Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life (2023)

Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life (2023). 1h 20m

“Greetings again from the darkness. Over the years, Iu0026#39;ve managed to maintain zero artistic ability, and yet my admiration and respect for artists has continued to grow. Itu0026#39;s quite likely youu0026#39;ve never heard of Geoff McFetridge, and equally likely that no one you know has either. Leave it to commercial director and artist Dan Covert to recognize that a fellow artistu0026#39;s story is worth telling.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWith interviews from film directors Spike Jonze (also an Executive Producer) and Sofia Coppola, and photographer Andrew Paynter, we get a real sense for the admiration McFetridge draws from other artists. His wife Sarah also gives us her perspective on her husband as an artist, father, and partner, and yet we find Geoffu0026#39;s own introspection to be the most descriptive and informative. This is a man who doesnu0026#39;t shy away from self-analysis … which makes sense given his personal mission.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFor an artist as prolific as McFetridge, itu0026#39;s not surprising to learn that his childhood habit of u0026quot;drawing all the timeu0026quot; has followed him into adulthood. Itu0026#39;s really more of an obsession than a habit, and heu0026#39;s managed to turn it into a profession. Born in Canada, he made the decision to enroll at the California Institute of Arts, and now can be described as melding art with commerce. His work has adorned ads and products for such companies as Nike, Apple, and Pepsi (among many others).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSurprisingly, itu0026#39;s not his brilliant design work that is most interesting. Rather itu0026#39;s Geoffu0026#39;s constant pursuit of meaning in everything he does – in art, while running ultra-marathons, and in being a husband and father to two daughters. This is a man who pushes himself constantly. Down time is not part of his plan. He used art as a way out and way to have control as he searched for his place. He always had the colors and form (geometry on acid), and his wife Sarah is the one who instilled emotion into his work.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMcFetridge is highly respected by other graphic artists, while remaining virtually unknown to the general public. His greatest gift is not a steady hand, but rather an innovate mind tied to a tireless work ethic. It seems strange to say, but heu0026#39;s inspirational in the way he seeks meaning – giving us the desire as well. On the surface, one would expect a biopic on an under-the-radar graphic artist to be a short film, but director Covert understood that a full 80 minutes would better serve the audience. He was right.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn NYC theaters on June 21, 2024 and VOD via Gravitas beginning July 2, 2024.”