Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackdaw Russell.
Jackdaw, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started taking a printmaking class at Tarrant County College in 2006 and fell in love with the block-printing portion of the class. Eventually, I started doing little art shows from time to time, and people dug my work and were buying it. With the wealth of art shows an interest in art in DFW, I was able to quit my job of mowing yards and became a “full-time artist” in 2013. You can find me almost any weekend now set up in my little red tent at various bars, concerts, festivals, anywhere that’ll have me.
Has it been a smooth road?
Seems like art is never a smooth road for anyone, except maybe the “Live Laugh Love” lady that makes art for real Americans at Hobby Lobby.
My main struggle with art is the seasonality of art sales. Spring is a good time. Summer is terrible. Fall up to Christmas is great. Then Winter is awful. It’s hard to budget when you’re barely scraping by as is.
Another struggle is just weather. I’m not generally a gallery artist; I’m a guy-sitting-in-a-tent-outside artist. Rain can and does ruin the whole weekends of potential sales for me.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Jackdaw Folk Art – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I make linoleum-cut art prints. It’s not a very popular medium, so a lot of people aren’t familiar with it. But it’s a very stark, eye-catching style that most people immediately enjoy.
My work generally involves pop-culture or local history- things people connect to because they’re already familiar with the subject and then I put some little spin on it.
Something I’m proud of is how many musical acts have had me create art for their t-shirts or album covers. It’s a great feeling when a band you love wants you to do some art for them.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I love best is the people and places that make up Deep Ellum. It’s been my main haunt since the mid-90s. I really admire so many of the artists, musicians, bar owners, and staff. A lot of cool people doin’ cool stuff and lookin’ freakin’ cool doin’ it.
What I like least is there’s just too many damn people. Where am I supposed to park?
Contact Info:
- Website: etsy.com/shop/jackdawfolkart
- Instagram: @jackdawfolkart
- Facebook: facebook.com/jackdawfolkart
Image Credit:
Cameron Gott
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