Jake Joseph Painting Bright Colors for a Dark World

Well, here we are again.

Groundhog day #47. Waking up, it felt the same, but there are a few changes going on. California is getting some stricter stay at home orders while business are trying to open up at the same time. It’s weird. It’s hard. Our doors are still closed, but our lights are still on - for now.

As artists, we are used to things not making much sense, but we don't like being forced into situations. I can’t speak for my partners, but at least I (Peter Pan) really push back against set boundaries in all sorts of ways. No matter what, I like to create and voice things. Whether it is articulating or manifesting my resistance through art, music, essays or just how I choose to live, I always seem to find myself pushing what I believe in, and resisting against what I feel is wrong. 

It’s bold and direct, but not violent. It can be dramatic, but not melodramatic. It is not about making a scene, it is about making a statement. A former bandmate of mine, and dear friend, Josh Gonzales said it best about two types of people who voice their opinions, “There are people screaming to be seen, and then there are people screaming to be heard.” 

Many people are for show. The want to look the part, and will jump on the bandwagon to be seen and fit in. These are most of the people with a paintbrush, pen or microphone. They are Artists, not artists. 

Then there are the others. The people with a message. The ones who care about their cause and will stand by it no matter what. If it is a popular opinion, or wildly provocative, they voice it and stand by it because they care. I’d like to think that when I scream, I am screaming to be heard. I have beliefs. I don't voice them all the time, but I do when I feel like I need to. I want to be heard, and that is why I scream. 

Jake Joseph a.k.a. Dead Gringos is a dear friend and artist who has definitely got a message and is “screaming to be heard.” If you are familiar with Shit Art Club, you would certainly be able to pick out his works from a mile away. He paints in a strong graphic style - macabre characters and scenes with narratives illustrated with a bright and bold pallet. Jake describes his style as painting “bright colors for a dark world.” He is incredibly unique, one of the best people I know and one of the most talented artists I get to work with. 

You guys know the deal by now. We asked him how he's getting along, and we are glad he let us know:

Alright, Jake, here we go. Strictly business out the gates. How do you foresee the future of the art market post COVID-19?

I think people are gonna keep on buyin' art like they always have been, looking at art makes people happy just like drugs and booze and neither of those have ever had a tough time during tough times. Gettin' drunk or high and looking at art is the instinctive remedy for humans in hard times.

Hell yeah. I suppose that in hard times it can actually have a function as a sort of escape for people, but a sort of healthy one. Art can really put life into perspective sometimes. Can you provide some insight into your studio life and how COVID-19 has made an impact? Any significant changes?

Not being able to do much at the studio in Downtown LA has been a bummer but now I just have a make shift studio at the apartment and paint outside all the time. Pretty fuckin' sweet actually. But I deeply miss being in the grease downtown for sure. Nothing compares to the grease. 

Dead Gringos in the Downtown grease factory that is Shit Art Club’s studios

Yeah. I miss it too. Can’t wait ’til we can all rip around again together like a bunch of greased up pigs impossible to catch. Has this pandemic had any direct influence on your work or creative process?

Getting to be able to observe people's behavior in shitty times like these has always interested me, and I pull a lot from observing people everyday anyway and a lot of that goes into my work so yeah to a degree I bet it does but it's not a conscious thing I'd say.  

Interesting. Is the town you live in on lockdown?  Has the virus affected daily life amongst the locals?

Yep, Venice is pretty locked down but nobody seems to be all that bummed about it. There's still guys on electric skateboards everywhere. The plague isn't being as efficient as it could be.

Loser Angeles, Coulter Jacobs, Nick Lavayen and Dead Gringos throwing paint around after hours.

Hahahahaha. They're probably the cats who invented the thing anyway. Before Snapchat took over Niki’s, I don't remember there being any pandemics. Where’s the first place you’re going when this is all over?

Straight to a bar, probably Hinano. Or South America, but Hinano on the way there. 

Hell yeah. Take me with ya. Other than painting or drawing, what is keeping you sane during this madness?

Working on building wood projects, drinking masses of beer, slithering around at the beach like a slug to avoid detection. 

So essentially you're like a ninja slug. I may be hitting you up for some help robbing a bank here pretty soon. Do you think anything beneficial can come from this pandemic? What?

I'd like to think people will treat each other better, but we're 0 for 1000 on that one for past plagues. Hopefully a bunch of rad art. Flowers and stuff will keep growing. More lizards in the hills. 

Ain’t that the sad sad truth. I do believe we will have some excellent art after all this, and you know I love me some time on Lizard Mountain. Tell us a bit about some of your influences. While developing as an artist was there anyone who you have been influenced or inspired by consistently over the years?

I've always been real into Goya and the other dark masters that analyzed the more fucked side of humanity. Jim Phllips, 90's surf/skate/punk art. Been really into Skinner's stuff lately as well, that guy always rips so hard. Growing up I was always fascinated by watching people and observing them, the weird shit they would say that would stick in my mind like it still does. I could sit in a bar corner for hours and draw people. Well I do sit in bar corners for hours and draw people. 

