#sparkchamber 051324 — Fisher Monahan

We keep our eyes on our #sparkchamber alums — even when they’re constantly on the move! When we first tracked down Fisher Monahan, he was making the partial trek across Canada’s western provinces. And now we discover he is about to embark on a cycle ride across to the east! This summer — June to August — he will be touring some 5,000 kilometers through Canada’s Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia provinces on a 9-speed Trek 520 touring bike tuned for the open road, carrying just the bare essentials for camping and living peacefully. He’ll no doubt capture his adventures via his drawings, journals, and zines. In honor of his great big adventure, we recall Fisher’s thoughts on the creative process originally posted December 19, 2022.

--- ooo ---

#sparkchamber tracked down artist Fisher Monahan, just at the end of his [semi] cross-country 1,200-mile walk from British Columbia to California, catching up with him hanging out in San Francisco, drawing everything he sees. Born and raised in rural Ontario, Canada, Fisher, age 18, is “looking to employ aspects of simple living and minimalism in my life and illustrations.”

Fisher puts pen to paper habitually and passionately, documenting his life and adventures in words and pictures. Somewhere under a tree, he got the idea to publish his illustrated nature journal as a paperback digest. All hand-lettered and drawn, each page represents the personal connection he feels to what he draws and writes about. Equal parts adventure journal, mindfulness guide, and art diary, he covers about almost anything, from a simple walk in the woods to the aforementioned-4-month trek across America. The first two volumes of his Sweetgrass Chroniclesschronicles.com sold out quickly, but Vol. 3 is available now!

This explorer, adventurer, artist at the beginning of a no-doubt lifelong journey inspires us! “Who inspires me? People doing cool things, living in unconventional ways, from all walks of life.” to keep up with his daily musings and drawings, follow along @fishermonahon.

1.] Where do ideas come from?

The lines that make up objects I see, as well as the light and dark spaces that allow me to see those objects.

2.] What is the itch you are scratching?

Drawing is a form of meditation that allows me to focus on the fundamentals of any given subject in a sort of trance. My style of illustration is an expression of how I see things.

3.] Early bird or night owl? Tortoise or hare?

I work all the time, but the frequency and quantity of work I produce depends on how many cool things I see that I’d like to draw. Sometimes I need to go out searching for drawing material, and sometimes it just presents itself.

4.] How do you know when you are done?

I’m done when I’m tired of drawing. That simple. If a piece isn’t all filled in with detail, but I’m sick of drawing it; I’ll just stop. I think these unfinished pieces still look good though.