We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jack Godfrey a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jack , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful piece of artwork I’ve made was my first attempt at a large-scale piece. Soon after I had made the conscious decision to commit to artistry, I had a vision of this piece come to me. I was in bed when a poem arose in my thoughts, describing in rather magical terms what this piece would look like. I knew I had to bring to life what I had heard. The next day I went out and bought a roll of paper and some hard pastels and got to work. The piece is a 4-by-5 foot hard pastel drawing which sat on the floor of my bedroom for almost five months. Each day I would put in an hour or two of work, eventually the piece came to fruition. Before this I had never attempted any pieces larger than a notebook; the completion and framing of this work gave me the necessary confidence in my ability to create. The forces that compelled me to create this piece are unlike anything I had ever felt, and it was to-date the longest I had ever spent on a single work. Through creating this piece I learned a great amount about the details and secrets of the creative process; I consider that work my rite of passage.

Jack , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Jack Godfrey and I’m an abstract artist currently residing in Boulder, Colorado and hailing from Boston. I create typically large-scale abstract acrylic paintings that reflect my inner states, emotions and momentum. They are a meditative practice and each work is entirely unique to the moment(s) in which it was created. My journey with art began in the classroom, where I would cover pages with more drawings than notes. This obsessive doodling was a habit that followed me all the way to my third year at university. A dissatisfaction with my choice of study led me to seek out a path for myself that was more fulfilling. This journey culminated in a decision to create art and eventually a career. Two and a half years later I have shown in galleries overseas, sold my only piece at an opening night in Manhattan, featured in magazines such as Vogue, and have made some sales. The practice of creating art is one that benefits all aspects of my life. Cultivating my artistic practice has brought more love, health and happiness into my life and circle. Having recently finished my undergraduate studies, I am now pursuing ways to successfully monetize my work. My artwork is particularly suited to clothing and accessories; I have released clothing in the past and am currently selling matted giclée prints alongside my work. I am seeking to further the line of products that I will offer in the future and am always open for commissions.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I started creating in the fall of 2020, I was still grappling with a great deal of social and general anxiety that I had carried ever since I was young. Feelings of not fitting in and not being able to connect with or understand most people led to a lot of self-doubt and unsureness, to the point of debilitation. Part of what led me to choose art is the feelings I experienced during and after creation. Creation led to experiences of self-realization and self-perception, a ground on which I could stand, a center I could come from in everything I did. It was a precious space that I nurtured every time I chose to sit down in front of paper or canvas, and over time this space came to swallow up my anxieties and doubts. These things were replaced with a steadfastness; I was able to hold these feelings rather than be consumed by them. I overcame fears of failure bit by bit each time I created something, and while there is still uncharted territory today that presents its own challenges, much growth has happened over the past few years.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The artistic practice has helped me see and experience many positive concepts and lessons. It has taught patience, compassion, persistence, and many other subtle, positive qualities. It has helped me to grow as a person, in turn allowing me to become a better person for the people in my life. When we work on ourselves, it benefits our relationships. Conversely, when we hurt ourselves we hurt those around us. There is also a selfish component, of course, because the artwork is ultimately a journey for the artist, it can be self indulgent. However, my hope and goal for this journey is to become that better person, someone who leads from their heart, because even if I cannot see the end of the road, I know that this path will allow me to do the most good for others.

Contact Info:

• Website: cardairpatterns.com
• Instagram: jgodfrey.21

Image Credits
Shayla Love