Meet Jacob Darner | AKA DARN GOOD ART – Photographer / Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jacob Darner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jacob, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Ive always been sort of outside of the box, and a creative thinker – once high school came along and the future started getting closer, being an artist was really the only thing that made sense to me. The classes I took in high school opened my eyes, and following that to Northern Michigan University’s school of art and design opened doors to a world i never could have imagined. The faculty, teachers, and peers ive had over the years have all pushed me to be my best and continue to develop my artistic practice. Being an artist has really taught me alot – about myself and about life and the world around me. Its opened my eyes to the beauty in the everyday and the ordinary, and pushed me out of my box to make connections within my community and beyond.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is almost entirely inspired by the nature and wonderful beauty in my surroundings here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan – which definitely doesnt set me apart from everyone else here, but I work to set myself aside from the others in my work. I try to take a more personal look at nature and landscapes, and as my practice has evolved i have delved more into film and analog works, which has in turn continued to evolve my work and the eye with which i make it. I think one of the most important things about art as a practice/hobby/career/what-have-you is to approach it like riding a bike; youre gonna fall down, its gonna be hard going at first. but once you get it, youve got it forever. Sure you will keep getting better, and faster, maybe learn some cool tricks, but youve just got to stay at it, stay on that bike.
My business cards say “Pretty Pictures & Crude Drawings” and I don’t want to ever change that.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
were going hiking ALL over- presque isle, carp river, southside trails. Drinks at the ore dock, Blackrocks brewery, Superior Culture, Kognission, The Crows Nest, and the honorable distillary.
LOTS more hiking, this time up around county road 550
Some paddleboarding and kayaking if the weather is nice, rope swings and bocci ball on the beach. Golfing too
and, finally even more hiking.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Its cliche as hell but my parents without a doubt. They may still ask me when I’m going back to school, or joke to get a real job, but I wouldnt have ever seriously considered being an artist without their love and encouragement. They always make it to a show or market i do, and I had to stop letting them buy my work ( they can just have it for free if they really want it ). The first exhibit i went to in England, I couldnt have completed without my mothers support – which ties into some of the other folks id like to thank. Ema Marinova from CLUSTER ARTS in London, England, who quickly became a mentor in her own right, and took me under her wing at what was my first real show, in a country I hadn’t been in since I was a baby. My high school teacher Jake Fether and most notably, my photo professor from NMU Christine Lenzen were pivotal in me becoming an artist, but more importantly in staying an artist. I dont think anyone is free from insecurities of any kind, and I was no acception during college – I had no idea what I was doing or where i was going to go with this and they were truly important in keeping me on that path.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darn.good.art/?hl=en

Image Credits
“Ophelia” – Sarah Gimple “Washed Away” – Nina DiLoreto