Category: Art

From Pain to Paint: How Isaiah Quittner Transforms Trauma into Art at Flask Lounge

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Isaiah Quittner standing in front of his painting at Flask Lounge

Flask Lounge is proud to feature Isaiah Quittner as our Artist of the Month this July. Known in the art community as “Fractal Boi,” Isaiah brings a deep, emotionally rich body of work to our brick walls. I enjoyed meeting Isaiah and discussing his art, inspiration, and journey.

Background and Inspiration

Isaiah Quittner, a visual artist based in Burlington, Vermont, has been creating art for over a decade. Though his current medium is primarily acrylic paint, he has a fondness for ballpoint pen and ink. Isaiah describes his art as a “visual journal,” capturing significant moments and emotions from his life.

“I hope people see the struggle that I’m trying to imbue into it, but also understanding that the most important thing about creating is you can take pain and make it palatable.”

Exhibit at Flask Lounge

This exhibit at Flask Lounge is Isaiah’s first solo show, and it holds a special place in his heart. Each piece represents a chapter in his life, a culmination of emotions and experiences. “I hope people can see the pieces and know they’re all really important chapters in my life.” He views his work as a means of connecting with others, helping them feel less alone through shared experiences and emotions.

Journey Through Art

Isaiah’s journey into art is significantly influenced by a traumatic experience in high school, which he describes as a brain anomaly or seizure. This event profoundly altered his perception and drove him to pour his emotions onto the page. “I spent an entire week filling a page as densely as I could because I was worried about my mortality,” he recalls. To try to encapsulate the deepest depths of our emotions, Isaiah balances the beauty and pain on a single page through contrast, using various textures, sizes, and depths of emotion. He incorporates expressions and body language positions to convey these emotions, considering how we naturally position our bodies as a way to connect with others on a deeply human level.

Live Painting at Festivals

Isaiah’s venture into live painting at festivals began with smaller community events, invited to paint at shows and festivals by his friend Kayla Levitt. These early experiences helped him grow comfortable with live painting, eventually leading him to larger festivals. “Live painting is a perfect confluence of most of my passions. I get to connect with people, dance, and enjoy the music,” he says. The energy and interaction with festival-goers add a unique dimension to his work; though he remains true to his vision, he sometimes incorporates audience suggestions.

Challenges and Inspirations

Like many artists, Isaiah faces financial challenges and the constant struggle of balancing work and life. “Often, I’ll stay up very late because it seems like the only blocks of solid time I can work on a piece.” Despite these obstacles, he finds inspiration in a diverse range of artists, from contemporary figures like Gabriel Welch and Jonathan Solter to historical greats like Hieronymus Bosch and Ernst Fuchs.

Memorable Moments

One of Isaiah’s most memorable live painting experiences was at a show for LTJ Bukem, where the synergy of the music and atmosphere made the painting process feel natural and ecstatic. “I was depicting a creature that kind of embodied the maniacal bliss I was feeling,” highlighting the joy and freedom that art brings him.

Connecting with Isaiah

Isaiah’s art is a testament to his resilience and ability to transform pain into beauty. He hopes that visitors to Flask Lounge will appreciate his work’s aesthetic and connect with the deeper messages within. To follow his journey and see more of his art, you can connect with him on Instagram at @fractalboi or via email at isaiahquittner@gmail.com. His website, currently under construction, will soon feature a range of his works and clothing items.

Rapid Fire Questions with Isaiah Quittner

Jessica Nolette: Are you a hunter? I have to ask you because you’ve got a gun up behind your head, and you’ve got a deer on your shirt. 🤨
Isaiah Quittner: That’s funny. 😂 No, that’s my roommate’s, and it’s a BB gun from when he was a kid. I don’t like killing things.

Jessica Nolette: What’s your favorite place to travel? 🧳
Isaiah Quittner: York Beach, Maine. It’s nostalgic for me, with memories of hanging out on the beach and getting candy from Goldenrod.

Jessica Nolette: If you could sit down and have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? 🍽️
Isaiah Quittner: Probably a friend of mine that I’ve lost, Connor. I think there would be something really nice about that.

Jessica Nolette: What is a go-to app on your phone that you feel like you can’t live without? 📲
Isaiah Quittner: Instagram. It has my entire artistic timeline since eighth grade, and I fear losing all that history.

Jessica Nolette: What’s your favorite food? 🍔
Isaiah Quittner: Probably a hamburger, or some Annie’s macaroni and cheese.

