An Electric Conversation with Jayson Fate
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Jayson Fate is an American collage mixed media artist working and based in Chicago. His art can be seen nationally in bars, nightclubs, and residential interior and exterior design projects. I enjoyed asking Jayson about some of the greatest influences that come from outside the art world, the meaning behind the themes he chooses, and what drove him to become a full-time artist.
UZOMAH: What has been the most important lesson you have learned to keep creative?
JAYSON: Stay inspired and hungry. Most of my pieces relate to what I love, and music was my first love, and my hunger is to create inspiration and what inspires me.
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U: What themes do you like to address the most and why?
J: I was just thinking about this recently. Looking back at the collection of pieces I have, they are a twist of colorful biblical and modern culture. My interests are drawn to the spirit of it all; life is a crazy mix, and a collage is an amazing way to celebrate and share my views.
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U: How do you choose colors to give your pieces a spiritual-like experience?
J: Great question. Color seems to be easy for me to mix, and when finished, they do translate spiritual-like themes. I usually find colors that feel close to the idea of each piece or concept I want to create. It may sound strange but the art creates itself.
U: When is your favorite time to create? Do you have a routine?
J: There is no specific time or routine. All art comes to me either spontaneously or by commission. All I know is when it hits. IT HITS HARD!
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U: What is the meaning behind choosing themes of rebirth, transformation, love, and light in your artwork?
J: It is what I am seeking and have been influenced by. The hope of any true art is to communicate and when I speak with most is the theme in conversation.
U: Is there any advice you would give your younger self from what you know about being an artist now?
J: I am an outsider artist and going to school to educate myself on different techniques or better business education to support life. I am good with the business but better creatively.
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U: What are some of your most significant influences that have come from outside the art world?
J: Music has always been my driving factor. When I was five years old, I received a KISS ALIVE record, and it blew my mind. To this day, I believe it was the greatest eye-opener to my art. I have a new collection that is more in line with pop culture as well. My speakers are in this collection 100% hand collage that took about a year to finalize. They came out amazing!
U: Can you explain your technique of layering and choosing papers and certain textures?
J: I will look for what I think is cool or funky. My eye is looking for papers that are related to what I am trying to pull together. Like I said earlier, I am absolutely creating these pieces, but there is another force working simultaneously.
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