Overcome creative blocks, Interview with Jeff Soto world renowned illustrator and fine artist
Jeff Soto has published two beautifully illustrated books; “Potato Stamp Dreams” and “Storm Clouds”. His artwork has been featured in top art magazines like; Juxtapoz, Giant Robot, Hi-Fructose, Art Prostitute, Lodown Magazine, Art Week, and Clutter. He’s also worked with some impressive clients including; Sony Music, Warner Bros, Nickelodeon, Disney, Apple and Critterbox toys.
But even successful artists like Jeff experience creative blocks, read on to discover how he conquers them by imagining he’s having a conversation with fictional character Tyler Durdan and find out how he kicks him into shape.
Sun and Moon
Jeff you’re the author of two books, your work has been featured in many top art magazines and you have exhibited extensively across America. Many people tell us they struggle staying motivated and often experience creative blocks, as an establish artist how do you handle these issues?
This is a subject that I’ve talked about in my book, let me tell you how I handle it. After a solo exhibit I often feel used and abused, beat up, defeated. The months of sitting hunched over paintings working feverishly to bring life to the ideas in my head always seems to take it’s toll. The adrenaline surge of the opening and after party quickly fade and before I know it I’m on a flight home. And I’m always ready. I’m ready to abandon art for a while and hang out with my girls. I’m ready to tend to the neglected cacti garden, and in fact everything else I’ve neglected in the name of art.
Fuzzy Friend
It’s time to relax and get back to feeling normal again. And I do. But after a few weeks, post show depression kicks in and I start wondering if I’ve used up all my good ideas. I picture Brad Pitt (as Tyler Durden) telling me, “Well Jeffy boy, you had a good run but you’ve used up all your ideas man. You got nothing. Get the fuck off my porch!”. I always feel like that after a show. I’m done. Burnt out. Guess it’s time to start looking for a new profession.
“It sparks something in my brain and new ideas start…”
But experience has (so far) shown me that this is just an important part of my creative cycle. I’ve learned to just accept it and go with it. Before I know it, I am back drawing and something tiny yet powerful happens. It sparks something in my brain and new ideas start to filter out. Some are straight awful, but I explore them anyways. Slowly I start gaining confidence and begin to experiment. I draw a lot and make notes. As I go I pin the drawings (successful or not) onto my wall so new ideas can be interwoven and built upon them.
Jeff in his studio
To my surprise I soon have the makings for a new body of work on my wall and the cycle has started again. As I write this I am in mid-cycle. The after show bummer has been replaced with the pre-show “man, I better get painting!”. This time it was collaborations with my daughter Shannon that lifted me out of the doldrums. We’ve been working on watercolor paintings together- sometimes collaborating, sometimes working separately. Painting with a child really opened me up to the happy accidents and playfulness that I’ve forgotten about.
Most importantly though, it’s just fun. Making art for no other purpose than to make each other laugh or to tell a story feels great. It’s art at it’s purest. This book (Storm Clouds) contains work from three years and three solo shows- three cycles of ups and downs and the experiments in between. enjoy.
Jeff’s studio
You mention pinning up work successful or not, how often do you find yourself failing at something or abandoning a piece of work?
All the time, most of my work starts out looking like shit. I usually keep working through it until it works out. If that means repainting it, then so be it. Failing is part of my process.
Jeff Soto with fans Cassady and Jesse Kloo, Photo by Lord Jim
That’s true however, a lot of people still struggle with failure, so its good to have people spur you on. Did you have anyone that encouraged your career choice?
My parents were always pretty supportive, and for the most part my teachers were too. I was lucky for that, but also I really enjoyed making art my entire life so I was driven to do it for myself. I think my own desire to be an artist is the reason I’ve had some success.
Unknown Soldier
You say that you had the drive which is a key factor, but did you always feel like you could make a living out of it?
It has always been hard, and I still see it as a difficult profession. Maybe in a naive way I never really questioned it, I just went for it and didn’t let rejections get in the way. Even now, I feel pretty good about what I’ve accomplished so far but I am looking to the future. I feel I’m still in the beginning to mid stages in my career, and it’s tough sometimes to move forward.
Fly Away
Did you set yourself a plan at the beginning of what you wanted to achieve?
When I got out of high school I didn’t have a plan at all. I had pretty horrible grades so college would have to wait. I did 6-7 years of community college which was what I needed at the time.
I never really made goals, until I decided I wanted to go to art college when I was 24. After that I would jot down ideas, plans, maybe they were goals. I used to write a lot of that stuff in my sketchbook, but last few years I’ve been keeping track of my to-do list with the computer. Other than that, I just try to make good work and keep a clear head about what I’m doing. I need to make a new list of goals… it’s on my to-do list.
Click here for Part 2 Of This Interview where Jeff tells us about the sacrifices he’s made for his long term goals. He also reveals how to handle negative feedback and the type of attitude he’s developed in order to gain respect. You’ll also discover what Jeff was like at school and the obstacles he’s had to overcome.
