Photography by: Maryssa Rose Chavez

Chris:
Hey Jeffrey. Could you give a little intro into how you became an artist?

Jeffrey:
Hi Chris. That’s a hard process to pinpoint. I screen printed my first poster when I was 13, but it wasn’t an “aha” moment or anything. My older brother liked to draw, so I picked it up and never really stopped. I spent my first year in Austin showing up to a print shop and asking the owner if he had a job for me. I think I showed up every 2 months for almost 8 months before he gave up and hired me. I don’t recommend that exact approach, but, for me, a lot of “becoming an artist” is about showing up over and over again.

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Chris:
The shirt design you just put out says “All Good” on the front but is on fire with a flaming “100” on the back. Does this at all symbolize your current headspace in early 2021?

Jeffrey:
Not my headspace per se, but an attempt to use a contemporary symbol to communicate a complex feeling. We’re all doing our best in very strange times. I think a burning emoji captures some of that experience.

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Chris:
How does working as a screen printer inform your design process?

Jeffrey:
I wish it informed my designs more. My drawings are not easy to translate into prints. But the fact that I’m around artwork all day, and that I get to work with my hands helps me a lot, just in terms of my sanity.

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Chris:
Is it important for you to create physical pieces as an artist who is often working digitally?

Jeffrey:
Yes, definitely. Digital drawing is a powerful tool, but it feels like part of a process rather than an end product. I love seeing my work printed. Scale matters, and the iPad can only do so much.

Photography by: Maryssa Rose Chavez

Chris:
What is your ideal feeling that you would like the viewer of your art to experience?

Jeffrey:
I’m still trying to figure out how I feel about it, let alone other people. I’m happy if they look.

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Chris:
Around the shop, you are a super funny person. Does your humor find its way into your artwork or does your art reflect another side of your personality?

Jeffrey:
A lot of my work references propaganda, which is inherently satirical. I’m not sure if it’s a matter of personality, but my imagery generally leans dark. That’s something I want to move away from. My favorite artists convey complex ideas without relying on grim imagery.

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Chris:
How does your love of ASMR inform your artwork?

Jeffrey:
Wow this question. It doesn’t, but I would never pass on an opportunity to plug my two mainstays: MariaGentleWhispering and LatteASMR. If you want to get down with some, frankly, uncomfortable ASMR, these are our contemporary frontrunners.