Today we’d like to introduce you to J Edward Neill.
J Edward, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’m a fiction author and an artist specializing in acrylics, watercolors, and dark, emotional pieces. Let’s talk about the art side first. I began my art journey as a teenager, creating banners for local bands, silk-screening custom t-shirts, and painting large murals. Over the years, my art gravitated toward painting on canvasses (especially BIG canvasses) and selling at local shows, galleries, and via my website. Currently, I paint almost exclusively original canvas pieces, focusing on darker works rather than doing more lucrative commission work. Gotta do what you love, right?
As for writing, I’ve been doing it since the beginning. I’ve self-published more than forty novels, novellas, and short stories, and I’ve contributed to several major anthology publications. Like my art, I typically focus on serious subject matter, writing fantasy (no elves or dragons here, people) sci-fi, horror, as well as a series of coffee table philosophy books. Whenever I’m not painting, I’m writing. And vice versa!
Has it been a smooth road?
No roads are smooth. And that’s just fine. The toughest struggle for an artist with my subject matter is finding just the right audience. Out in Atlanta’s suburbs, art fans tend to prefer contemporary, happy-ish art. In the city, pop art and culturally-relevant art are king. For me, who prefers brooding landscapes and edgy, bordering on horror art, finding my audience is key, and it’s not always easy.
But hey, it’s all about the journey, right? Writing and publishing are easier in that my topics are more mainstream. But of course, self-publishing and more importantly self-marketing are real time-consumers. There’s no time to rest between small successes. Every book published and every painting sold mean it’s time to create more, market more, and continue to improve.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
My Etsy shop ShadowArtFinds is one of the most unique art shops you’ll find anywhere. I have a crazy huge variety of fantastical landscapes, dark maidens, and abstract art creations. People who know me will probably say most of my art is pretty spooky and atmospheric, so I suppose that’s what I’m known for.
As for my books, I’m definitely known for my Coffee Table Philosophy series. With tens of thousands of books sold in the series, my in-the-reader’s-face brand of approachable philosophy really sets my books apart. Sure, I’ve got the typical fantasy, sci-fi, and Stephen-King-ish type books out there, but my bread and butter is Coffee Table Philosophy. To research the books, I visited dozens of Atlanta area taverns, wineries, and restaurants, seeking strangers to engage with sharp philosophical questions. What a blast!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love Atlanta’s ever-expanding culture. For a blog project last year, I visited dozens of top restaurants with the aim of heaping praise on the menus, service, and of course, the cocktail selections. It was the most fun I’ve ever had! It used to be finding a good place to eat in Atlanta was a real challenge. But now…it’s harder to find a bad spot. And of course, as anyone who lives in Atlanta will tell you, the least likable part of living here is the traffic. It’s really awful.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://downthedarkpath.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/jedwardneill998
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/J-Edward-Neill/113610302118735
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/jedwardneill
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ShadowArtFinds?ref=l2-shopheader-name
Image Credit:
All images 2018 J Edward Neill
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
