Jason Engelund

I started as a self taught artist. I know I’m an artist because I don't feel right when I'm not making art, so I went for it. I didn't have support and was very poor when I started, with a job in a cafeteria basement and I painted at night for years. Then a friend told me there were colleges just for the arts. I applied to an art college, got in and they helped me get scholarships.  Signing up for art college was financially risky for me, so I worked extra hard in ways that I thought would help me get a job when I graduated. Art college was amazing. I went to CCAC when it was in Oakland. It worked out.  

After art college I got a job making programs in arts and social justice working with community organizations in Oakland, SF, the whole Bay Area and then those programs went global. I continued making art, have worked with many art fine galleries, have art in a museum and I continue to make art today. 

Advice

The Muse shows up more often when you're already in the studio. Trust yourself. If you consistently think and feel art is the right thing to do, and nothing else fires you up, then art is the right thing to do. Make a plan. Go For It.  Strive to find the place and people who help you thrive.

The Hard Truth

It's going to be hard. Unless you're already independently wealthy, you're probably going to work more than everyone else. Your pay the rent job, and the job that is your art making. Treat your art making like it’s a job, meaning, be rigorous but keep it fun and good. Getting a gallery is not the end goal. Some may rip you off. Some may be life long partners. Take criticism with a grain of salt, because most people aren't very good at giving it. You'll know when someone is giving your helpful criticism. 

Resources

Hardware stores and dollar stores are often a great place for the same things at art stores, but much cheaper. 

Watch videos on other artists, artists of all kinds. The Louisana Channel is a great place to start. 

Links

jasonengelund.com

instagram.com/jasonengelund

Resources

Art + Water is a new organization in San Francisco and they'll be giving free art classes and will be a great place to connect to people.