Jessica Nolette: Do you have a favorite movie? 🍿
Isaiah Quittner: “Mr. Nobody” and “Waking Life.” “Mr. Nobody” explores different life paths based on decisions, and “Waking Life” dives into existential and philosophical concepts with a unique rotoscoping animation style.

As Isaiah continues to explore and express his artistic vision, we are honored to showcase his work at Flask Lounge. We invite you to come and experience his art’s emotional depth and intricate beauty throughout July.

Bob Peterson: Flask Lounge’s Featured May Artist

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From Street Art to Sobriety: Bob Peterson’s Journey of Creative Resilience

This May, Flask Lounge features artist Bob Peterson (@dollydarko27) following the debut of Geo SanGiovanni. Visitors can explore Bob’s distinctive work, which blends graffiti and street art, throughout the month. A special meet-and-greet event on Friday, May 10th, from 7-9 p.m. offers an opportunity to connect with Bob in person and hear more about his journey of creativity, community, and sobriety. Mr Dereloid, one of Bob’s favorite local DJs, hosts Foundation Friday at 9 p.m.

From Manchester to Portland: Finding Community and Inspiration

Relocating from Manchester to Portland marked a pivotal moment for Bob, providing him with a supportive environment that nurtured his creativity. “In Manchester, there wasn’t much of a vibrant street art scene,” Bob shared. “Coming up to Portland, it’s a lot more immersive. There are probably 50 or so people who are really into it. Everybody is inclusive and not as gatekeeping as you expect any scene to be coming in as an outsider.” This energetic atmosphere inspired Bob to push the boundaries of his work, creating a space where he could flourish alongside other artists.

Art as a Path to Sobriety

Bob’s path to recovery is linked to his art, which became a medium for expression and healing. Reflecting on the influence of sobriety on his creativity, Bob remarked, “When I got sober and was able to focus more on my art, it showed. My art really propelled me to the next level, and my focus was all there.” This clarity allowed him to pour more of himself into his work, capturing the dualities of darkness and light into his pieces.

“I remember how far I’ve come and how much my art has resonated ever since sobriety. So it’s been a positive spiral ever since then.”

Artistic Style and Inspirations

Bob’s art combines various influences, from the intricate work of Salvador Dalí and Vincent van Gogh to the raw creativity of graffiti and street art. “I draw a lot of inspiration from graffiti and street art, which I’ve been kind of immersed in most of my life,” he explained. Bob also finds inspiration in the people around him, particularly his fellow artists in the local scene. “My art is like a daily journal of my emotions and life, so I express myself through that and hope it resonates with people.”

Graffiti Etiquette and Artistic Ethics

As a seasoned street artist, Bob maintains a code of ethics that emphasizes respect for other artists’ work, particularly within collaborative spaces. “It’s generally considered tacky to tag over anyone else’s work, especially if it’s well done and there’s thought put into it,” he said. He values collaboration and the inclusive nature of Portland’s art community, where artists gather regularly to share their work and support one another.

A Special Connection to Flask Lounge

Flask Lounge holds a special place in Bob’s artistic journey, offering a platform where his work finds a receptive audience. His collection features seven pieces, four of which are part of his black-and-white stencil series. “I thought they went really well against the brick wall and the ambiance of the place,” Bob noted. One of his standout pieces, a 30×40″ piece named Track Cat, took two days to complete and remains one of his favorites. For Bob, displaying his work at Flask was an emotional experience, saying, “It’s the place I’ve come to the most in Portland over the years…so to have some of my best work hanging on the walls of my favorite place definitely brought a little tear to my eye.”

Looking Ahead

With aspirations of a solo gallery show and plans to publish a book documenting the street art scene, Bob remains rooted in his passion for art and the supportive Portland community. He recognizes the importance of channeling creativity as a form of positive compulsiveness, encouraging other artists struggling with addiction to “channel [their] compulsiveness into something positive.” For Bob, art is both an outlet and a beacon of hope, offering a path toward a brighter future. “I’ve never woken up in the morning and picked up a marker, pencil, or object and made art and regretted it afterward.”

Rapid-Fire Questions with Bob Peterson

Favorite Color: Purple, although “it’s always changing,” Bob said.
Favorite App: Instagram. He explained, “I live on it.”
Favorite Food: Spaghetti.
Favorite Restaurant in Portland: Otto’s Pizza.
Dream Gallery Partner: “My homie Wilt.”
Favorite Musician/Band: Pavement and Sonic Youth.
Ideal Artist to See at the Las Vegas Sphere: Pretty Lights.
Favorite Tree: Willow.

Connect with Bob and Flask: