.
Careerists beware: This is not an effective recipe for branding. Yet somehow, I’ve managed to keep things rolling, which is something to be proud of.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
When I met my wife Vanessa, I was living in New York and dreaming of becoming a fine artist. She supported me emotionally and financially through grad school and has been by my side throughout this entire journey. It would be impossible to overstate the impact of her support. She makes my life sparkle.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.frankstockton.com
- Instagram: @fjstockton
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrankJStockton
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/frankstockton
- Other: http://www.nothingspeciallosangeles.com
