1. What has driven you to be an artist?
I grew up in a family of musicians, designers, and artists so self-expression via art has always seemed a natural part of life. The act of creation, from concept to final execution, is so energizing and I experience a sense of freedom throughout the process. More and more I’ve found that I’m driven to express ideas through visual art. Discovering that people actually connect with what I create is a huge encouragement and inspires me to continue.
2. What is your favorite medium to work with?
Other than crude concept sketches my artwork begins on the computer, usually Adobe Illustrator. As a means of creating something non-digital (and therefore unique) I have embraced printmaking as my medium of choice. I began to screen print in 2015 and then in 2016-17 spent an instructive year at the infamous Burning Bones print shop in Houston. I continue to screen print occasionally though for practical purposes I have been developing an alternative congé print process.
3. Do you have a favorite piece? A piece that brought you the most joy to create?
One of my favorite pieces – and also one which seems to resonate with a lot of people - is Better Betty, a graphic that encourages defiance of expectations and the rejection of stereotypes. I always enjoy combining found images in an unexpected way, creating something new that people identify with. I enjoyed creating the self-improvement magazine advertisements for the background in Better Betty, taking inspiration from actual ads but customizing their content for the purposes of my work.
4. How do you get through a creative block?
I read somewhere that creativity is an ecosystem – you have to keep feeding it to keep it healthy and get the best results. Often when I’m having creative block I just double-down on seeking visual inspiration from Pinterest or my ever-expanding library of found images and art books. Seeking out thought-provoking literature, movies, and song lyrics also gets my creative juices flowing again.
5. What is your biggest dream/goal as an artist?
As an artist my goal is to continue to hone my skills, both conceptual and physical, as that can be a great source of satisfaction. Perhaps my biggest goal would be to get to a point in my career where I can devote 100% of my time to creating art instead of having to design the website, do sales reports, run social media, tech support etc.
6. Is there any particular advice that has fueled your creative journey? (Words to live by or favorite quotes?)
Nothing specific comes to mind though I found the book Art/Work by Heather Darcy Bhandari very helpful and really enjoyed the training and mentorship I received as a participant in the Artist INC program. Check them out!
Check out Jeremy's inspirational and ecclectic Instagram feed right here.
Go pick up the Denik x Beast Syndicate Layflat Classic set here. And stay tuned for more Beast Syndicate product goodness in the coming weeks!
