Introducing Jeremy Gesualdo, Artist
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Jeremy is a multi-media artist working and living in Toronto, Canada and I create original mixed media paintings. He likes to define his work as a visual conversation, drawing from thoughts, memories and experiences that unfold into unique perspectives. Inspired by that visceral feeling he tries to depict that through a visual language that shows his vulnerability and emotion. With a range of materials, from acrylic, watercolour and ink, to graphite, marker and embroidery floss, Jeremy likes to bring the viewer through a kinetic experience; starting with a single brush stroke or splatter of paint. Every mark that he makes is a reaction to the first. Colour is really important in his work as well, and he uses it to symbolize emotions and feelings, like deep navy blue could symbolize a woeful moment; bright droplets of yellow, an explosion of friendly laughter; Or a quick, rough dark mark could be a moment of tired frustration. Experimenting with different mediums, and juxtaposing shape, colour and texture to help to tell a story or to convey an idea or thought that resonates with the viewer. We sat down with Jeremy, to delve deeper into his world. |
Tell us what you do? and how you came about your side hustle(s)?
I started to pursue my art more seriously as a side hustle this past year. I was a fine art major in university, specializing in image arts, so I have always enjoyed creating conceptual bodies of art work.
I started experimenting with abstract expressionist paintings and ideas as a fun way to keep my brain creatively stimulated. I have always been a fan of artists like Helen Frankenthaler and Morris Louis and the way they expressed themselves through abstract form, so I decided to try something out of my comfort zone.
With social media becoming a hub for creatives to share their works and ideas, I decided to make an art focused account and share some of my experiments on instagram, where I received a great response from friends and the art communities I joined. As I posted more photos of my work, I started to receive messages from friends and followers about purchasing some of it, and while I was flattered, I had a strong case of “imposter syndrome” and would quickly say that my work wasn’t for sale.
Over a few years my experiments began to build and I began to refine my practise and technique, while also finding my own unique style and expression. Then, In 2019 I decided to revisit my art school roots and put together my first conceptual body of work as an abstract expressionist painter. While I still had some reservations about actually selling my work, as the series progressed I was feeling more confident in putting my work forward as something legitimate. The series I created is called “Just Don’t Overthink It” which is ironic since I did nothing but overthink my existence as an artist up to that point. The completion of this series was the start of of me looking at myself as a professional artist, and what lead to the beginning of my side hustle journey.
With the pandemic hitting us hard in 2020 and the lockdowns forcing us inward, it gave me time to invest in myself, my art and my new side hustle. I was able to begin work on two more series and launch my website, giving my art collector friends and followers the opportunity to purchase some of my original paintings.
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I started experimenting with abstract expressionist paintings and ideas as a fun way to keep my brain creatively stimulated. I have always been a fan of artists like Helen Frankenthaler and Morris Louis and the way they expressed themselves through abstract form, so I decided to try something out of my comfort zone.
With social media becoming a hub for creatives to share their works and ideas, I decided to make an art focused account and share some of my experiments on instagram, where I received a great response from friends and the art communities I joined. As I posted more photos of my work, I started to receive messages from friends and followers about purchasing some of it, and while I was flattered, I had a strong case of “imposter syndrome” and would quickly say that my work wasn’t for sale.
Over a few years my experiments began to build and I began to refine my practise and technique, while also finding my own unique style and expression. Then, In 2019 I decided to revisit my art school roots and put together my first conceptual body of work as an abstract expressionist painter. While I still had some reservations about actually selling my work, as the series progressed I was feeling more confident in putting my work forward as something legitimate. The series I created is called “Just Don’t Overthink It” which is ironic since I did nothing but overthink my existence as an artist up to that point. The completion of this series was the start of of me looking at myself as a professional artist, and what lead to the beginning of my side hustle journey.
With the pandemic hitting us hard in 2020 and the lockdowns forcing us inward, it gave me time to invest in myself, my art and my new side hustle. I was able to begin work on two more series and launch my website, giving my art collector friends and followers the opportunity to purchase some of my original paintings.
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What about your work brings you true joy?
The feeling of accomplishment and pride that I get when I complete a painting or series. My painting process is very meditative, and so far, my work has been intimately connected to feelings, emotions and experiences. I sort of see a part of myself reflected back at me in each piece, and to see a series in a finished state brings me a lot of joy. I think it’s also that feeling that keeps me going when my creativity starts to wane.
What has been your most valuable learnings?
My most valuable learnings from this particular journey would have to be to try and not overthink… emphasis on try. It’s extremely easy to say, but so hard to put into practise and even harder to catch yourself when you are doing it. I find that in my art work especially, the best paintings happen when I allow myself to let go and not be afraid to make mistakes, and I think the same is also true in life. There is no growth with out mistakes so just f***ing go for it, let yourself be vulnerable.
If you could learn to do anything, what would that be?
Something that I would like to learn that is achievable in my foreseeable future would be screen printing and needle punch. I’ve been floating an idea around in my head for a new series and I would love to incorporate these two practices.
I have also been really interested in pottery lately and would love to learn how to ‘throw’. I think it could be interesting to take inspiration from my painting techniques and play with shape, colour and texture to create some unique ceramics.
If you could be any fictional character, who would it be and why?
Big nerd alert… but I would say Captain Picard from Star Trek. I have always been mind blown by the vastness of space and what else has to be out there. I think it would be so cool to discover new worlds and alien races at the helm of the Starship Enterprise. Also Patrick Stewart is a stud so if you are going to be a Starship Captain… its a “no duh” situation.
Can you describe an experience/incident that happened that made you a stronger person?
I had a pretty life changing moment on a boat from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland back in 2015. I was going through a bit of a rough patch and I decided to do an East Coast Canada road trip with some friends, to get away from real life for a bit. The ferry ride was a 7 hour trip and it forced me to stop and really reflect on what I was going through and contemplate what I wanted and didn’t want in my life.
During this trip I was a reading a book called Tuesdays With Morri,
(which on a side note, I highly recommend everyone reads) and
I finished it on the boat just as the sun was setting and it put me into this thought provoking and self reflective state. As I looked out over the ocean and watched the sun dip lower behind the horizon, I had this really beautiful moment of solace with myself. There were many things that contributed to making me a stronger and more self-aware person up to that point, but it was that moment that was the tipping point for me to put all of those thoughts and ideas that I was contemplating into action from that moment going forward.
The whole thing sounds a little cliché, but I still look back at as one of my biggest moments of growth.
If you could give your past self any advice, what would it be?
I wish I would have had a better handle on my ego earlier in life. Not that it still isn’t a constant battle to keep it in check, but I think I would have been more open to opportunities, and I wouldn’t have let things affect me as hard if I was a bit more aware of it’s presence. I don’t have any regrets though, I strongly believe that everything I’ve learned or didn’t learn in my youth has impacted where I am now, and I am grateful for it.
There is a great quote by Maya Angelou that really resonates with me, especially when I get caught up thinking about things I did in the past that make me want to cringe, “I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better”. It’s been helpful for me to accept the past for what it is and learn from it, take what I need and move on, but not let it define my future.
Check out Jeremy's current work at www.jeremygesualdo.com
