Q & A

Here's an interview/conversation I recently had with a new friend.  I felt the questions and answers might be useful to any other artists reading this who may have the same questions. So I hope this helps you all out in understanding just a *little bit* of who Jeremy "8th" is, enjoy!

Vin Lane:  i love your art.

i also draw myself.

what inspires you?

Jeremy *8th*: "oh word?  thanks 

well i can say right now that

what inspires most of it would mainly be

every person in other countries who deserve to be heard and seen but are not.

Also, deceased relatives play a major part in all of my pieces. I first started drawing and painting when i was younger because of two people that meant a great deal to me who had passed away.  They both were always my biggest fans, even more-so than my own direct family at the time. One would always push me to write since back then and even now i loved to write, and the other one would show me how to do some basic drawings since i was only 4 at the time. But honestly theres countless things that inspire it, always something different..but thats the best thing about it"

Vin Lane: So im trying to do something different. Something that

i can unlock my feelings into because I always find myself drawing anime style. Sounds kinda funny maybe. But thats what i want to do. When i saw your stuff it really inspired me. What moves you?

Jeremy *8th*: yea i think everyone at some point starts out with anime/art because thats what we're into from the start.  

For myself, I used to only do anime because i wasn't at the point where I had any idea of where i was going with art when I was little.  Then there was this day when one of my favorite uncles who did some art back in the day suggested i shouldn't draw anime because that's what everyone did. So at about 8 is when I changed and started expanding what i considered art and since then its been one long crazy journey/growing process. But for you what should help is just..really throw away anything in your mind that you think art is, anything you've been taught anything you've done in the past with art. and focus more-so on what you feel is important to you.  The one thing i always tell myself and have to constantly re-teach myself is that you can't try to reveal yourself to art, but instead let art reveal you to yourself. the deeper you go in yourself and just let art be ittself "through" you, the more you'll start to see what your connection is. because anyone can be an artist, you look andy warhol and people like Basquiat and all of these artists who will go down in history just because of the fact that they went against what the world defined as "art" and instead they just did what they knew was art to them.  So its really about coming to the mental state of letting yourself be the venue that art flows through rather than you making art, let it make you..and it might be a hard concept to get but trust me once you do, you'll know immediately and everything that needs to make sense will make sense, the more you get into it, the more you'll understand..because art cant be taught. people can tell you how certain art was done, or tell you do something a certain way to perfect a particular style or form but you put a well taught artist next to an artist who wasnt taught but its their passion and life, and you can't tell one or the other that they are or are not an artist. 

Vin Lane:  i understand. and thankyou.

but this is where i lack. its like how do you let it reveal you to yourself.
how do you start. im so use to drawing the same thing. and never expanded.
 how can you be yourself.  does it just come from a little doodle
cuz i kno that is a hard concept to follow.
is it what make you drive. how art reveals you..
is it imagination? how does imagination flow. i feel as if im having a block.
because im use to the same thing
and basically your saying. even if your not taught. it doesnt define you as not being a artist.

Jeremy *8th*:  yea i mean i wasnt taught ANYTHING, i never took any formal art classes up until this past summer at an art program i signed up for.  Before you start anything when your about to draw, paint or anything//either think about what you trying to show or say, then think of the best way you can get that point across or the way you want to get it across.  keep a sketch book with you and drawing random things you see that u like is good for keeping you practicing and keeping your mind open to anything.  If you know a certain way you draw things then when your ready, set it in your mind that your not going to draw that style at all so that way your not just reverting back to that style to compensate. because really..and this is the most important thing you'll realize is that there isnt a right and wrong way with art. it doesnt matter if something looks good or bad because interpretation varies depending on who the viewer is.  To break that block or wall u have to really just know that u know that u know..that its not about it looking or being any way, it all comes down to how you express yourself and whats being said or if its not suppose to say anything thats fine too. not all art is telling a story sometimes its just to make you or someone think. And your question*is it what makes u drive*

its different for everyone. you have some artists who do drugs (which i dont suggest) but it actual plays a big part in their art. but its a mix of you being able to separate and mix reality and imagination whenever you choose and how you choose. when you see something you think is "great art"  dont look at it in a way that you think its better than anything you can do because every1 started somewhere. I can tell you just a few years ago i was not good at all but thats just because i hadnt made a commitment to it yet.  And sometimes thats what will happen. If your serious about it, the more dedication and time you put into it, the more it'll put bak to u and it'll start to show through your work