Artist thrives on creative pursuits

• By AMANDA BURLEIGH
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: May 12, 2008 - Page: 1B -- Acadiana Edition - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

LAFAYETTE — With his tall, brawny frame perched like a gargoyle behind thundering drums and with his arms and hair whipped by the breeze of an electric fan, Jonathan Strate appears fearsome onstage.

However, some things are more than they appear.

When Strate, 22, drummer for a still-unnamed five-piece rock band from New Roads isn’t “jammin’ ” with his band, he can be found working on myriad art projects, both for his major at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette — digital arts with a concentration in graphic design — and for his own personal pleasure.

“I would say art and music help each other, just for the creativeness they both involve,” Strate said. “In my art classes, the teachers push you so hard to come up with conceptual ideas, not really letting us do projects that are straightforward, we have to find deeper meanings in everything we do. We have to be able to explain every decision we make conceptually.

“The great thing about music is I don’t have to think deeply because we are just having a good time, but sometimes it’s interesting to go that route and try to apply some of the mental techniques learned in art classes to writing lyrics and music.”

Strate said he has been playing drums since 2002 and has been interested in art even longer.

“I always liked drawing and whatnot,” Strate said. “And when I found the major graphic design it kinda combined making a living as an artist and being able to do graphic work for businesses. It seemed like the easier way to make a living and still be able to do art, not just selling commissioned work or paintings.”

Strate’s girlfriend of nearly five years, Robin Richard, said she appreciates his assiduous ways and has learned to accept them.

“I’ve never seen somebody so dedicated to the entire process, instead of just the final product,” Richard said. “He pays attention to every step along the way, thus producing a unique and original piece of art.”

The last project Strate brought to life for his own pleasure was a pop-culture painting of Layne Staley, lead singer for Alice in Chains.

He covered a 3-feet square piece of plywood with a layer of bright reddish orange paint akin to cheap lipstick. Rock star Staley’s features were roughly blotted over the bright paint in what seemed to be white splatters, creating a photographic negative-style
image.

“Jon is a rare student,” said Jeffrey Lush, a visual arts professor at ULL. “He has a rare drive to succeed on all of his projects and will always find a strong solution for the final piece.”

Strate lives with two of his fellow band members and they play as often as possible. However, they find it difficult to put together any organized practice.