Blake Jamieson
Bright & Bold
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Dear Blake, First, thanks for accepting our invite. What inspires you every day? I am inspired by street art, as well as a few of my favorite artists (Andy Warhol, The Unsigned Artist, Shepard Fairey, C215). I can see elements of each directly influencing the work I create. What line of thought has been part of the driving force behind every project you’ve completed? |
Photo: courtesy of the artist |
I worked in digital marketing for 8 years after college. When I turned 30, I decided to pursue my own dreams, rather than build someone else's. I transitioned to art full-time, and now use my marketing skills to promote and sell my own work. Since I worked in a (mostly) unfulfilling job for so long, I never take for granted that I can now spend my days doing what I love to do.
Bold colors are part of your signature work. Do they go hand in hand with a list of bold messages you aim sending through everything you do?
I love using bright, bold colors. More than anything else, I think the colors chosen are a reflection of how I was feeling in the studio while painting that day. I don't usually choose colors in advance, but just let them happen naturally. And I think most people who know me well will agree that my personality is bright and bold, too.
How do you feel knowing your paintings hang all over the world?
I'm grateful to have my work hanging all over the world, but I don't dwell on it. I focus more on where my art isn't hanging (yet), and work to build my audience and influence.
What were you looking for when you decided to follow your passion for painting?
I had just turned 30, and was working in a very corporate setting. Despite a generous salary and fancy title, I was not happy. I quit my corporate job, and decided to go all-in on my passion for creating.
Life is short, and I realized that I would never regret following my dreams.
Bold colors are part of your signature work. Do they go hand in hand with a list of bold messages you aim sending through everything you do?
I love using bright, bold colors. More than anything else, I think the colors chosen are a reflection of how I was feeling in the studio while painting that day. I don't usually choose colors in advance, but just let them happen naturally. And I think most people who know me well will agree that my personality is bright and bold, too.
How do you feel knowing your paintings hang all over the world?
I'm grateful to have my work hanging all over the world, but I don't dwell on it. I focus more on where my art isn't hanging (yet), and work to build my audience and influence.
What were you looking for when you decided to follow your passion for painting?
I had just turned 30, and was working in a very corporate setting. Despite a generous salary and fancy title, I was not happy. I quit my corporate job, and decided to go all-in on my passion for creating.
Life is short, and I realized that I would never regret following my dreams.
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Where do you seek the energy that you transmit through your art?
Everywhere. Sometimes I find it in nature, sometimes from books, sometimes from relationships with friends and family, sometimes it's from other artists' works.
Could you please tell us something more about your 2016 project “90 Days to MOMA”?
When I decided to become a full-time artist, I created a list of all the achievements that are common goals for artists. This list included things like "get gallery representation," "sell a piece of art for over $1K," "get my art into a world class museum." Since SFMOMA was just re-opening after a major remodel (and being from the Bay Area myself), I decided getting my art into the museum would be an interesting challenge.
To make it more interesting, I gave myself a very aggressive timeline (90 days), and hired a filmmaker to document the process. While I did not exactly achieve the goal, my art currently hangs in the employee break room at SFMOMA, so I suppose that counts for something. It was also lots of fun, and taught me a lot about the art world.
In your opinion, is there a specific approach artists can take to overcome any obstacles?
I see the biggest obstacle for artists in the marketing and selling of work. I don't believe that marketing my art makes me a "sell out" or discounts the art itself at all. On the contrary, I know that the more art I can sell, the more opportunities I create for myself to make more art. I recommend that same pragmatic approach for all artists.
What special projects do you have in your agenda for 2018?
I've spent most of 2018 painting portraits for NFL players. This is a niche I fell into by accident, but has proven great for my career as an artist. I plan to use that momentum as much as possible, and also break into other professional sports. I'd much rather dominate a niche like pro athlete portraits, than compete with the masses seeking attention from big galleries or prolific art collectors.
Do you have a long-term objective you never lose sight of no matter what?
On a personal level, I value freedom and flexibility above all else. To me, this means I can wake up every morning and choose how I want to spend my time, and have the resources to do so. Beyond that, a primary objective is to make enough money so my parents can retire whenever they want.
I'm not really motivated by money, but for that specific goal, I've got a dollar amount tied to it.
Everywhere. Sometimes I find it in nature, sometimes from books, sometimes from relationships with friends and family, sometimes it's from other artists' works.
Could you please tell us something more about your 2016 project “90 Days to MOMA”?
When I decided to become a full-time artist, I created a list of all the achievements that are common goals for artists. This list included things like "get gallery representation," "sell a piece of art for over $1K," "get my art into a world class museum." Since SFMOMA was just re-opening after a major remodel (and being from the Bay Area myself), I decided getting my art into the museum would be an interesting challenge.
To make it more interesting, I gave myself a very aggressive timeline (90 days), and hired a filmmaker to document the process. While I did not exactly achieve the goal, my art currently hangs in the employee break room at SFMOMA, so I suppose that counts for something. It was also lots of fun, and taught me a lot about the art world.
In your opinion, is there a specific approach artists can take to overcome any obstacles?
I see the biggest obstacle for artists in the marketing and selling of work. I don't believe that marketing my art makes me a "sell out" or discounts the art itself at all. On the contrary, I know that the more art I can sell, the more opportunities I create for myself to make more art. I recommend that same pragmatic approach for all artists.
What special projects do you have in your agenda for 2018?
I've spent most of 2018 painting portraits for NFL players. This is a niche I fell into by accident, but has proven great for my career as an artist. I plan to use that momentum as much as possible, and also break into other professional sports. I'd much rather dominate a niche like pro athlete portraits, than compete with the masses seeking attention from big galleries or prolific art collectors.
Do you have a long-term objective you never lose sight of no matter what?
On a personal level, I value freedom and flexibility above all else. To me, this means I can wake up every morning and choose how I want to spend my time, and have the resources to do so. Beyond that, a primary objective is to make enough money so my parents can retire whenever they want.
I'm not really motivated by money, but for that specific goal, I've got a dollar amount tied to it.