Jason West's Circle of Hell

Memento Tea
Apr 23, 2019
3 min read

Welcome to the new "Artist's Circle Of Hell" editorial: a journey through the eyes and thoughts of magnificent Dark Artists.

Today we are delightful to talk with Jason West. Artist and curator, Jason Michael West combines the influences of pop culture, horror, science fiction, and street art, to create an artistic style that is all his own.

Through the use of characters he has created, Jason shows the intricacies of life and how it can either wear you down or bring utter joy. The universe that he has built started with a series of astronauts that show that even through loneliness, there is hope and love. As he continued to create and be known for these astronauts he painted, he expanded this universe with many other characters to tell a deeper story than before. The first of these new characters appeared In his painting ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’, in the form of a ripped up teddy bear that he calls Broken Bear. From that painting on, he started to create more characters that showed his emotions and feeling about the world around him.

Jason Michael West has shown in exhibitions across the country and his work is regularly on display in 4 Art Space, Black Moon Gallery, and Slushbox Gallery. Along with showing his own artwork, Jason founded a quarterly pop up art show called Art and Antics and is the founder of a Community Arts Initiative in Brookfield, Il, where he lives. Enjoy the interview!

First circle - Limbo

How old is your soul? Do you have an inner child?

My soul is a couple of hundred years old. My inner child shows his face every one .

Second circle - Lust

Before you have reached your artistic path, have you ever instinctively tried different fields that did not appeal to you, just for the sake of it? Are you still in search for your art style?

I have been a writer and musician but art has always pulled me to it. I believe that as an artist, we are always evolving our styles.

Third circle - Gluttony

How hungry are you for the art, for your passion? How much are you addicted and addicted to it, moving away from your perception of reality?

I am married to my art. I live and breath art. Not only am I constantly working on my art and art related things, I also curste several shows in my area.

Fourth circle - Greed

Sometimes, do you feel greedy with your job? Do you think that a strong attachment to money can compromise your art? No intention to offend, but only to explore what goes beyond being a "starving artist".

I believe I have a healthy amount of greed with my art. The goal is to be able to sustain a living with my creativity and passion.

Fifth circle - Anger

How you see the Art World today? There are some stuff that make you uncomfortable?

There are some parts of the art world that make no sense to me, like, artists being uber competitive with each other. We are all trying to make it in this world, so why not hold each other up and help each other out.

Sixth circle - Heresy

Have you ever done a project or commission totally different from your kind of art? (for example, as fairy art, erotic art, fantasy art or comic art)

I once did a commissioned painting for a mothers day gift that was a gnome riding a cat through space. It was fun to do but not my style.

Seventh circle - Violence

Are you afraid to represent cruel stuff of the reality in your art? If not, it goes beyond the simple visual impact?

I like to think of my art as visual poetry that deals with lose, death, and everything in between but shows that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Eighth circle - Fraud

Without naming, have you ever been deceived by a false customer or company? What was your initial feeling? Do you want to give some advice to those who are new in this field? Don't worry if you do not want to answer.

I have and it showed me to always do my research with anything that sounds too good to be true. My advice is to always do your research and ask lots of questions.

Ninth circle - Treachery

Would you ever exchange your life as artist with a safer and quieter life? What would you do if you could not make art?

I did in my younger years. I worked in the medical field for five years and it was terrible. If I was not an artist, I would want to be a chef..