Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Jarrett.
Joshua, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started making art as a child. I was strongly encouraged by my grandparents and mother who enrolled me in all kinds of local community art classes where I got to explore many different mediums and be taught by many different professionals. It was in high school when was most exposed to painting by my sister-in-law and when I began making my own work in earnest. It was at that time that I started truly feeding my curiosity about art and art making, watching ass many films as I could about painting and painters and experimenting with street art in my small home town. After high school I went directly into the Fine Arts program at Columbus State University where I had the chance to feel like I was truly a part of an artistic community. All my friends were artists and we all worked together both in and out of class.
After school I moved to Atlanta and that was the scariest thing I had ever done. It’s not uncommon for CSU alumni to move up here so I’m still connected with many of my old friends, but away from the shelter of academia and campus the need to work and scrape by overwhelmed me as I shuffled through a dozen different dead-end restaurant jobs. It wasn’t until I was finally fired from that I decided it was time to knuckle down and try to center art making again in my life.
It was a struggle then as it still can be now. To feel that I had fallen away from what was my entire life’s goal and to try to return was traumatically discouraging. I felt like a loser who would never paint again. I got lucky though, a few times, because of my network and the opportunities extremely generous people were willing to extend to an out of work artist. I got a few clients who wanted marketing materials, illustration, that kind of thing. Since then, and into the pandemic, I get by partly on creative work and partly on putting in a few hours a week with a very flexible day job. I have done not a small amount of pet portraits to keep the lights on.
It’s still rough though, the crush of capitalism, the constant terror that you might not be able to fill your landlord’s pockets this months, these things make it so difficult to access that pure joy of creation that felt like it was right in my grasp all through childhood. Striving is worth it; however, I don’t think I’ll ever see my artistic development as finished. There will always be more to learn, skills to further refine, and new things to discover.
Tell us about your work – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My freelance work has been almost entirely working with small businesses, individuates, and non-profits. My work, individuate projects I mean, proceed as a conversation between me and the client. Most people entrust the greater decisions to me and then sign off on it at the end. Especially those clients with whom I’ve worked for a long time. My specialty is in illustration and typography. I’ve made many event posters, one off illustrations, and other text heavy pieces. If I’m known for anything it’s probably bright color, rough textures, and loose draftsmanship.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success? It’s hard to say. I think ultimately measuring the success of a single individual is limiting. I don’t want to be considered for how widespread my pictures are or what my bank account looks like (nothing to brag about on either count!) I think what’s most important is how you relate to your community. How you can lift up others and supporting a wider set of needs and concerns than just your own. If you want to assess your own success please ask yourself “What am I contributing?” rather than “What am I getting out of it?”
Pricing:
- General illustration hovers around $100 – $150 depending on size, text, ect.
- Smaller projects or unusual needs (I do murals!) just talk to me directly.
- Anything which can benefit a non-profit or help uplift local communities let’s talk.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jjarrett.work
- Email: joshuajarrett.art@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jj_rrtt/
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