How do you overcome artist block?
I write about my art and explore how to overcome the block and solve the problem through questioning and exploring solutions.
What are you trying to say with your work?
I am making art about my experiences growing up and how they have influenced who I make art and have made me who I am.
Do you have an artwork that you’re most proud of and why?
One I can think of is a large wooden planer construction I did in undergraduate school. It was a great exercise in problem solving and I made it at my Grandfather's woodworking shop.
Why is art important to you?
Art is important to me because it lets me tell my stories, gives me an outlet and emotional comfort and it helps me stay feeling young.
Where do you think art is going in our society?
I really don't know. I think it is expanding as tools and technology does, but it will always stay a personal expression.
Have you ever run into any criticism just for being an artist or being ambitious about your artwork?
I had a professor outside of art once ask surprising that I was serious about making art. It was a statement that really was connected to me choosing to be an artist or a teacher. I'm stubborn and chose both and proved I can be an artist-teacher.
As an art educator, what advice would you have for younger generations who want to be artists but struggle with ambition or confidence in their work?
I think the best thing is to always make things and try not to worry about what others say. First and foremost our art is made for ourselves and we do it because we love it.
Any extra comments about art in general:
I can't think of anything more except, always try to have fun when making art.
Thank you to Jason Swift for sharing his wisdom with us! I personally feel that his knowledge and experience is quite similar to mine. I, too, was inspired by my grandfather who was an artist, and my mother and grandmother who were school teachers. I think it is really important to have artist-teachers in this world to remind us how important art really is in our society, and how important it is for the individual. If there is one thing to take away from this interview, it is to not worry too much about the criticism of others; as Jason says, “art is made for ourselves and we do it because we love it,” and that is a great thing to be able to teach the world.
And here, you can see some of his artwork on his Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/jasonswift