Would you like to know more about this history of art?

A topic that the western world of today is sorely lacking in is art education. So this year - as a holiday gift for everyone - I put together a little educational video on the topic of art history. This was a "spare time" project for me at about 50 hours of labour over the past two months to produce a whopping 1 minute and 5 seconds of sound and images - so let me know what you think - Dylon

Have you ever had a dream (meaning ambition) worth fighting for?

Today's Chainman Banner brought to you by Scrapbook: a story of art - hardcover 102% percent funded on Kickstarter with Whytes Online pre-orders coming soon and haters.

If you don't like my content then please stop looking at it!

If you have anything negative to say about our project then the only thing I can imagine is that you haven't - had a dream worth fight for. If you had then you would know exactly why you never ever stop fighting for what you love.

Or maybe you once thought you loved something but weren't able to follow through with your dream for various reasons? For that you have my empathy - really - I've been there - the years and years and years of struggling.

But that's exactly what it takes to create miracles these days - not the invisible hand of an omnipotent creator (whom I suspect is too busy painting sunsets to answers our some mortal asshole's prayers) - but thousands and thousands of hours of blood, sweat and tears fighting against insurmountable odds for what you want.

If you don't have what it takes to fight with every ounce of strength for what you love and are filled with only resentment for those who succeed you will never learn that thanks to democratizing crowdfunding platforms such as Kickstarter your dreams are closer than ever - all you need is the follow through to make it happen.

Seriously - if a monumental fuck-up like me can accomplish something this monumental - anybody can do it!

Will my crowdfunding campaign succeed?

Hi, my name is Dylon and I am artistic spectrum - which means that the world I inhabit often doesn't make very much sense to me.

A few years ago a close friend of mine who was a gifted musician jumped off a very tall bridge attempting to get a similar point across - it didn't work.

After this I decided that I wanted to help other artists and creative individuals who might not be heard in this turd of a world. But, as an archetype starving artist myself - who often can't make head nor tail of the system - I didn't know where to begin.

"How could I help others if I couldn't even help myself?"

After many failed attempts I finally realized that I simply didn't know enough and set out to educate myself.

This turned out to be a difficult task and I became very disoriented and lost.

Then in the autumn of 2014 my father, multimedia artist Jack Whyte, came along and suggested that I help him with a winter's project to in his words, "help stave off cabin fever."

At first I was somewhat resentful, like surely there must be something more important I could be doing to help keep my family warm - hunting mammoth maybe? Then I recalled some old wisdom that when you can't build your own dreams, you should help somebody else build theirs.

So I swallowed my pride and we got to work. Spending almost every day for the better part of a year crafting a Scrapbook based on his sixty plus year career as a professional artist who has worked in just about every medium imaginable.

Unlike any project we had collaborated on in the past - and there have been many including 7 previous titles - this Scrapbook had no rules except that it would be formatted so that it could be read for free online, potentially printable and would cover the evolving story of my dad's interest in art and the creative process.

"A true full-colour memoir as it were." 

This meant that we were free to create the story he wanted to tell. Each night he would write and sketch out what he wanted to add the next day, photograph art and artifacts and I would help him assemble pages and edit text as we went along.

"Then it came to me like a bolt out of the blue!"

I was finally helping an artist find their voice and in doing so I was able to add to my own repertoire by learning how to see as they saw - the closest thing I can related this to is a Vulcan mind meld from Star Trek.

With how to let creativity evolve, knowing when to stop and how to literally create something from nothing by working without constraint being just a few of the skills imparted.

It was like learning ancient secrets of transmutation as our project took shape almost magically and dad jokingly started to refer to me as the Sorcerer's Apprentice. For those who know his story there is a wonderful running gag about "Mickey Mouse" experiences being carried on here.

As I mentioned, previous works used to be much more meticulous - such as cleaning individual pixels for print reproductions - an almost ridiculous task these days.

Dad also kept a journal of our progress, which is included in Scrapbook as a story within the story. Like the time I arrived at his house one spring day only to find that it had almost burnt down in the night thanks to a rogue icicle working it's way down the wall into a live electrical socket.

Or how I eventually convinced him and my lovely wife, Ashely, who spent those barren winter days minding our family gallery and cultural gift shop at the Harbour Centre on the Gore Bay waterfront, to run a crowdfunding campaign for the production of a hard cover edition. Not a difficult task after we received the gorgeous Scrapbook prototype from our local print shop.

Of course we had no idea what we were doing and our first campaign on RocketHub was a complete flub and despite all our efforts we are still only 35% funded with 32 hours to go on Kickstarter.

So, will our campaign be a success?

You decide...

