Humboldt Magic Makers, Ep. 3
JOHNATHON DESOTO
A LIFE-LONG RESIDENT OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY, JOHNATHON DESOTO IS BEST KNOWN FOR CREATING GEOMETRICALLY BASED ART PANELS AND MIXED MEDIA PIECES THAT ARE CONCERNED WITH THE POLITICAL DYNAMICS OF THE CURRENT DAY. HE USES RECLAIMED WOOD, PHOTOGRAPHY, PAINTING, COMMON CONSTRUCTION AND HOUSEHOLD MATERIALS.
What is your medium /practice, how long have you been in Humboldt, and how long have you been making your work?
I use reclaimed wood to create hardline, geometrically based abstractions and I am a local to Humboldt County, so all 32 years. I have been creating wood based works for 6 years.
Cannabis
helps me to be a little more relaxed, a little more grounded.
How has the natural landscape of Humboldt influenced your work?
Although I do not draw direct inspiration from the landscape of Humboldt, it contributes to my well being, and influences me in more fundamental and abstract ways. I enjoy the fact that I can taste the salt in the air, or see the sea from my back porch. It's wonderful to turn in the opposite direction and see the the hills and the trees. It’s reinvigorating to be able to drive a short distance in the summer and swim in one of our six rivers. Humboldt County's landscape has always allowed me to become more grounded when my head starts spinning, and thus serves as a sort of heavy woven blanket when I need it.
What are your favorite Cannabis products and how/when do you use them?
I love using vape pens for their ease of use, and their ability to save my lungs from inhaling smoke. I work around a lot of sawdust in my work and my greatest health challenge is keeping dust at bay. The fact that I’m not introducing one more, potentially hazardous substance into my lungs, is reassuring. I have had issues sleeping well. I have tried a whole host of different natural and synthetic sleep aids in the past. Some of them work for a while, but then my body adjusts or they work but leave me with a terrible hangover the next morning. I have found that vaping Cannabis has allowed me to increase my sleep cycle from 3-4 hours a night to 5-7 hours a night.
I can
take deeper breaths throughout the day
How do they affect your creative process?
My issues usually have to do with a lack of time, rather than a lack of ideas. Sometimes I have far too many complex ideas and directions that I want to pursue. So, it’s really important for me to be able to bring energy to my work and focus. So, being able to sleep well and allow my body to subconsciously process the meaningful thoughts, experiences and feelings affects my process in ways that are both tangible and intangible.
How does Cannabis enhance your overall well-being?
Over all, it helps me to be a little more relaxed, a little more grounded. I can take deeper breaths throughout the day.
