Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Garrett.
Hi Jason, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I graduated from Little Elm High School in 1997. I attended college for two semesters straight out of school but was unfortunately unable to continue after that year. I did what a lot of young people do: I began working in the corporate world. Despite a love for all things artistic, I ended up doing technology work. It paid well but was never a satisfying way to spend my life. I continued to do that sort of work for around 17 years, through many ups and downs. As I became more successful, I also felt more trapped and unhappy. Finally, at the age of 33, I met the woman who would become my wife, my muse, and my greatest supporter. She encouraged me to leave the rat race behind and begin to follow my artistic dreams. I did so for about 3 years, attending college for metal smithing at a school in Austin, TX. As I neared completion of that program, my wife became pregnant with our first child. We made the decision that I would take another break for school for me to follow another passion, that of being a full-time Dad. I was a homemaker for 4 years until my oldest began school. At that point, I followed her lead and returned to school full-time. That brings me to where I am now. I’m a little over a semester away from graduating with a BFA in Studio Art, with a focus on sculpture, from the University of North Texas. I continue to be a part-time stay-at-home father for my youngest child while attending college full-time.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like most people, my life has been full of the good and the bad. Failed and toxic relationships, both romantic and familial, haunted my youth and young adult life. As an adult, I have begun to process through the trauma that was present in my younger days. Probably my biggest struggle, from the time I was a teenager to today, is with my mental health. I suffer from depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and OCD. I’m agoraphobic and a hypochondriac. My emotions run high, and I’m a very sensitive soul. These factors affect my life every day and demand a level of vigilance and energy to cope with. Art, in a big way, is one of my main coping mechanisms. The quieting of my thoughts as I work is one of my main drives to continue to produce art.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Some artists are interested in socio-political messages, other in the human condition. I am an escapist artist who seeks to find solace from my demons in producing art. By doing so, I hope to also provide a measure of escape for the viewers of my work. I strive to stretch the imaginations of those experiencing my art and allow them relief from the pressures of everyday life. I’m attracted to the whimsical and the fantastical, and I’m known for producing work that inspires viewers to come up with stories to explain what they see. I work both in the miniature, building dioramas and shadowboxes, and in producing large-scale sculptures. All of it shares that sense of whimsy that is childlike in nature and sophisticated in execution.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I’m passionate about the relationships I cultivate. I have family both of blood and of choice, and time spent with those people fills me with peace and contentment. My wife and children are at the top of that list, and most of my days are spent nurturing those bonds. I firmly believe that most of our happiness in life relates to the quality of the relationships we have, and I’m deeply devoted to the people I love. In addition, I’m drawn, with almost an obsessive quality, to produce the artwork that I make. That artwork comes from a childlike sense of wonder that still exists within me, despite the darkness of many aspects of life. My happiness is also linked to that process, and since I began to follow the dream of being a full-time artist, I don’t see myself ever turning back.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fripperyandfrivolity.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fripperyandfrivolity/
Image Credits
Stefan Hansen
