Introduce yourself and tell us where you are from?
My name is Jake Brown and I am from the Madison Jackson area.
What attracted you to the Department of Art & Art History?
I wanted to study animation, but I was engrossed by the painting class and decided to fully pursue fine art.
When did you start getting into art?
Senior year of high school.
What type of artwork do you create and can you explain your process?
I make abstracted and distorted figurative work, I usually start by drawing a lot of thumbnails or drawing people or things from life and scramble this together on the canvas.
Has your artwork changed during the coronavirus?
The conversation in my work has increased about isolation and anxiety through the pandemic.
What type of artist do you consider yourself?
At the moment, probably a figurative painter.
Which artists do you look to for inspiration?
A lot of contemporary painters such as Kyle Staver Matt Bolinger, but also older painters like Auerbach and Kitaj Joan Mitchell
With exhibitions moving online, could you tell us about your BFA thesis?
My BFA thesis is a series of paintings about my own anxieties and dealings with isolation and loss. This is done by using figurative work painted frantically and gestural.
What has been your favorite class during your years here?
My favorite class has been Advanced Painting.
Did you take an online, remote, or hybrid art class? Did it change your way of creating art or learning experience?
One of my art classes, when covid first started, became online. It was different and difficult but I think it was like that for everyone, even the teachers.
Which professors inspired you the most?
Jackson definitely.
Could you describe a favorite memory here in the department?
My favorite memory is probably painting here late nights with Wyatt my close friend.
What does the Department of Art & Art History mean to you?
I see it as the place that helped me get my foot in the door as an artist.
Do you have any advice for incoming art students?
Be yourself.
What are you looking forward to when things get back to normal?
I like going to random coffee shops and then drawing people so that is definitely something.
How has the pandemic affected your life as an artist?
It’s made it harder, but figuring out how to paint and draw despite not having stimuli has been a good lesson.
Can we find you on social media?
Yeah, @jakebrownpainting on Instagram is the main one.
Has social media helped you more during this time?
Helped? Hmm, I don’t know.
What’s your favorite thing about Oxford?
I like how everything isn’t out of reach or far.
What type of music do you listen to while your creating art?
Either rap, jazz, or RMB.
What’s your favorite thing to watch while being a couch potato?
I’m a movie buff so some random movie or anime.