An artist profile of Jarrod Wilson.

Describe your process of creating a piece. What materials do you normally work in?

I work primarily in oil paint, sometimes using acrylic for certain areas for those colors not available in oil or when using tape. I use a Wacom tablet paired with Adobe Illustrator or Corel Painter to work efficiently and to get a rough composition. I then start to paint from this often leaving areas unresolved that need to be solved though the act of painting. Sometimes I will switch back and forth between painting and digital modes of image construction/deconstruction, each informing each other. This process, is basically a cycle during which I photograph the painting, add or remove elements digitally, output it and paint from that and so forth.  For a larger painting I will do several smaller ones first.

What projects are you working on? What do you have coming up, any shows?

I’m currently working on a collaborative text and pattern based zine for the upcoming Zine Dream 2 at the end of August. Aside from this, I’m working on a series called “Back To The Present” that I plan to exhibit in a group show at the OCAD Student Gallery during the course of this coming school year. Starting in September, I will be conducting an 8 month experiment in which I wear, essentially what is a uniform everyday. There will be two identical sets of this uniform, one for the studio and the other for everything else. This will be documented every week via a website where you can track the progress and gradual changes during the course of the experiment.

When are you most productive?

I have found that I tend to work best during the late hours of the night and into the early morning.  Everything seems to stop at night time. Recently, I have been going to the studio around 8 and work until 3 or 4am. Usually a deadline or working on several paintings at once keeps me plugging away.  

When did creating art become something important in your life?

I’ve always been interested in color and how things are put together. Lego was my favourite toy when I was younger. I initially studied graphic design but soon after found myself more interested in painting. There are so many more options that painting allows me. I soon discovered the overlap between the two. Once I started painting i was able to combine these two things but with a wider vocabulary base available to me.

What are some of your favorite spots in the city? Some favorite places to go, eat, drink, bike ride?

I usually can be found at my studio space hosted at Akin Collective.  I enjoy riding my bike pretty much anywhere, especially at night. I don’t have any favorite social hangouts, really. 

What are you currently obsessed with? Any blogs, pod casts, films, artists?

I’m really into the work of Neo Rauch, Jules De Balincourt , and Kika Karadi.  Locally, the work of Scott Everingham, Martin Golland and Nick Ostofff are some of my favorites. I’ve been reading Lev Manovich’s “The Language of New Media and H.G Wells  “The Shape of Things To Come” that I find myself rather drawn towards.

What is your survival food? Cheap eats for the starving artist?

I seem to be eating a lot of cookies, cheese, coffee and bread.

Any last words?

Don’t look back. Check out my blog for more work and updates.