We recently connected with Jeff Britton and have shared our conversation below.

Jeff, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

As a young child, from as early as I can remember, I was instantly capitated by the idea and practice of making images. Art making through working in sketchbooks, with poster paints, crayons, and colored pencils opened a world of invention and the power of beauty. Fast forward to many years later, after a college basketball career ended, I remembered what it felt like to draw and paint and the freedom of coming to something by my own hand. Quickly reversing course in college, I began to take drawing and painting classes. I am an American painter, so naturally, I started delving deeply into the great image makers that were produced here in this country. I loved landscape, genre painting, the Ashcan School, the ex-pats, up to, and including the abstract expressionists. Needing a job to support myself, I found work as a fashion illustrator working at Women’s Wear Daily from 1983-1987. To get that position I drew and drew everything I could concerning figure drawing, perspective and trying to emulate the greats, such as Rene Bouche, Rene Grua, Eric and many others. The role of any painter is to try and find a WAY. A way of defining one’s own style and subjects through their own hands. I have always been attracted to energy, light and color- painting in a full spectrum palette to create portraits, landscape and still life, endeavoring to capture the essence of life. Employing vigorous brushwork and dynamic compositions, I began telling my story of how I view the world with hopes to engage the viewer to experience the world as it see it. Painting is a never-ending journey. When it’s done with vigor and enthusiasm, the results can be quite remarkable. My work is geared toward individuals who want a painting that expresses their inner most desires. My pictures are of varied subjects. Therefore, there is something for everyone. Having had many exhibits over a 30+ year career with a variation on many themes and ideas, there have been many choices for the viewer and collector.
Of all the platforms I have used, Instagram has been the most successful way of selling my paintings without question. It has given me sales where nothing else has competed, and without the 50% tariff placed on work by galleries and dealers.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My journey in the arts began when I was hired as a fashion illustrator at Women’s Wear Daily doe 4 years. I was responsible for drawing figures of women in various tyles of clothing. If people do not know, WWD was a world class fashion newspaper internationally based in NYC, LA, Paris, London and Milan. I worked in the NYC office from 1983-1987. Upon leaving there I worked in the commercial illustration field, specifically doing editorial illustration for the NY times, Conde Nast, Hearst and various other publications. I became excited to venture out on my own and begin to make paintings. My interests became involved in story telling through figurative, landscape and allegory subjects. I don’t paint painting to compliment the drapes/couches/interior design. I paint for the soul. I paint for myself first, and in turn hope to inspire the viewer through energy, light and feelings. For me painting is about the viewers feelings. The painter is the conduit and through his or her vision can create a powerful dialogue when it connects. In simple terms, I make intimate paintings that people may purchase from me for the walls in their homes. When people buy my work, it’s because they want to live with it. They have connected with something inside their soul……something directly touched.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Resilience- that’s an interesting topic.

Resilience really is about: how much do you love what you do, and the excitement a painter gets from going from one painting or drawing to the next. If your captivated and enthralled with what you doing the viewer will be as well. Love of the process is all you need to keep going.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

My view on NFT’s is the format simply does not work for a painter. Painting is an emotional, visceral experience. The viewer has no reference to the impact which is real and tangible through experiencing the energy and light of a canvas. How can one possibly get that through a computer? In addition, they’re costly and the return on your investment is quite low.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeff.britton/
• Other: https://vimeo.com/75722125
  https://www.instagram.com/p/CTSAhc_BqZE/