We recently had the chance to connect with Jeff DiMaggio and have shared our conversation below.
Jeff, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
I lose track of time during any type of creative endeavor. When I’m in the middle of a project be it drawing, painting, carving or just problem solving I will easily become so hyper focused that I forget everything else. My best creative ideas come at night when everything is quiet and sometimes the only thing that snaps me out of my focus is seeing the sun come up.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My story. I’ve always been an artist. Graduated SCAD in 2009 with a degree in fine arts and animation. I got work doing adult animation, working on shows such as Aqua teen hunger force, Ugly Americans, Squidbillies and a bunch of others. During that time I started to sell my own art at bars and art markets around town. I had some folks who liked my work and commissioned me for small projects. It surprised me but people responded positively to my work I did.
I love animation but I was disillusioned with the animation industry and in 2022 I decided to not seek out a new contract. Instead, at 36 years old, I applied to be a firefighter. I now work as a firefighter/ EMT. The schedule gives me time off enough to work on my creative endeavors. I have been able to expose more people to the work I do as well as branch out and try new things.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was incredibly idealistic, young, defiantly naive. My work was going to be displayed in galleries, I would make a living just drawing, maybe have an animated show or two. I still think these things. I’ve always been ambitious the problem has always been wear to direct that energy.
All I’ve ever wanted to do is be creative. However I must also, to be successful, market myself something that I’ve never been comfortable with.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Don’t go to art school. That’s the kindest and most practical thing I could say to my younger self. Having a degree in art is meaningless, your creative output is all that matters.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
No not at all. I am a lot weirder in my privet life. People see my art and then they meet me expecting my personality to reflect my art I guess. Unfortunately for them I know how to blend in and act normal.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
I worked so hard to become an professional animator. Its a highly competitive field. At the start I had no one that could help me get a foot in the door. While doing an unpaid internship in NY I lived the starving artist life. I sacrificed time, money, and relationships and in the end it was not worth the effort. Due to the sacrifices I made I stayed in the industry longer then I should have.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Grodyghost.com
- Instagram: @GhostGrody
- Twitter: @grodyghost