Scrapbook: a story of art on Kickstarter

This is not intended as an advertisement or spam - you can read the whole story for free at scrapbook.whytesonline.com and follow our content across most social media networks with the hashtag #JWScrapbook

If you agree that we will succeed then please share, repost, ask questions, become a backer or do whatever you are capable of and we thank you in advance. 

What would you consider a good investment?

Today's Chainman Banner brought to you by the marvels of this cosmos including Scrapbook: a story of art - hardcover Kickstarter officially 30% funded!

Bring up the word "investment" with potential patrons quickly jumps to talk of the financial, but like Gilda once observed, "your thought associations are very revealing" and for my family this project isn't about the money. It is about laying a foundation for the care and preservation of the art and culture we love.

The artists we collaborate with all know how to work with what they have on hand. For example Scrapbook was crafted with nothing but the tools we had combined with a lifetime of memories that truly would have served no other purpose but to collect dust.

It just natural for artists to record and reflect their world as it changes and in this capacity Scrapbook is priceless - encapsulating more than 75 years of art and history within its 456 full-colour pages.

If art then is based on the ephemeral or intangible, why are return on investment calculations for art almost always based on a financial reward?

I guess I'm just a maverick in this sense, but my existence has been all about taking the action figures out of the boxes, comics out of their sleeves, collectible cards out of their packages and actually playing with them.

Is there no joy left to be found in simply experiencing a work of creativity?

Especially a purely original and inspiring story?

Well if not - consider this - for just $169 you can own a luxurious signed limited hardbound edition of Scrapbook: a story of art which literally contains more art per square inch than any previous Jack Whyte work - if that's not the very definition of a great investment I don't know what is!

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Note : Found this definition of "fine art" on Reddit - Great Works of Art - Fine art for our subreddit will be defined as "Visual art considered to have been created primarily for aesthetic purposes and judged for its beauty and meaningfulness; specifically painting, sculpture, drawing, watercolor, graphics, and architecture."

One of the finest works of art that you are ever likely to encounter - Scrapbook: a story of art contains all that and much, much, much more!

Can I be down to earth for a moment?

After by being rejected by every other outlet - part of me wishes so hard that we had the finances to simply “astroturf” our Scrapbook Hardcover Kickstarter Campaign and buy the perception of endorsement. Thankfully the other part of me respects true grass roots movements and believes in the utmost honesty. Sure, I may create a lot of crazy banners promoting our project - but when it comes right down to it Scrapbook is more than the story of one artist, or one family of artists, it’s the saga of creative individuals everywhere working together for common goals and a common good.

Is artist Jack Whyte the anti-Beltracchi!?

It's hard to be part of the art world and not have at least heard passing mention of one Wolfgang Beltracchi - possibly the most talented - and reviled - art forgers in history.

Truthfully, in artistry this kind of skill is commonplace - many old masters would have apprentices who were trained to create works in the style of their master that were indistinguishable from the original. Even Pablo Picasso believed that it was possible for an artist to channel long dead creative talent by studying the works of other masters.

My father adapted this practice when he started out on the path to becoming a fine artist  - for instance this page from Scrapbook: a story of art with the Man in The Golden Helmet and The Polish Gentlemen - both re-imaginings of old master oil paintings.

However, somewhere along the line Jack Whyte chose to forge his own original styles and tell his own stories - the result? Today Beltracchi is infamous and Jack Whyte perhaps the greatest undiscovered modern master.

I've often wonder what would come of a collaborative meeting between the two? I imagine something much like the charming British movie Frequencies where the meeting of people with opposing vibratrions causes all sorts of interesting anomalies.

Another wonderful Scrapbook story to share...

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Subject: Jack's Work

Hi Dylon,

Couldn't resist sending you this today! After my mom passed away in 1998 I was lucky enough to get most of her art!

Kept meaning to send you a picture of my wall! This one that your dad did for my mom is pretty special! She treasured and cherished it!

Take care Dylon!

Not sure if you dad would even remember my mom Lynda Cowan from Murphy Point???

Cheers!

Jen Cowan

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Re: Jack's Work

Great to hear from you, Jen!

Thanks so much for the photo! When I showed it to dad this is what he said - "Yes I do remember your mom and dad - your mom really liked the Willett farm - especially the stone silo. The barn was taken down some years ago in a storm - but the silo still remains."

We have actually just launched a free online Scrapbook of dad's art coupled with a crowdfunding campaign to find out if there is interest in a print edition.

Would you consider letting me post your message and photo, anonymously of course? I think other Jack Whyte fans would get a kick out of it!

Take care,

Dylon

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Subject: Jack's Work

Oh Dylon that is so great that your dad remembered my mom. My mom had such an amazing appreciate for art, Canadian art and especially island art and even more so ... your dad's work!!! She did quite a bit of pottery and I think she wished she could have made a career of it!

