If you’re sipping coffee at Java Man this weekend there’s a good chance you’ll notice a change in the decor. Several new, large paintings by Dan Janotta are being installed this Saturday, but among the regular clientele they may have the ring of familiarity. That’s because Janotta has had his work displayed there many times over the past decade.
“I used to design custom furniture and had a studio on Pier Avenue in 1994, just down the street from Java Man,” Janotta says. “Rick Hankus, the owner of Java Man, liked my designs and I created a multimedia unit for his home during that time.”
After starting to paint in 2005, Janotta inquired about the coffee shop’s art exhibits, which led to his first show there in 2006.
Because Janotta lived in Hermosa Beach for 28 years, many of his canvases depict local scenes. It’s virtually impossible not to recognize various South Bay landmarks. They’re a lot different, of course, from the landmarks of where he grew up… just outside of Chicago.
“As a young boy and teenager,” he says, “I dreamt of moving to Southern California to enjoy the beautiful beaches and weather. I have always loved the surfing culture and the history of beach music by the Beach Boys in the local area. So painting these scenes was just a natural thing to do.”
Although the pictures have a spontaneity about them, only a photograph can seize the moment, and so Janotta often takes and uses several photos that then serve as a guide for the image he wants to create.
Or, as he puts it, “My paintings usually capture the sunlight and skies at the end of the day, the “magic hour,” when the sun is low and silhouettes are long. This only lasts for a few hours and it would be rather impossible to paint on site and have enough time to finish a painting.”
Among the painters who have inspired him, Janotta has singled out Edward Hopper, Richard Diebenkorn, and Elmer Bischoff. They’re all great painters, he says, “and they capture an aspect of light and landscape that I desire in my paintings. But what really inspires my paintings lately are more gritty and urban art forms such as tattoo and graffiti artists. I love surf graphics and the advertising images that surf companies use to promote their products.”
Janotta works as a full-time architect in downtown Los Angeles, and these days he not only has a condo in Marina del rey but a home in Daytona Beach, Florida. Clearly, he loves the water.
So how does the architect’s pencil filter into the painter’s brush? And does one tend to benefit the other?
“Being an architect is a huge benefit for me as a painter,” he replies. “Being taught to understand composition, color, contrast, and perspective as a student in architecture, it became easy for me to use these skills in painting. As an experienced architect, I have also learned how to create an art form in order to sell, promote, and make a profit. Most artists struggle to sell their paintings and represent their work.”
With his talents spilling over into many areas, Janotta believes he’s on the right path.
“I think the whole concept of an architect producing furniture and paintings, inspired by the beach and the surf industry, is fresh and I hope appealing to the South Bay crowd. There are many successful business professionals who have surfed and enjoyed the beach all of their life. I am trying to create an art form and product that appeals to these individuals, at a higher level, but also to provide accessibility to the younger surfers. I’m looking forward to the challenge and I am thankful for the successful path I have taken so far.”
And towards that end?
“I plan to open a gallery/store in one of the South Bay cities in the near future featuring my paintings, furniture, and architectural designs,” Janotta says. “It will be a hybrid of architecture, design, and surfing and is branded ‘Extreme Coastal.’ That will be my retirement!”
In the meantime, treat yourself to a coffee and take in his most recent paintings.
Paintings by Dan Janotta go on view Saturday at Java Man, 157 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach. Through Sept. 16. Call (310) 379-7208.
