What is your primary medium?
Primary medium would definitely be pencil, ink and paper. Just kind of doodles that turn into anything. Either I'll bring it into another medium or that's usually kind of the basis of anything I start. So just kind of spur of the moment ideas, or on a cocktail napkin with friends, or just kind of sitting at home, listening to some good music and you just want to, you know, doodle just make something. So works out pretty good eventually.
How long have you been creating art?
I would say I've actually been doing it for a really long time. I would say like, professional wise, probably not that long, but I did try to go to school. It didn't really work out too well and I just didn't know if I wanted to pursue that and kind of figured just putting my nose to the grindstone and kind of continuing it, and just keep moving, making anything you can. But yeah, I did it as a little kid and just found a love for art and creativity and just kind of pushing as much as I can with it in any way I could.
Are you able to support yourself with your art?
I would say, probably last year, I definitely got some good foundations laid and I think it’s kind of weird how it works here in Boise. It kind of seems like you get a project, and then it kind of spurs into something else and the wheel keeps turning, people keep recognizing, and it just kind of slowly builds. But overall, I'd say, I've gotten to where I can, I wouldn't say live comfortably, but it's definitely something that, you know, puts money in the pocket or towards future projects. That helps out a lot. That's even just meeting new people or, you know, it's a trade where I help them out and they help me out somehow. And it just, it works out. I think that's more where I feel that I can live off of it, knowing that it's good work, and it's good pay, but it's not really always just about the money on the table. It comes down to making new relationships and really kind of building that core group of followers that want to keep up with your work or really be interested in what you have to offer.
What motivates you to get up and start drawing?
Probably one of my biggest motivators is music. Like it's just, I've always wished I could play music. I did when I was younger. I played piano and keyboard and did that in junior high, but I just never kept it up. But it's always like, finding a new song, or finding something and just seeing how they experiment with that and then that kind of bleeds into, I don't know, just a weird idea or abstract thought and it just kind of comes out on the paper. It's even just, you know, putting in some earbuds and just listening to something, or even just go for a walk just kind of seeing what's around. And people, I definitely think people watching is great too. I think that always just sparks instant ideas and makes me want to like, pull out or grab any paper I can and just kind of make a note or a mental note or just kind of draw something simple. Then I can kind of go off of that later on and it just kind of builds up. I have like, all these little ideas, and then I can just kind of go and just keep it going.
Why is art important?
I would say it's what keeps us human. I think it's one of those things that can motivate people, it can push people to do things that they never thought they could do. But then I think it also can really set a mood and a tone with design and graphics and anything that you can do nowadays, it's pretty much endless, and it kind of controls the landscape of how people live and how they want to live. So I think art is really important and I kind of wish there were, you know, more opportunities here, but I think it's definitely growing on a consistent basis and it’s just blossoming into something that is gonna be something very soon. I can see it, finally.
Are you from here originally?
I was born in California, but I definitely am not a Californian. I know that's kind of a touchy subject. But yeah, I moved here when I was like, probably younger than one. And I grew up here. I lived on the Bench and then moved out to Meridian. I've lived in Nampa and have kind of lived all over the area. So I've kind of seen the growth slowly just progress and get bigger and bigger. So it's really nice to see finally, that it's something different.
Do you think there are opportunities you've had in Boise that you wouldn't have gotten elsewhere?
I would say yeah. I kind of made a list of things I wanted to do and it was like, you know, design a skateboard deck or do this, and it's just like little art milestones you want to hit and I feel like in one year, I just kind of crossed the whole thing off. It was just knowing certain people and finding out they do this and that and it was, you know, Treefort Music Festival, that was great. Knowing a lot of people over at the Maven shop, which is a really cool shop. sad to see it go, but it was really awesome, what they did for a lot of the people here. And yeah, it was just kind of eye opening. It was just meeting another person and they like led me to this. And yeah, I designed a beer label with Payette. It's crazy to see things you never thought you could do, but it's just like, it just happens and you just don't really sit back and realize it until after it's over that I've done all this and it's kind of nice to see. So I just kind of keep progressing.
Were you able to design a deck with Prestige or another store here?
Well right now I talked a little bit with them but I haven't… Like we're kind of back and forth right now of course in the email world. So hopefully. That's kind of my dream because I remember that shop when it first opened. And I remember Newton Harold's which isn't there anymore, and like Boardroom, and it's just like seeing those guys there and what they've created for Prestige. It's kind of the pinnacle that I would definitely like to have, to design their shop deck and be able to see kids skateboarding on it. I think that's amazing.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Mostly just, I have a love of just good design. I just love fashion stuff. I like sneakers, I like even just textiles. Just like touching fabric that is cool and looks cool. It's just kind of walking around and kind of keeping your eyes open, your ears open and just kind of bringing it all in. Even after having a really good meal you can just be inspired to just draw something. I think it's kind of my daily life, just kind of soaking it all in and just kind of letting it ooze out onto the page and see what happens.
Do you think that art is something you will ever stop doing?
I don't think I could ever stop doing it. It's just one of those things that are just, I've gotten to the point now where if I don't have it, I can definitely tell there's a difference in how I react and how I act in my daily life. It's something I have to have. I think I'll always be, you know, walking around and carrying like a little sketchbook or notepad or something just to keep it going. Because I feel like it's a muscle that you just have to keep training, just to get either better or to have fun with, and you just have to keep using it, and I feel like if you don't it kind of either slows down or it just turns off, let's say, probably the fun creative side in your head where you're just like, I just need to get this out. Like, you have an idea and you have the ability to put it out on paper. You might as well just use it and keep it going.
Do you have any projects in the works right now?
Yeah, nothing too crazy right now at the moment. With everything shut down everyone's kind of up in the air about what they're doing. But I actually just had some friends that moved into a house and I'm working on a surprise piece for them. So that'll be cool for them and their family. And then I also just have like, a couple little sticker designs. I did have an art show coming up that I was somewhat working on that was supposed to be at Maven, they still wanted to do it, but I just said, I don't want to, you know, put this stuff up. I'd rather people kind of come in and see it a little bit more up close. I just wanted to make sure that they can kind of have more time to kind of clean out and be able to do what they need to do and not worry too much about adding to their plate. But yeah, right now I'm just kind of trying to work into some new mediums and I've been painting a little bit more, playing around with watercolors. Just trying to see what else I can kind of come out with overall.
Have you found a lack of gallery space to be a problem?
I would say for upcoming artists, I think younger voices don't really have a lot of places to show work. I would say it's more of the fine art kind of style that they look for and it's, you know, graduates or people that have massive names or portfolios that can kind of come through. But yeah, I think getting some more gallery space would be great. I know there's a couple new spaces that have opened up but it's very hit and miss if you can kind of get in and usually it fills up really fast. So that's the problem, but yeah, I think if we could get another two or three just gallery spaces to show in that not just go for, you know, paintings, but you know, sculptures and things like that. And I think, you know, having Treefort is a really good opportunity too that people can do, or you know, some of the grants and opportunities that people can get with like, the James Castle house and some of those other areas that you can kind of go down. I think that's where it'll kind of permeate a little bit more in Boise and I think people will start realizing like, okay, we can create usable spaces for other things, but also do gallery showings or, you know, I can put up a show in my store or just kind of keep it interesting and change it up every now and again, keep it fresh.