Please post message and photo my mom would be thrilled. Anonymity is certainly not required.

I myself would love to see a print version and will be sure to support the crowd funding hopefully I will get a chance tonight.

Jennifer

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Jack Whyte launches Scrapbook along with new gallery and invites world to visit for free!

“Access to arts and culture should be free for everyone,” says artist Jack Whyte. “Anyone can tour my 2015 exhibits online for free and - from anywhere in the world.” He and his son Dylon Whyte created a virtual gallery this past Spring where artworks are experienced up close and personally, as if literally standing in front of them.

"It's great to produce and present work on a scale of my choice, the way I originally envisioned it," Jack explains. As a young boy he never imagined having the opportunity to design and construct art without restriction. The discovery of a platform which allows for creative freedom has provided a new means for connecting with others.

Jack Whyte was born in 1939 in Toronto, Ontario - just before the start of the second World War. Having been influenced at an early age by a creative environment, he has pursued artistic practices as well as the adventure of invention for more than 55 years.

2015 marks the beginning of a new exploit for Jack, the release of his latest publication, 'Scrapbook: a story of art'. From modelling with Mickey Mouse as a child to showing at the Pollock Gallery and even winning awards for videos, this book recounts the journey and challenges faced by a becoming artist and the enormous adversity that life can throw at you.

In the autumn of 2014, Jack mentioned to his son, Dylon, that he was starting a book and could use some help with it. Over the course of a long winter and many toasty afternoons by the fire, they searched for, found, prepared and put together what has become a very personal and thoughtful one-of-a-kind memoir.

"It's not until you have the whole story that you really understand how the pieces all fit together," says Dylon Whyte. "It's also difficult to put everything into perspective when you're part of the story. Getting to the point where I can hold a part history in my hands helps me understand where I come from."

When Jack and Dylon started producing the book, it was just a collection of stories and images, but with months of collaboration and hard work, they have created an album that is delightfully personable and genuinely familiar.

"Jack tells you about the experiences that influenced him as an artist and includes all sorts of fun stories from his life," says Ashley Whyte, wife of Dylon and proprietor of the Whytes gallery on the waterfront in the Gore Bay Harbour Centre. "There is also an abundance of never-before-seen photographs and a wealth of artwork. When Jack named it Scrapbook, he really meant it."

Coming in at a whole 456 pages, Scrapbook was digitally published in June of this year and is available online for everyone to read for free. Although it was only meant to be a digital publication, new economic platforms have given Scrapbook the opportunity to become something more than just a concept.

"The book is obviously quite big and financing a print run on our own wouldn't be viable, so we talked about other options and crowdfunding came up as a potential," explains Ms. Whyte. "It's an incredibly different approach than anything Jack is familiar with, he has always done things on his own. It wasn't until only recently that we knew something like this even existed."

Crowdfunding is the process of funding your projects through small contributions made by many individuals in order to attain a certain monetary goal, typically via the internet. The model that has been around the longest is rewards-based crowdfunding, where people can donate and receive goods in recognition of their support.

Ashley and Dylon Whyte have taken Scrapbook to Rockethub; a platform specializing in arts and entertainment, to seek help in bringing Jack's story to life. They've launched their campaign and are working to raise $11,500 to cover the costs of printing a limited edition hardcover. In the meantime, Scrapbook remains free for everyone to read online and enjoy.

For more information about Scrapbook and how you can help, please visit their Rockethub campaign at: scrapbook.whytesonline.com

I would like to share an amazing story with you...

Recently, after nearly a year of preparation, we finally launched our crowdfunding project the hardcover edition of Dad's Scrapbook. Amongst all the required pre-launched tasks was an update of his oldest virtual gallery - a sub-section of my Art of Chainmail website dating back to 1998.

The plan was simply enough - clean the navigation - put up fresh links to his current virtual shows and update a now defunct email address.

Little did I know that this clean-up would spawn a series of email communications between my father and a collector - with her permission I have shared this extraordinary conversation below as new friends are made and old friends reunited.

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Subject: Searching for Jack Whyte

Dear Jack,

I visited your virtual gallery recently and am intrigued by your work. I recently acquired a sketch done by Jack Pollock in the 50's (sadly from the estate of a friend) and it started me thinking about a few paintings that my husband and I bought in Montreal in the late 60's or early 70's. The connection is that they are labelled as coming from the gallery of Jack Pollock and are signed by Jack Whyte. Two paintings are of generals and one is of a mineshaft in Ontario. I have lived with these paintings for almost 45 years and they are old friends who enrich my life daily. Unfortunately I know very little about the artist who painted them.

Could they possibly be yours?

