Jesse Spears

Jesse Spears is an awesomely creative and productive person living in the Los Angeles area of California. She makes everything from paintings, drawings, murals, and photos, to poms, sticker-art, and temporary tattoo booths. Basically, she's busy being rad.

I came to know of Jesse's work through her blogs. The first, titled Thank You, serves as a window into her world and is full of photos, google-searches, lists, 911 transcripts, and other gems. Long Live Cartoon! documents some of her many projects and shows and has a ton of pictures of her work. Both of these are daily visits for me, and should be for you too.

More than just loving the way her work looks, I love that she seems to be having fun making it and sharing it. You get the feeling she couldn't be doing anything other than what she is. Jesse was nice enough (actually she's super nice, which I forgot to mention) to answer some questions for me via the email, and that is what you see below.

(Notes: Clicking on any image will bring up a larger version. All rights reserved to the artist, of course.)



Do you feel like blogging is an art form?

Jesse Spears: i feel like its the new website. yes for sure it is art.



Do you have any reluctance or reservations with what you share via your blog? Do you ever feel exposed or vulnerable because of it? Do you ever want to post things that are more personal, but don't?

i don't post everything. its not 100% me. its like 100% one side of me though. its my public side. i would feel vulnerable if i just posted everything i took pictures of or everything i write or make or think. sometimes i think it would be cool to just lay it all out and then people can like it or not, but its more out of respect for other people that i don't.


What is your day job? Do you still work at the theater? Does that help your work or hold you back?

i don't work at the theater anymore. right now i'm watching my little brother and sister for summer and doing art related jobs.


I've read that you are a worrier. What do you worry about? Is it dread or simple concern?

i worry about a lot of stuff....i worry that i'll never get to paint a freeway wall ... and i worry that i will eventually have to face all of my fears. i've gotten a lot better though, i don't get into the worry pits that much now.


What's the thing you want to do most that but that fear prevents you from doing?

i want to not be afraid of anything! nothing to fear but fear itself...and i want a motorcycle, but that opens up a whole nother world of possible accidents.


From reading your blog, it appears we both have Grandmothers that were serious pack-rats. What do you have too much of that you'd like to get rid of? What do you think is ok to keep? Do you find it difficult to part of your own artwork?

i have too many clothes, i want to be like bart where i just wear the same thing everyday.

i think its ok to keep drawings, stickers, and tools....also my marker cap collection, i'm not parting with that and its still alive so i can't get rid of it now. maybe when i stop using markers...so like the day i die maybe?

i like parting with my art, it sucks when something sticks around for too long. i have a harder time parting with drawings though. i pretty much keep all of them. paintings i like to get rid of, except for some of them...but i usually like the ones that other people don't like and they like the ones that i don't like...so its perfect!


As the leader of a car club, what would be your dream vehicle? What would you nickname this vehicle?

my dream vehicle would have magic powers of course! it would be able to fly, and jump over other cars. it would also be able to change shape into whatever kind of car i want. jet packs. there would be a freezer for popsicles, and a mini oven for vegan pizza. it would be called "bex"


When you start a piece, do you have a detailed image you are trying to produce, or do you make it up as you go along?

every time i try to reproduce something it doesn't work out. it looks a little off. sometimes i look at pictures of cars when i'm drawing cars, but other than that i just make it up. i'll practice drawing a character until it evolves into something i like and then i'll paint it from memory.


Do your characters have attributed personality traits or are they just designs / visual elements? Do you give them names or back stories? Are they based on real people?

after i draw them i can think of who they are...or sometimes ill try and draw a type of person, but the details of their personality come later and i keep those things to myself mostly...unless i draw them saying something. that gives you a clue.


Do you have a character that you use as a stand in for yourself in your artwork?

everything i make is a representation of a feeling i have...so its all kind of like a self portrait.


When you paint or stick eyes onto things, do you feel like you are giving life to something? Do you give it a name? A voice? Do you feel responsible for it?

i feel responsible for it. no voices or names though. i like giving characters that i paint names, but if the name isn't a part of the painting they don't have one. theres no invisible names over here.


Sometimes my favorite part of an art project is when everything is designed and only needs to be put together. I can use my hands and be productive but I don't have to think as hard. Do you find making art strenuous or is it easy for you?

i feel that way about making pom poms...unless theres a deadline. poms are cool because the shape is taken care of so its all about the color combinations.


If making art is hard for you, do you have anything you make as a means of relaxing?

anything without a due date


Do you like projects that are more social in nature or ones that involve more private, solitary working?

i like them both. its nice to go back and forth.


You wrote "It's better to wish you had more pictures than had more fun." Do you find it hard to balance recording things through photography with just being "in the moment?" Do you ever feel like consciously trying to be "in the moment" changes the moment?

i just take pictures when i feel like it. i don't really bring my camera to music shows because its just not about that for me. it sucks when you are at the smell or something and ten people in front of you are just taking pictures or holding video cameras. one person doing that is more than enough. i like taking pictures when i'm driving, thats my favorite. i don't try to be in the moment...i just don't take pictuires if it doesn't feel right. like getting on the stage at a show and putting your camera in the band members faces is just too much.


You use words or text in some your work. What are some of your favorite slogans or saying?

" i love text"


Is there anyone whose art you envy or wish that you had made? Is there anyone that when you see their stuff you think "Totally. I wish I had done that."

matt furrie! hayley cassatt!


Any shout outs?

maybe you could just link my current favorite website thats my friend beau's. its so good and he adds stuff to it every day: slowcarsslowwomen

THANKS JESSE! THANKS READER!