Interview with JASON KOWALSKI:

Your childhood ambition:

Every kid wants to grow up to be someone they admire. For me it was the concept of entrepreneurship that I admired. My ambition was to work for myself in a profession that I loved. As an artist, I like being my own boss, though it would be nice to get paid for overtime and sick days.

Something you treasure:

I treasure being a dad to my two year old son Wyeth. My own father chose not to be a dad, leaving our home when I was a baby. I cannot imagine leaving my children and take pride in the opportunity to be a great dad.

Your worst habit:

On occasion I bite off more than I can chew. When multiple deadlines stack up at one time, it can be quite stressful.

The aspect of your work that’s most important to you:

I truly enjoy my subject matter. I value nostalgia and believe that every antique has a fascinating story. Preservation does not always equal restoration. To honor the stories of the past, I paint places/objects as they exist in the world today. There is beauty in the undone, the abandon, and in the shadows of a greatness that once was.

Your first job:

My first job was mowing the lawn and doing janitorial work at a Catholic School. It was a lousy job but I was glad to have it.

Someone whose work you highly recommend:

I have several artist books in my studio collection as inspiration so it’s hard to recommend just one. Lately I’ve been flipping through the pages of a book featuring the artwork of Jenny Saville. My admiration of her work begins with how she paints. There is movement and exquisite description with each brush stroke she makes. Her paintings of the human figure are uniquely alive in a way every representational artist hopes his/her finished work to be.

 

See more of Jason Kowalski’s work here.