Meet Artist JD
JD is an artist and muralist based in New York. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from Fordham University and attended the Long Island Academy of Art where he studied abstract realism and traditional oil painting.
JD’s artistic journey came from a love for creativity, but also through life struggles. He is a firm believer that the most vibrant creative energy can be born out of states of emotional turmoil.
Specializing in abstract realism, JD combines elements that are dark and moody graphic design with realistic portraits. He uses vibrant bursts of color to enhance contrast in his work. JD is well versed in multiple forms of media including oils, acrylic, watercolor, sprays, and resin.
JD’s art pieces have been exhibited all over the United States, including at Art Expo New York, Spectrum Miami during Art Basel, the SLS hotel in Beverly Hills, and multiple boutique stores in Wynwood, Miami. His mural projects can be seen across Long Island, in midtown Manhattan, and in Myrtle Beach, SC.
He is passionate about teaching art and has taught thousands of students how to paint, both virtually and in-person. His love of teaching and self-expression fuels his artwork and his love for sharing with others.
A statement from JD…
My inspiration is the juxtaposition between abstract and realism. I very much enjoy incorporating traditional graphic design elements in with realistic portraits, and subject matter.
My creative process is a bit of controlled chaos. While some artists like to focus on certain sections at once, I like to “debulk” my paintings by working in multiple sections in order to see how it all flows together. In my studio I like to have everything within arm’s reach, and once everything is set up, it’s game time to paint.
My favorite medium are oils, but they can be a bit messy living in a small NYC apartment. I usually will work with acrylics as an under painting and incorporate oils for my detail work and blending.
My Philosophy is to enjoy the process – sometimes it doesn’t come easy for me, but when I’m in it, I like to try to enjoy each element. I think it’s important to enjoy what you paint, and let your personality show through your brush strokes. I wouldn’t say I have a definitive “style” but I want to master it all so I can feel comfortable with any element in my paintings.
Artist Interview – JD
JD shares about his artistry and what inspires his meaningful art pieces. Art is a form of expression for JD. He is able to show his emotions through his paintings, giving us a look inside his thoughts and feelings. JD was interviewed by Nadin Said to tell us a little more about himself.
“What message are you trying to convey through your art?”
One of the toughest questions for an artist to answer, but one that is frequently asked by patrons or observers. In my own personal work, I try to convey exactly how I was feeling at the time of painting. Sometimes, the meaning is nothing more than a desire to practice a certain technique, or as a creative release. Sometimes I just really want to paint a face using a limited color palette. Or do a moody landscape in one color. Nothing is particularly meaningful with either, except the desire to experiment in that moment. Usually, the meaning comes during or after the completion of the painting.
I love to find meaning DURING rather than before. Sometimes while painting I’ll be thrown off course into a whole different direction than I was thinking. Other times, I’ll get really introspective during a painting and add elements or details from my past experiences. In my murals, I always hide a little cat drawing for my one eyed cat Iris. It’s always small and inconspicuous but to me it’s a meaningful personal touch.
“What are your three go-materials for making art?”
These vary by whatever mood I’m in, but I’ll always use a flat tipped brush, gray toned palette paper, and a pencil for sketching. Sometimes I use yellow or light pink markers for sketching faces, they allow me to move lines, or redraw elements before putting on darker tones. Pencil can sometimes get messy for that especially trying to erase it on canvas.
Gray palette paper is the secret in my Arsenal. It allows me to see tones way more realistically than against white.
“Who is your biggest fan and supporter?”
My biggest “fan” or supporter are my parents. They’ve allowed me so much space and creative freedom to chase a career in art. They’ve always been so encouraging, even flying to different states to be there with me for important shows. I’ve never felt abandoned or alone in this journey because of their love and care for me and my interests. I’m so blessed.
“How do you align with The Art Spread’s mission of inclusion and awareness?“
I think art should always be inclusive and available for everyone to see and experience AND participate in. When we face our darkest times, we turn to artists and art, sometimes without even realIzing it. The Netflix show you binge, the Broadway play you attend, the little doodles in your notebooks, it’s all art. A world without art has no color.
I think it’s so important for art not to be gatekeeped by the wealthy or well connected, and for outlets to exist for everyone to experience it. I love free museum days, or interactive exhibitions where you can use any of your senses to experience the artwork. Artwork that’s designed to heal, or as therapy, is also so important.
“What is your most challenging piece and why?“
The most challenging pieces are the ones where I have the most freedom. I know it sounds counter intuitive, but projects where a client allows me pure freedom is sometimes so freeing it’s restrictive. I like to have an idea of a theme, colors, or get to know a general direction and then allow my creativity to flow. As an artist, structure and direction is so very important in the creative process, which often lacks it. Creativity can truly manifest when structure exists in other elements around it.
“How can our audience keep in touch with you?”
You can check out my art, life behind the scenes, an more of my process on Instagram @JDPaintz
Make a difference to our artists with your tax-deductible purchase.
Shop JD’s art:
