interview Date Dec 15 2009
RESiN: Where were you Born?
Jason Rudolph Pena: Phoenix, AZ. After 31 years in the valley of the sun, I still haven’t gotten use to the heat.
RESiN: Where do you reside?
Jason Rudolph Pena: The dirty dirty southwest.
RESiN: How old were you when you realized you had artistic talent?
Jason Rudolph Pena: I was about 21 years old. I got my first check for my artwork from the Art One Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ.
RESiN: What was your first completed piece of?
Jason Rudolph Pena: My first completed piece was of Lee Harvey Oswald getting shot. It was titled “Momma said ‘Knock You Out’”. I still have the painting. I never showed it or sold it. I didn’t know why I made it. I just thought it was kinda funny. It was a direction I didn’t want to go in with my art. I wanted my work to be serious, beautiful, and ethereal. My dark humor is better suited for my writing.
RESiN: Is that when you knew that is what you wanted to do with your life?
Jason Rudolph Pena: Yes. I knew this was something I could be successful at. I was good at it and passionate about it.
RESiN: How would you describe your own work in a sentence?
Jason Rudolph Pena: My work is different from the average portrait in the sense that it focuses on the subject’s emotions, thoughts, and sensitivity rather than the light, color, and composition that surrounds it.
RESiN: What style of painting are you ? More than one which is your favorite?
Jason Rudolph Pena: I’m not sure what to classify my style as. I am a straight forward portraitist. I am also part of the Biroist Movement. Biroism is hot on the heels of the art world and I’m hoping to make a splash with my ink pieces.
RESiN: Who are some of your favorite artists?
Jason Rudolph Pena: Top 5 favorite artists (countdown)
5: Norman Rockwell – No one painted facial expressions better than he. No one.
4: Robert McGinnis – You’ve already seen his work without even knowing it.
3: Erte’ – The greatest fashion designer of all time, and also an amazing artist.
2: Frida Kahlo – A portraitist whose work always seems to embrace me when I look at it.
1: Robert Rauschenberg – My favorite artist of all time. He’s the classic example of thinking outside the box. His sense of humor made his work controversial and brilliant. I’m always inspired by his body of work.
RESiN: What kind of schooling have you had?
Jason Rudolph Pena: I went to a community college for motion picture production. I hated it. My fellow students and professors were all douche bags with a capital ‘DOUCHE’. The only person who was cool with me and always had my back was my screenwriting professor. I dropped out of school to pursue an art career. I think I made the right decision. I’m making better Hollywood connections with an art career than I would have with an A.A.S. degree.
RESiN: What or who inspires you to paint and what you paint?
Jason Rudolph Pena: Music inspires me. I’m always getting ideas for paintings with music. It’s a must have when painting.
RESiN: Where would you like to be in 5 yrs?
Jason Rudolph Pena: In a loft in Tacoma or Seattle enjoying the clouds and rain. No more dry heat.
RESiN: How do you want your art to be seen or described by other people?
Jason Rudolph Pena: I want my art to be seen as emotional and inspirational.
RESiN: Do you have any advice or wise words for up and coming artists?
Jason Rudolph Pena: Keep proper records of everything you create. Photographs, descriptions, dimensions, prices, collectors who own it, etc.
RESiN: What is the most expensive piece you ever sold?
Jason Rudolph Pena: For tax purposes……twenty-five dollars.
RESiN: What are you working on right now?
Jason Rudolph Pena: I’m painting a house warming gift for Travis McCoy. I don’t know him, but I’m being commissioned to paint it for him by one of his friends.
RESiN: Anything you would like to plug?
Jason Rudolph Pena: My website: www.BookOfFaces.com
