Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jonathan Taub. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Jonathan with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
Thank you for having me today. Its an interesting concept that I grapple with. I believe that the limits to what one is capable of doing are determined by oneself. Meaning, that in almost all aspects of life, we are capable of achieving much more than we think. I also believe that the only way to accomplish something is to put in the hours; that is the real secret. More than talent, more than inspiration, more than entering into a flow state, putting in the time is what is needed, being present while you do it. However, since time is limited, there is a responsibility associated with how I decide to spend it, and this is where the work ethic comes in. There is what I want to do and what I have to do. Responsibilities I take on and activities I really want to explore. And in order to be able to do it all, I need to work when I am working; I need to be able to focus and concentrate and be present. And then move to the next thing. That is where the work ethic comes from for me, and I have it because I want to be able to continue exploring, creating, and sustaining myself.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself ?
I am a Jewish man born and raised in Argentina, currently living in NYC. For as long as I can remember I have engaged with the process of creation, working in several artforms from painting, photography, design and films. I love the preparation and the execution, then pushing it to completion and then starting another project. Over the past few years, I’ve found myself completely absorbed in printmaking and more and more into silkscreen techniques. There’s something about the blend of technical skill and purely creative expression that really speaks to me. I enjoy very much every aspect of the process, from the careful planning to the experimentation. There are so many things that can go wrong at each step of the process. It forces me to pay attention and, at the same time, to embrace the unexpected and always play while this is happening. There is something connected to life itself, trying to control and then allowing the unplanned to unfold, not resisting. I love exploring different color combinations, and layering techniques and forms along the way. Whether I am working on bold, vibrant abstract pieces or more introspective works, there is something I love when I see what I have been thinking and working on come to life. It’s never the same, and is always more exciting.
Right now, a few works from my latest series, MAZEd, are being presented at the Art Student League Salons in Manhattan and at the Designers Collab Gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I’m also thrilled to showcase them at the Juried Selection Exhibition of the ASL at Gallery OneTwentyEight in August-September 2024.
As for films, I have most recently been involved in producing a documentary series with a talented and motivated team. These films shed light on the journeys of incredibly resilient individuals who overcame war, loss, and hardship to succeed in building a life in the US while holding onto their roots, particularly their Jewish heritage. We’re talking about grandfathers and grandmothers who have lived lives that seem straight out of a work of fiction, but they are real, filled with life and honesty. These are stories worth sharing. We’re in the midst of production, working to bring these stories to light.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I will take three qualities I think are relevant in my life.
- Jump, there is always water
- Don’t be afraid to fail (be an amateur)
- And not to take oneself and one’s art too seriously (Try to smile more)
- Jump, there is always water | My dad used to tell me in times of doubt “jump, there is always water”. And it took me many years to start implementing this. Even nowadays, I still need to remind myself of this. I think it is very profound. For many years, I dealt with the need to be in control of every step I took in life. It was the main struggle in my life. I was trying to predict the consequence of each action I was taking or considering taking and it was not possible. Because it is not possible. But my mind couldn’t see it that way. And it was paralyzing. I was like a recording on a loop just going through my train of thoughts again and again and ending up right there in the same place I had started. It took me a long time to let go of that search for control, for security and certainty, and embrace jumping. I think the most important decisions in my life have been about this. I am not talking about skydiving without a parachute. That is reckless. But taking chances in relationships, in love, in activities that make our hearts jump a beat, even though we don’t know how it will go, is worth the risk.
- Don’t be afraid to fail (be an amateur) | We start everything knowing nothing. And being pretty much awful at that. Then if we keep on trying, learning, and doing, we get better. We start to refine our work and processes and continuously improve. However, there’s always a point where it starts to feel like there’s something to lose. I knew nothing before, and so I dared to make a ridicule out of myself. I was an amateur. I didn’t know what I was doing, and right there I was taking risks. I allowed myself to explore more, take chances, and push my limits. There was nothing to lose. But then when I started to improve I had expectations and now there was something to lose, so without even thinking about it, I started to play it safe. And that is the exact opposite mindset we should have when creating. Allowing myself to keep on playing, to take on chances and pretty much to end up with a shitty end result is what allows new work that didn’t exist before to be brought to life. Not having fear of missing your own target, the one you created for yourself is liberating and necessary. Can’t get to do it? Try. A way to remind myself of this is to try new activities or old activities I am bad at. Fully embracing them and then getting back to work with that mindset.
- And not to take oneself and one’s art too seriously (you need to smile more) | The more we engage with something the more invested we are in it, and the more serious it becomes. And it affects our entire life. On the one hand, it’s helpful to feel a sense of importance and urgency about the activity we’re engaged in to fully immerse ourselves in it. It is necessary to truly care in order to be able to do it and do it well. But on the other hand, it can problematic. It can become an obsession and the primary reason for our joy and our sorrow. And the reality is that most things in life should not have that kind of power on us. So for these kinds of things, there needs to be this kind of dance for getting in and out of this reality. We need to try to find perspective and then jump back in. Smiling more, metaphorically and literally, when we are about to face a storm, is always a reminder of the true weight that certain things should hold in our lives.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
My dad and my mom have done both of these things. They have led the way, by example and by their teachings, on how to live a life with meaning. The hard work, the resilience, falling and rising up again and again, the honesty, the respect for others, my moral compass, the map of how to build relationships and raise a family, my jewish identity, it has all come from them. I have been very lucky. These actions take on a life of their own, speaking loudly and clearly regardless of time or distance and so I try to listen to them as often as possible.
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Contact Info:
- Website: https://jtaub.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-taub-160857b6/
