We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jantzen Peake a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jantzen , appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
I was born with the gift of being creative. Ever since I was a young buck I loved to draw, paint, and sculpt. I find most things in life tend to get boring after a while, then depressing. Creativity has been that light within the darkness for me making life worth living. I am always drawing in my sketchbook when I can. I see the world differently through my creative lens. A plain white piece of paper is my launch pad to inventing new realities. Being I have a home studio I am surrounded by creativity, everything from old paintings of mine to works in progress. Daily practice keeps creativity alive exercising that portion of the mind.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Ever since I was about six years old I loved being creative. School was always a challenge for me and something that bored me. Instead of getting in trouble by acting out in school I turned to drawing and being creative expressing myself through my vision. I enjoyed staying out of the lime light. These times were the incubator to present time. Counselors concluded I had/have a learning disability. It was difficult for me to pay attention in class and comprehend the useful information I was supposedly being taught. In the professional world my focus continues to be on my artistic career. I focus on several different art practices in my career. Here are a few I specialize in, Art Curator at the Peake Gallery, Art Instructor at the Fine Arts Centers Bemis School of Art, Muralist and Art Advocate, these are a few examples of my professional practices.
I enjoy being an Art Curator in my gallery space, The Peake gallery and Curating Pop Up shows throughout Colorado Springs, providing a spaces for artists to thrive. My way of keeping Art, a part of culture in Colorado Springs and throughout the Front Range. In my gallery space I recently got the green light to expand the gift shop section and look forward to representing and supporting more unique artists in 2024. We currently have a Call for Artists for wall art and small items like prints, stickers and more! We have a two story art space with a featured artist on our second floor and a group show on our first floor. We conduct quarterly exhibition. Deadline is approaching for art submissions, 1/27/24. You can submit up to five pieces to the Art Curator, Jantzen Peake via email, [email protected] to be considered in this juried exhibition. We are located inside the Perk Downtown, 14 S Tejon St in CO. Springs CO.
Towards the end of last year 2023 I launched my new Patreon website, www.Patreon.com/user?u=5751311 a place were people have the opportunity to support my creative journey. Exclusive access to my artwork, sales, professional art tips and more depending on the tier you sign up for. If monthly support isn’t currently in your budget you can make a one time pledge if you scroll to the bottom of the tiers. Also new as of this year is the launch of my new Patreon art shop! People looking to own my work can purchase my work via previously mentioned Patreon website and don’t have to be a member. Patreon members get first access to my art then I make available to my social media followers and in my new art shop.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back when I was attending CSU Long Beach State University I was naive as a young man/artist to think I would need to understand business in order to sustain an art career and that it wasn’t on talent alone. I would encourage young artists to seek professional experience/mentorship while attending college/Art school or whatever path they choose. That way if you choose to apply to a professional business you have experience on your resume. If I could change anything looking back I would have held a Minor in business when attending college. Many professional artists have told me, you learn business as you gain experience in the arts. As that maybe true it takes longer to understand how to juggle business and the creative side. If your trying to become a full-time Professional artist and choose the path of college/Art School I would advise minoring in business. That way you learn the skills of balancing business and the creative side so when you graduate you’re better equipped to take on the world of the art profession. It was really difficult for me when I knocked on all the big time doors like Disney, Pixar and the Simpsons Studios being I didn’t have the professional experience fresh out of college. I was under the impression everyone would want me being I held an undergraduates degree I spent practically a lifetime to achieve. Another impactful experience early in my career was when I got the opportunity to meet with an animator from the Simpsons Studios. He look at my portfolio and told me that he could see my art in galleries selling for thousands of dollars. He mentioned he really had no time for his personal artwork. I always knew I wanted to have time for my art and sell my artwork in this life of a full-time artist not confined by a corporate mindset. This was the time in my life and career I took the leap of faith to walk the road of a Fine Artist.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my parents growing up did for me would have to be the lessons learned from my father. He was really strict with me especially when the time came to do homework. I couldn’t go out and play until my homework was finished. After a day of schooling all I wanted to do was play with friends and draw and be creative. There were times he would flick the back of my ear with his fingers as a form of punishment for getting an answer incorrect. As brutal as that may sound it really taught me to work hard before play. I knew I had to put in the work before play and this time meant more to me when I was free to do so when work was finished. This also meant that play was more of an evening experience because homework didn’t come easy for me so I had to spend extra time on it. I remember times I really cherished growing up as a kid, and that was when my father taught me about shadow puppets in our garage back in Lomita California. This was a turning point learning that art can be a form of play. We would cut shapes out of paper creating silhouette’s on the wall when we shined our flashlights behind the silhouetted paper. We would create little puppet shows, laugh together and bond. These moments were the incubating stages into this life long creative journey. Remembering it takes extra hard work, sacrifice, perseverance, patience and dedication before play. The act of creating can also be looked at as a form of playtime. A play between my soul child. Not everything is rainbows and ponies.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.patreon.com/user?u=5751311
- Instagram: Www.instagram.com/JantzenPeake
- Facebook: Www.facebook.com/PeakeGraffix
- Linkedin: Www.linkedin.com/JantzenPeake
Image Credits
Artwork created by Jantzen Peake. All artwork is subject to Copyright.
