Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Bartell.
Jeff, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I grew up in the woods of Central Massachusetts. The story goes that on the day I was brought home from the hospital, lightning struck our house. It’s my belief that kind of lightning energy is infused in the creativity and how I work: in quick, short, exciting bursts of inspiration. Cosmic events continue to charge my life and provoke me.
I was raised in a Unitarian Universalist church. We had witches in our congregation which cultivated an open-minded view of spirituality, magic, and the power of the imagination. I’ve always felt another layer of some sort on top of what I experience day to day.
When I was young my mom taught me to draw. I’d point at a truck in a book and say “draw that”. She’d render this really realistic truck and I would try to copy what she did but I’d give the truck teeth and a face. I’m still trying to make that truck with a face in one way or another.
I received an MFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2013.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I consider myself a multi-disciplinary artist and creator, but my current favorite medium is digital drawings.
My work is part of a transmutation process. I try to go inside myself and mine some of the dark materials and shape them into a visual communication. This gives me a sense of control over feelings that seem unmanageable otherwise. I consider my images to be sigils that a viewer can personally pour their own meanings into. My hope is that whether they seem dark or light to the viewer, that they can heal others as much as they heal me. That’s the essence of my alchemical creation practice.
How do you think about success, as an artist, and what do quality do you feel is most helpful?
Honestly, success for me is about just finding the time to make work and be part of the art community. I feel like supporting other artists in their journeys is a way of feeling connected and whole.
‘What quality or characteristic do I feel is essential to artistic success?’ This is the question most people answer with “hard work”, but I’m not fond of that answer because it scares people away from being artists and we need more artists. I prefer to say curiosity, bravery, and humility are the most essential qualities. People need to realize that art isn’t an elite act, it’s for everyone. I really believe we need to create more as a society and consume less. At least, that’d be nice.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Currently, the best way to see my work is on instagram where my handle is ‘thejeffbartell’.
Also, purchasable prints of my work can be found at jeffbartell.storenvy.com.
Additionally, I am curating a group show this summer called ‘Self Composed’ at Aviary Gallery in Jamaica Plain which will run June and July 2018. More information here: http://www.aviarygallery.com/.
The show will feature some of my work as well as work from some amazing Boston artists.
Contact Info:
- Website: jeffbartelldesign.com
- Email: jeffreybartell@gmail.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/thejeffbartell
- Other: http://www.jeffbartell.storenvy.com
Image Credit:
Kimberly Maroon
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