Today we’d like to introduce you to Jared Brady.
Jared, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
At eight years old, I thought blocking hockey pucks as a young goalie was “livin’ the dream.” That was until… I discovered painting. Early on, I doodled on scraps of paper. Then, I designed logos. Later, I used acrylics on canvas to paint gifts for my mom. She realized I had an aptitude for creating beautiful things and she encouraged my creativity. I entered my first art show when I was 15. It was held at our public library for all high schoolers. I stayed up most the night, finishing a watercolor of our family dog. I used my mom’s hairdryer to speed up the drying time between layers. The painting won 1st place. I thought, “Maybe I have something here.”
At that show, I met Ken Shanika, a local artist and art instructor. I signed up for his weekly Saturday high school art class. He introduced me to oil painting. (Thank you, Ken!) Along with great instruction, he also has been my mentor in the “business” of art.
With Ken’s encouragement, I submitted a portrait I painted of my sister into the National Congressional Art Competition and won my district. “Wrapped in Rose” hung in the US Capital for the year. (2017) He also gave me past issues of Southwest Art Magazine. My mom and I would pour over each issue. It was then that the expanse of the art world, the caliber of artists and their work, the idea of art as a profession, intersected with my world. I especially liked the “21 Under 31” issues. I remember reading about an artist named Daniel Keys. I loved his work. I loved his story. I thought, “Maybe someday I could be one of the 21 under 31.”
Richard Schmid, though I have never met him, has significantly impacted my life… how I see things and how I paint. I bought Alla Prima and have read, reread, and read it again from cover to cover, gleaning all I can from his wisdom and experience. I also began following Quang Ho and was fortunate enough to attend one of his workshops at the Art Students League of Denver. That was a life-changing opportunity. He shared valuable advice, which I try to apply each time I paint.
Today, with the support from my family, I am painting full-time. I spend my days painting in the studio or painting outside en Plein air. I attend workshops and conferences that inspire and educate, such as the Palette Project with Daniel Keys in Scottsdale. I paint for fun. I paint to grow. I paint to capture the beauty all around. I am grateful for my expanding circle of artist friends who inspire, encourage, and challenge me to grow as a person and as an artist. Artists Anna Rose Bain, Robin Cole, Cynthia Feustel, Foster Grissim, Quang Ho, Daniel Keys, Kyle Ma, Stephanie Paige Thomson, Lois Sprague, Ken Shanika… and so many others have been instrumental in my journey thus far. I will pay their kindness forward. I am 21 years old. I am following my passion. And I am “livin’ the dream.”
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Like many of us on this planet, I struggle with self-doubt and the infamous imposter syndrome. Thoughts like the following go swirling around in my mind: “What if they find out that I really can’t paint?” and “This is crazy! I can’t be an artist and support myself,” or “Why should anyone spend their hard-earned money to buy my paintings?” Those can be defeating thoughts when I am in the middle of a painting. In order to get out of my head, I intentionally ground myself and get back to focusing on the brushstrokes, the shapes, and the story I want to tell.
As well as learning to manage my thought pattern, I am learning how to manage my time and how to best divide my attention between creating artwork and running a business. There are things needing my attention such as marketing, social media, galleries, making time for studying, learning, observation, and all the while, blank canvases are begging to be brought to life. It’s a good problem to have. I feel fortunate. And thankfully, I know wise, experienced artists who are helping me navigate these new waters.
Some may relate (if you haven’t already to the first two challenges) to another of my challenges–psoriatic arthritis. Last year, after experiencing months of joint problems and fatigue, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease similar to rheumatoid arthritis. It can effect how I feel on any given day and how active I can be. On the days I feel good, I paint. On the other days, I take a break. We all have something, right? I’m learning how to manage it, push through it, and be grateful for what I can do and all the opportunities I have in front of me.
We’d love to hear more about your art.
Painting is more than my hobby. It’s my life! I jumped all in when I left my part-time job last year as a graphic designer. My painting style is representational. My brushwork might be considered painterly. And I love elevating the ordinary. It is easy to glance over the beauty all around. But when you really observe, you are able to see beyond the simple. That is what I try to capture and communicate on the canvas of a still life, landscape, or figurative work.
Half of the fun of my job is deciding on a painting’s composition. For a still life, I enjoy arranging flowers, fruit, ordinary items, reflective pieces, and draped fabric in such a way where shapes flow visually in order to tell an interesting story. If I’m painting outside, en Plein air, my eyes are drawn to the play of light and shadow in and around the trees and the subtle colors hiding in plain sight. Living on 35 acres in the Pikes Peak region gives me plenty of opportunities, in sunshine or snow, to venture out to capture the beauty. I also love painting figurative work. My family members, including our golden retrievers, are obliging models.
Another element I have added to my painting process is using cameras to record some of my painting sessions. Then I take all the clips and combine them to make a time-lapse or process video. It has been so much fun producing these videos. And I believe it gives viewers the chance to see my creative process from beginning to end.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
The more I think about success the more I realize it doesn’t need to be grand. Success is being able to live a simple life and being fortunate enough to make a living doing something I love. Success is being able to have my artwork connect with someone. Success is having the chance to give back and pass on some of the things I have learned along the way. Success is being able to have creative freedom and to explore and grow without worrying about what others think. If I can achieve a few of these things, that would be success to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jaredbrady.com
- Email: art@jaredbrady.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jaredbradyart
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/jaredbradyart
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