Check Out Jerod Barker’s Story

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Jerod Barker.

Hi Jerod, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My art career began after my freshman year in college when I switched majors from journalism to illustration. I wanted to make gig posters, album artwork, and book covers, and I was lucky enough to get a couple of poster assignments (Tycho, Zola Jesus, and 90.7 KJHK Lawrence) while still at KU. My first post-grad job was taking school portraits throughout rural Kansas for Lifetouch Studios.

A couple of jobs later, I was in Boulder, CO, doing corporate graphic design while hunting freelance illustration work. My favorite was the Silversun Pickups Spring 2017 Tour poster. Since then, I’ve had several local business projects, spanning logo design, merch artwork, and an outdoor mural. Currently, I live in Denver, contracting mainly for Edelman Holdings and regional clients like Boulder Parks & Rec and Seed Change Strategies.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’d struggled early on with the monotony of desk jobs. A big step was learning that I was far more suited to the autonomy of freelancing, even with its inherent volatility. While the dry spells are tough, I’m learning to better prepare for and mitigate the feast-to-famine swing. The biggest struggle, and one of the greatest benefits, is that independence.

I’m my oen boss, booking agent, and accountant, so there’s a lot to manage besides just making the art. Plus, every client has different expectations around process and delivery, so communicating effectively — especially managing those expectations and maintaining key guardrails through a project timeline — has been another long lesson for me.

I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My favorite projects are event posters, where I merge my drawings with my layout and typography skills, combining organic vibrance with minimalist, geometric structure. I often draw in ink and paint digitally, though I could also be painting or working completely from the computer, depending on the job. My look is often recognized by the intricate line detail, rich colors, and bold movement.

I love playing with shadows and implying motion with falling leaves and windblown debris, trying to make you hear and feel the image. While my various influences are obvious, I think combining them is what makes my style unique, layering together boldly drafted lifeforms — à la Mucha — and then digitally lighting, coloring, and texturizing for a more retro-electronic finish.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from growing up.
Growing up in Kansas, I’ve always loved thunderstorms, animation, and video games. My first console was an N64 that I used around sixth grade. I’d never heard of The Legend of Zelda but grabbed an unboxed copy of Ocarina of Time off a discount shelf because the cartridge art looked interesting. It was formative for me as an artist and a lover of art.

The design, the story, and especially the music affected me like no other game ever has, even though I am an avid fan of Kingdom Hearts II and Ghost of Tsushima. A favorite childhood memory of mine is playing OoT for hours with thunder rolling outside and fresh, rainy air blowing in through my open windows — like playing the game in 4D.

Contact Info:

• Website: jerodbarker.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/jerodbarker_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@vividsignal2926/videos
• soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/vividsignal
• Other: https://www.behance.net/jerodbarker

Image Credits
Jen Lobo