I'm a painter from San Francisco, California. I recently finished traveling some the world for 1.5 years, and currently I'm getting my street art career going in the California Bay Area. I've biked around the art islands of Japan, swam in the oceans of Bali, trekked the himalayas with my sister in Nepal, bathed in the Ganga in India (goodbye all sins! that was easy) seen the oldest habitations of humankind in southeast Turkey (gobeklitepe) and painted murals in Serbia. I have started painting murals in different countries and public art has become one of my main missions. I have my sketchbook with drawings of things from my travels. I love playing sports, with favorites being squash, football, and basketball, being outside, and dancing (usually to something funky). Please check out my website at jonnypopovich.com if you want to see the artwork I've made, as well as under my photos on this profile. After college I developed an interest in health, movement, and nutrition, and those topics are the other predominant focus of what I learn. I love podcasts. I consume them almost every day and they have distinctly influenced and greatly aided my career and life. You will see me walking on my hands or jumping over something within eight hours of knowing me. Let's eat some weird foods! I'm talking pickled durian with shirako (look it up to be grossed out)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've been traveling around the world for 1.5 years! couchsurfing has proven to be an integral, enriching part of my journey. what would otherwise be routine- cooking a meal or doing a workout or doodling- when shared with a new host in a new land are equally special experiences for me. I enjoy the novelty of homes. I am happy to help with anything you want, and possibly dance while I do it (but singing would be a bad idea)

Interests

I am a pencil artist and painter, and since graduating college I've also taken up a singular interest in nutrition and health, which has recently broadened into a budding interest in food sustainability and ecological practices. I like to climb trees and love discovering innovative or beautiful or mesmerizing art projects from around the world, often through the Colossal blog. I like to closely observe things, especially plant life. One of my current dreams is to create a giant beautiful fantastical mural. I also want to have informal artist "residencies" as I travel. Something like using an existing studio space or workshop, private or public, to settle down for a week or three to produce a more finalized piece of art, something reflecting my experience of that environment at that time. These things could be any medium, collaborative or solo. In exchange I am happy to cook or clean or teach or whatever is desired. Please think of any local artists or events or projects you know of upon meeting me. Push me into something entrepreneurial. Ask me to help with something you find meaningful and impactful. Cheers!

• arts
• writing
• street art
• dancing
• environment
• dining
• cooking
• meditation
• walking
• technology
• traveling
• blogging
• podcasts
• sports
• basketball
• history
• squash

Music, Movies, and Books

Freedom From the Known by J. Krishnamurthi. I can come back to any part of that book for the rest of my life. one of my favorite novels is Shantaram. I like sci-fi as well, one of my favorites being Stranger in a Strange Land by Heinlein. I like to describe favorite music in terms genres. For EDM, I love wolfgang gartner, daft punk, eric prydz; I love Led Zeppelin; Wu-Tang, Nas, Motown...James Brown, hindustani music: Ravi Shankar, stuff with tablas and sitar

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have bathed in the Ganga and swam in the "highest lake in the world" it was freezing, 5,000 meters in Nepal. I have also lost my diary, which had 12 months of my travels in it, then had it found by a girl in India who sent it back to me ALONG WITH her own diary, which she wrote after finding and reading mine.

Teach, Learn, Share

Kevin Kelly (founder of WIRED magazine, technologist, writer) has researched and discovered that there are no globally extinct technologies from recorded human history. There are more obsidian arrowheads being produced today than when Native Americans made them. From steam-powered car engines to carbon paper to chariot wheels, every technology is still being made somewhere on the planet. Incredible. As for something I want to learn- I want to learn how to backflip on flat ground! can you help me with that?

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can listen. I know that in my journey my current convictions and opinions will take a backseat to the new people and cultures and environments around me, and I am going to practice being particularly observant and open-minded and non-judgmental. I have learned a lot about food and nutrition, and I can teach people some basics about how to eat and how to move. I can share what motivates me to make paintings and can help you break down barriers to your art practice.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Croatia, India, Italy, Japan, Nepal, Serbia, Turkey