Page 46 - DontPostMe

DPM: To start with, please, Jacob, tell us, how did you be-

come a painter? When did you understand that painting

has become an integral part of your life?

JVL: Painting is the most recent manifestation in my

arsenal that developed as a result of experiences with pho-

tography, design and illustration from my academic career.

I still feel like my painted work has more in common with

the act of drawing than painting. Something about the im-

permanent nature of watercolor and mixed media approach

appeals to my tastes and tendencies.

DPM: Where does your motivation come from? How did

you come to your own style in art?

JVL: Originality, as conventionally understood, has

never been my chief concern. I think devices like original-

ity and ingenuity are holistic considerations of what already

exists. The desire to create something new comes from a

place of unrest or dissatisfaction. I try to consider as much

art and history as I can while creating new works, instead

of trying to invent a clean slate unaffected by anything

that already exists.

DPM: What message do you convey through your art?

JVL: I approach most new work with a well-defined set

of ideas, and painting is the way I put those ideas through

the lens of personal experience. The ideas I am influenced

by might vary from piece to piece, although I choose cer-

tain themes to work within, or take similar opinions away

from individual ideas. What's most fascinating to me is

when someone looking at my work is able to create their

own experience with the painting, whether or not their

ideas align with mine. I've had people tell me my work re-

minds them of the inside of a cave, and other people say it

reminds them of the collapsed terrain around the gas

chambers in Auschwitz.