If this rings a bell I would be happy to photograph them and send the photos for you to look at. If this is not a possibility then I will have to say that I have really enjoyed looking at your virtual gallery. 

Most sincerely, B.S.

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Re: Searching for Jack Whyte

Hi B,

Yes, that sounds like my work - if you'd like to pass along photos I may be able to fill in a few details.

Thanks for your interest,

Jack 

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Subject: Photos of Paintings

Hello Jack,

Thanks for your response.

Do these look familiar? It has been a while.

B,

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Re: Photos of Paintings

Yes B. - these are old friends for me as well!

The mineshaft is from Elliot Lake in the 1960's. Around the time of the Uranium boom my father was doing technical work for the new mines and I used to hitch a ride north. Then while he was working I would go out and sketch. I ended up doing a whole serious of different shafts in Elliot Lake - these paintings were mostly achromatic due the starkness of the landscape.

I recall the town of Elliot Lake consisting of two buildings - one of which was a restaurant - and bunkhouses everywhere. The roads were mud and reminded me of what the atmosphere of the Klondike must have been like.

The other pair are from a series of acrylics I painted in the 70's called Rips - many of which depicted the military. You are in luck if you would like to know more about how these works fit into the chronology of my work. We have just launched an online project called Scrapbook: a story of art -  a 456-page free-to-read memoir located at
http://scrapbook.whytesonline.com

Here you will also find a video introduction to my work which covers my Rips and a crowdfunding campaign for the production of the hardcover edition of Scrapbook for those who are not technically inclined.

Thanks again, it is always great catching up with old friends and finding out what they've been up to all these years.

Please let me know if there is anything else I can do for you,

Jack 

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Re: Photos of Paintings

Jack,

I really appreciate hearing about the context of the Elliot Lake painting. It makes it even more meaningful for me.

I have been dipping into your scrapbook and am so impressed with how your work has changed and involved over the years!

I am also deeply moved that your son, Dylon, and daughter-in-law, Ashley, are working with you and the Scrapbook Project. Although I joined Rockethub I can't quite get to the point of actually contributing to the project. Oh well - tomorrow is another day and I will try again.

Dylon's fascination with chain-mail is intriguing to me as we had a number of pieces in my gallery at the ROM that were much loved by children and when I retired I briefly had a metal arts gallery where I represented a few artists making jewellery using chain-mail techniques.

Stories for another time perhaps. 

I briefly owned a painting that I thought was yours and could have been part of your Rips series. It was of an old woman - in a blue patterned dress if I recall - sitting with one breast exposed. I loved it but I found it too disturbing. I was young at the time and perhaps did not want to face what I regarded as the inevitability of life so I returned it. Was it yours? 

Best regards and thank you for the information.

B

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Re: Photos of Paintings

Hi B,

Very glad that I was able to fill in some blanks for you!

If the other painting is the one that I'm thinking of - it was based on a true story of my Grandmother - whom I once accidentally walked in on as she was getting dressed with breast exposed - so I eventually painted a picture about it.

Thanks so much for your interest and what a coincidence with Dylon's chainmail - who has spent many hours wandering the ROM's collections for inspiration.

Would you mind if we shared your story as part of our campaign, anonymously of course?

Best wishes,

Jack 

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Re: Photos of Paintings

Hi Jack,

Of course you may share my story. It would be a pleasure!

I believe it was your "grandmother" painting and wonder who owns it now. It clearly intrigues me still. As I write this I am sitting in a cottage with 2 of my grandchildren and I wonder what they would think of it. They grew up with the "generals" so your art has been part of their lives too.

Here is a question. Why did you paint the medals upside down?

Good luck with the campaign and my very best regards, B

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Re: Photos of Paintings

Hi B,

 Thank you - I often wonder about what sort of adventures my work has been on as it journeys through time - who it has influenced and so on.

 I'm not sure about the upside down medals, but suspect that the generals may have been just that stupid - then again - so was the Vietnam War.

Thanks again,

Jack

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If you have a piece of work that you think may be a Jack Whyte original let us know and don't forget to read the whole story with Scrapbook: a story of art 

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Update July 23rd, 2015 - Continued here...

Dylon the Artist?

(True story: When I was a kid I thought Ricardo Montalban was a tan gent.)

Most of my work as an artist has been behind the scenes or as a technical illustrator - however creatively I am continually fascinated by memetics and semiotics. Along with my regular retinue of humorous digital pieces, I also actively pursue freelance poster, cover and packaging design.

Outside of my books and tutorials here are a few examples of my other works:

The Big Yellow Sub-Machine Gun - 2013

Videography with Jack Whyte

Paradoxian Tarot - Website - 2000 - 2004

Question Reality - Gore Bay Museum - 2000