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Spraygraphic Interview with Artist Jake Watling
By Spraygraphic | July 31, 2009
Spraygraphic Interview with Jake Watling
SG: Please tell us about yourself?
JW: I’ve lived all over the U.S., born in Minnesota, but grew up in central Florida until I was 12. After Florida I moved to Ohio for a year and then back to Minnesota. We kept moving because my Dad worked for General Mills and they transferred him back and forth. After I graduated from the College of Visual Arts in St. Paul, Minnesota I moved to Oakland, California. I lived in Oakland for awhile until my wife and I moved to Maryland, but the Bay Area pulled us back once again. So now we’re back in Oakland.
SG: What mediums do you work with?
JW: I mainly use acrylic and ink on wood or paper.
SG: Describe your working process when creating a new work.
JW: I like to document and absorb the environment that I live in and interact with on a daily basis. I record my daily ideas and experiences through drawing, painting, photography, and writing. I’ll take what I’ve recorded combined with whatever I’m thinking about or feeling at that moment and produce paintings, sculptures, and installations.
SG: What kind of things do you do when you get blocked or find it hard to create something?
JW: I’ll go walk or drive around the city. I like going to areas where people are out walking around doing their thing. Sometimes I’ll bring my camera and take some photos of people, hand-painted signage, and architecture.
SG: Where are you currently finding your inspiration?
JW: My inspiration is usually a mix of what I see on my way to work or doing my daily activities and what I might be reading or researching at the time. Lately I’ve been interested in Hopi Kachinas and other Hopi mythology, biker gangs, scrapper bikes, and I always like learning more about religion and myths from different cultures.
SG: Where has your work been seen?
JW: In the Bay Area I’ve had the opportunity to show at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Swarm Gallery, Receiver Gallery and many other great places. Outside the Bay Area I’ve show in Washington, D.C., New York, Berlin, and Chicago.
SG: Where will it be seen next?
JW: Right now I’m in a show entitled Full-Deck The History of Skate Art at the Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek, CA and I’m working on a mural in Orange Alley right behind Receiver Gallery in San Francisco. I’d really like to put together a show in LA or New York so anyone out there that might be interested, let me know. You can always go check out my artwork at Swarm Gallery in Oakland.
SG: What is your dream art assignment?
JW: One of them was to paint a mural and I’m stoked that I’m getting to do that right now thanks to Jay at Receiver Gallery.
SG: What is your favorite color?
JW: I’m not sure if it’s my favorite color, but I use it a lot is yellow traffic paint. The paint they use for painting yellow curbs and the lines on roads.
SG: Who is your favorite artist? And Why?
JW: Jean-Michel Basquiat for his use of color, compositions, subject matter, and his unique style
SG: What book/magazine are you reading this week?
JW: Book of the Hopi, Hi-Fructose magazine and Interview magazine
SG: Ever do a self portrait? Where is it now?
JW: I’ve done a couple of them. One I did in high school for a drawing class. It’s a life size graphite drawing, I’m not sure were it is. I also did a Warhol-esque screen print for one of my first shows I was in for a gallery in Northern Virginia. I still have a couple of the prints on paper.
SG: Where is your favorite place to hang out?
JW: Usually at a bookstore or at home
SG: Any final words of advice?
JW: Go for it.
Topics: Artist Interviews, San Francisco Art Scene |
