Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Matthews.
Jason, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
For years people would bring me in on their projects because I was known to be creative. I did design work, video editing and photography for events and friends projects. At some point, I decided I needed to stop using my talents for other people’s work if I wasn’t willing to use them for my own.
So, July 1st, 2012, I started producing art again. It started off as work for myself, to push my talents, work on my skills and figure out what I wanted to do. I was drawn towards Pop art early on. I consider myself a bit of a geek, and pop culture, movies and graphic novels were always a way for me to connect with other geeks. Fandom’s become their own language, spoken to each other in references, quotes, and commentary. It’s a language I know well and comes out in my art.
After I started creating, I had my first show in November of 2012, and since then it’s been an interesting ride. I was a resident artist of a local gallery for a time and had some of my pieces published. I’m still pushing the limits of what I can do.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Nothing worth doing is ever easy.
A few years ago, I had to go to the hospital for extreme dehydration. This happened on the last day of a large group show that I was running, and thankfully I had enough support where they could step in and close the show without me. Took me a week to recover.
Afterwards, I decided to take a year off from doing shows to work more on creating art. Soon afterwards, I broke my arm and couldn’t draw or hold a pen. It took months and some surgery and physical therapy to get back to where I was.
Now, I’m still producing art, and have art shows, but I’m working on keeping a balance. I’m making sure that I don’t push myself too far where my art or my health suffers.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Nowadays, I’m adapting my art for products, such as tote bags, pillows and journal covers. I’m thrilled with the quality of the products that are being produced and see this as being an easier avenue to introduce people to art collecting.
What were you like growing up?
When I was a kid, I was always curious. I wanted to know more, and dissect, understand more about what was around me. I was always interested in art and wanting to create art. I would look at a piece of art and start breaking it down in my head, trying to discover what the artist was thinking, how they were creating the piece.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.studiotricktop.com
- Phone: 5128253261
- Email: tricktop@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studiotricktop/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Studiotricktop/
Image Credit:
Amy Moloney Photography
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