Today we were lucky enough to be joined by Jared Wright, who is creating some amazingly cool and colourful pieces.
Hi Jared, thank you for taking the time to do this interview with us.
Your art is so quirky and cool, the team here have never seen anything quite like it. My favourite is “Gone for good, but I’ll be back”, it’s truly mesmerising. How did you first get into creating digital art?
Well first off thank you for the kind words! “Gone for good, but I’ll be back” is actually an acrylic painting on canvas. Some of my digital work is adding to or modifying my paintings. I have been making art and creating for as long as I can remember but really started taking it seriously after high school. When I realized I could make a career out of it I learned as many art rendering programs as I could. I soon realized that digital art offers an entire world of possibilities that I had not been taking advantage of. It was almost overwhelming exploring the endless possibilities that digital art offered. I decided at the time to not let the medium change my direction. I think a lot of times too many options can be counterproductive to creating. I made the decision to use digital programs as an aid and I try to use them the same way I would with traditional tools. I do Love seeing how other artists use digital art, I have a huge amount of respect for it and the incredible work that can be created digitally. You can have every program on earth but it’s not going to make great art for you.
Your work primarily consists of colourful abstract worlds that truly draw the viewer in.
What are your inspirations? This could be artists (NFT or non-NFTs), TV shows, music, or any random thing on the internet!
Oh man, this is a good question. So I was initially inspired at a young age by skateboard graphics. I loved getting the new CCS or Active mail-order catalog and just eating up all of the amazing graphics. That is what got me into art and drawing without me even realizing it. The next source of inspiration was a Peter Max exhibit at the StPete MoMA, which I visited on a field trip in high school. It was just a small exhibit of his drawings and sketches and was in no way the destination of our trip. The entire group walked through the room as if it was empty but I stood there for 10–15 minutes just taking it in. Shout out to my high school art teacher Mrs.Reybitz, she was always supportive and I think she let me linger in the Max exhibit longer than I was supposed to. I honestly don’t even remember the rest of the day, I was in my head. When I got home I did as much research I could on Peter Max and I was blown away with inspiration. It was the first time I had ever really felt a connection to visual art and it changed my life. It made me want to make other people feel that, it became an obsession. I then discovered other artists that have brought me tons of inspiration such as Anthony Yankovic, Pat Perry, James Jean, Norman Rockwell, Dali and tons others. I also draw inspiration from music especially Classic rock like Bob Seger, The Who, The Beatles, Boston, Tom Petty and many many more. I grew up listening to classic rock with my father, and it holds a very special spot in my heart and I try to create that feeling in my work. I also am constantly flooded with inspiration from mother nature, outer space, aliens, love and just about anything that can captivate me.
How has your style evolved over the years?
I would say my style has matured. Not that my style is mature but I feel like my various styles and techniques are finally being blended together in a way that I’m proud of. I used to worry about what style or direction to choose, until I realized the only truth was in accepting them all and using them accordingly.
What is your work process from idea to finish?
My process varies from piece to piece. Sometimes there is an image in my head I need to get out, or maybe just a composition or even color I want to use. It has to start with a spark, and then can go anywhere from there. I usually have a variety of sketches, designs and random elements for paintings sitting around my studio. Once I get a piece going It will usually take those sketches and see what I could work into the piece organically. I put a lot of thought and work into my composition so I would say that a good majority of the process is focusing on composition and layout. Once I am happy with the flow I will start filling in the smaller sections and planning the technique for each element. I try to allow room for spontaneous decisions as well, I almost never end up with a finished product that is exactly like the sketch.
Cryptocurrencies and NFT have been dominating the world news for the past year thanks to the meteoric rise of Bitcoin, Cryptopunks, and of course, the famous Beeple $69M NFT purchase. What are your honest thoughts on the cryptocurrency and NFT space right now?
We are still so early in terms of adoption/mainstream media. I’m very excited and grateful to be part of the NFT space, I am constantly blown away by the positivity, love and support for each other. The community is just amazing and I’ve met some incredible people.
What are your other passions besides creating art?
Well my wife and son are my greatest passions and spending quality time with them will always be a priority. Besides that I also skateboard at least once or twice a week. I also play and collect guitars and musical equipment. My art studio is half a music studio right now. I have been making a little music lately and it is a great way to stay creative when not making art. I think balance is needed. I also enjoy collecting art from other artists, Originals, Prints and NFTs.
This is something we ask new starters in CoinBurp as part of their Q&A interviews that we post on our blog, but the answers are always great so we’ll ask you too; What TV show or movie are you ashamed to admit you love?
Oh jeez, let’s see. My wife and I LOVE Frasier but that’s a great show so I’m not sure it’s really a guilty pleasure.
Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions for us. The CoinBurp team can’t wait to see you grow as an artist!
Post some links to where people can find your artwork and social media accounts. Also, feel free to shout out anything else you wish.
I just want to give a big shout out to the NFT community and all the amazing artists out there making a difference! Don’t worry about what’s happening around you, just be your authentic self, keep working on your craft and don’t underestimate the importance of mental health. It’s not always easy but make time and be kind to yourself, trust your process and your journey 🦉💜
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jaredwrightart
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaredwright/
Collection @ tryshowtime: https://tryshowtime.com/jaredwright
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