Interview with MrJago

What's your background? Art school? Self learner? Art for Dummies?


i did go to university in Bristol to study illustration but the type of work i do now was frowned upon . i kept doodling on the down low though and have sort of taught myself to paint by exploring the medium .





How will you describe your art for somebody who doesn't know your stuff?


nowadays .. hmm . . abstract animation without a move





What are your favorite materials to work with?


at the moment im loving a mix of spray-paint and acrylics . dots mixed with brush marks





How long does it take you to produce a piece? Do you start out with a sketchbook or do you freehand all the way?


it varies , sometimes i have a more epic piece in mind in which case i will plan the composition and colours ect these usually end up taking me quite a while to get to a point where i think is the end [ this could be a week or so ] . but a lot of the time i will start by free-styling and see where it takes me . it could take 3hrs it could take a day or two .





Where do you get your inspiration from?


a lot of my inspiration comes from things i see in nature mixed with a little bit of imagination .
clouds have been a major source of imagery lately . music is a constant





Do you paint/work outside sometimes? Where can we see your stuff?


i have painted a few walls out and about although ive never been a stealth bomber . there are a few spots around Bristol where you can see stuff i have done usually with another artist or two . mostly legal of course .i survived a summer or two ago by begging local businesses to let me paint their shops/salons/stairways whatever so there are quite a few interiors around Bristol that have had a lick of colour





Who influence you the most, any favorite artist(s)?


my ultimate force inspirer as an artist is Futura 2000 . lord fresh of future communication .





Living as an artist is sometimes difficult financially, any part time job?


This has been the 1st year in my ten year career where art has let me eat and pay bills like a normal person .in the past i have considered making painting/drawing my hobby and looking for something a little more "secure" but have then come to the realization that i am pretty much unqualified to fit any other career . it can still get quite sticky at times and you can never relax but i guess thats all part of the challenge .





Best Gallery in the world? and why?


ooh i don't know . i usually think fondly of a gallery when they are fun people to work with the Don in Milan is doing good work and has an art collection to die for . he is truly passionate about the " outsider " art scene and a dude to boot stick .





Best City to paint outside? and why?


Sidney in November . hot . friendly folks . beers and flip flops


Beer and Fag or Tea and Biscuit?


daytime : tea and fag ---- night time : beer fag and biscuit . tea is incredibly important of course each little bag of angel shavings that is sacrificed brings me closer to enlightenment . with two sugars





What are your plans in the near future? Any upcoming exhibitions?


There are things going into the diary for solo & group shows planned for 2009 and 2010 which is a nice feeling . i need goals and deadlines or i end up wondering around like an dazed outpatient . 2009 i have a show with the Don Gallery in Milan and am taking part of a group show with thinkspace in L.A. then in 2010 i have a solo show with Thinkspace . hopefully there will be other bits n bobs in between those shows .


More about MrJago here http://www.mrjago.com/