We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jeremy Starn. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jeremy below.
Jeremy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?
I’ve almost always had a 9-5 while making fine art in my free time, curating exhibitions with other artists, selling work to interior design agents and submitting to magazines and shows but it was only because the large scale work I made never really sold enough to live on. Now that I a little bit older (33) and in graduate school for my Masters of Fine Arts I really can’t imagine going back to working a job that isn’t about art. I’ve always had creative-is h jobs or jobs in the creative line of work but I’ve realized that I’m most happy when I’m working on my own projects. I’m looking into teaching as a way to supplement my art making career.
On the other hand, I did really enjoy not having to rely on selling my art to make a living. The freedom of not having to worry about when the next sale is helped me be more free in my art. I know this is different for everyone, but in my 20’s it was nice to be able to explore what I was interested in. Now that I know what I want to make all the time, I want to devote all my time to it.
Jeremy, 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?
I consider myself a photographer first and an artist second though I know a lot people don’t make that distinction. I first fell in love with photography when I was about 10 years old and was given an old film camera. Luckily, my parents were really supportive of me pursuing it through high school, enrolling me in workshops and community college classes. It probably helped that I wasn’t great at academic school work but was really into art and photography.
I went to the Art Institute of Boston which had a pretty rigorous photo program and knew that I wanted to do photography for the rest of my life, I just didn’t know what kind! I also had a lot of different interests, so I lived abroad for a few years doing different sort of work in education, but was always taking pictures. I think what set me apart was that I didn’t just to photography as my main job because I think I would have gotten tired of it. By having a lot of different interests it helped inform my serious fine art photography. Learning marketing was a big help in terms of teaching me how to write and edit down my photos. I’m glad I learned the business side of marketing and how to sell myself/company.
I know a lot of business in the art world comes from word of mouth, so it’s really important to always maintain healthy relationships with everyone you work with. Reputation is really important so always have a smile, follow through, be on time, and always be open to trying new things.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I just love what I do. I love the feeling of making something that surprised me and then sharing it with people. A big part of that is being willing to experiment and not being afraid of failure. I find that really hard to do in a normal office job or position where I’m not able to play and have fun. I still go to my studio 40 hours a week and it’s not always glamorous but at the end of the day I feel satisfied that whatever I did, it was good for me. Even if I didn’t make anything I was proud of, it always feels like a learning experience and I love learning.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Artists really need more institutional support, especially from local governments ie towns, cities, schools etc. The typical artist is not into that line of work for the money, and public artworks don’t generate income but they pay off in so many other intangible ways such as community well being and civic pride. It’s important to support areas of society that aren’t driven by profit.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jeremystarn.com
- Instagram: jeremystarn
Image Credits
Jeremy Starn