Me encanta Francisco Goya. It seems like everyone is able to share their work today using their almighty iPhone and the internet. We see artists sharing a lot of work all of the time. It is a blessing and a curse. Who are some of the artists active today whose work you are following? What about their work or practice interests you? Is there something that these artists have in common? What are some of the unique things that each of these artists have that piques and maintains your interest in them?

For the innerwebs, I've been really into this group of artists from Ghana that Deadly Prey Gallery Represents, they hand paint these big wild and inaccurate versions of American movie posters that are gory and bootleg and just all over the place. There's a guy named Leonardo, Stoger, Mr, Nana Agyq, I don't know all of their names to be honest but they're really fuckin' rad artists. I always got a kick out of the bootleg movie shit as a kid when I'd take trips to Mexico and guys would be hawking them in the markets up so that mixed with the crazy Ghana monster mash up of Danny Devito beating someone with their own arm or something is awesome. So yeah those guys, a lot of others but this interview took more beers than I expected and I am going to go paint now. Love you.

Love you too, Jake.

SAC Loves all of you. 

Take Care.

Loser Angeles' Hot Take on Art, Life and Death during the Viral Apocalypse

Finally, people are starting to see that not much is making sense these days. It’s freaking out the neighborhood, but it’s alright. We promise.

It’s alright because the truth is, nothing really ever makes sense – it’s just that most people are too distracted to realize it. Normally, everyone’s brain is stuck in a massive blender powered by the work week, news flow and internet. Their thoughts get all mixed up into a sort of uniform goo that can’t do anything but go with the flow. What really doesn't make sense to us is surrendering our one shot at life to a routine filled with mundane tasks. It sounds like something only crazy people would do. We are using art as a weapon and waging war against a life filled with minutiae.

Loser Angeles is an artist near and dear to us, and is an integral part of Shit Art Club. His work addresses what he describes as “the oddness of the ordinary” and illustrates how absolutely crazy “normal” life is. We kicked off our COVID-69 auction with one of his pieces, and asked him a few questions about how this quarantine is affecting his artwork, daily life and creative process. 

How are you staying relevant during this difficult time?

I am probably not.

I love it. I mean, who really wants to be relevant to a global disaster anyway? How do you foresee the future of the art market post COVID-19?

I think their will be a hike in snickers bars by the end of June with a bidding war on the upper to lower class.

You may not be wrong… Tell us about your studio life and how COVID-19 has made an impact. Any significant changes?

I haven’t been working downtown in my studio because Skid Row is a bit gnarly right now, so I’ve been torturing my girlfriend Lucy in her studio in Santa Monica.

Has this pandemic had any direct influence on your work?

Ya for shoire [sic]. I’ve had a lot of time to study the greats. I’ve been reading a biography about Jacob Lawrence and the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920’s. The work he did during the Jazz Age is insanely relevant during this time. I am also working on a book titled Quilted Northern.

So Quilted Northern. Love the title. I understand that this is a project you’ve been working on long before the international toilet paper shortage. Do you think this book project will resonate differently after all of this? 

(Laughing) Ya, its odd. I have been working on this on and off for over a year with the title "Quilted Northern." Now that everyones having trouble wiping their own arse I might get a bit more of a reaction. The hope of this project is remind people that life is temporary and disposable. 

Is the town you live in on lockdown?  Has the virus affected daily life amongst the locals?

Yup, I live in Venice, CA and it’s pretty greasy down here by the boardwalk. We can’t surf anymore, the skatepark is closed, and we can’t fish off the pier. So everyone Is just staring at their iPhones and plotting indoor yoga routines with realtime live footage.

Have you ever been on lockdown or in quarantine before? 

No, but my friend Big Red was on house arrest for a bit and he still managed to get laid and for that we are proud of him.

Damn. Big Red sounds like a good guy to know. Where’s the first place you’re going when this is all over?

In the ocean. Then Hinano Café. Then back to skid row.

Other than painting or drawing, what is keeping you sane during this madness?

I’ve been reading and drinking a bunch and trying to catch stingrays at night.

Do you think anything beneficial can come from this pandemic?

I think a lot of positive will come from this strange time. I believe Mother Earth is the happiest she’s been in a while. The dolphins and palm trees are partying. I think people will have a new appreciation for breathing and walking around on this planet.

So you titled this work The Joke is on The Sun after a poem by Charles Bukowski. Why did you choose to do this? 

Ya, I’ve been reading a lot of Bukowski the last few weeks. I’ve been listening to his poetry readings too while painting. They’re pretty mental .

Is there a connection between this particular poem and the painting you created in the COVID-69 Auction? If not, is there a relationship between your creative process and Bukowski’s work as a writer and artist?

“The joke is on the sun” was what I was listening to when I began this piece. I find my work employing a lot of words from books or songs I’ve heard, even conversations in the park. The title is a thank you to Bukowski. As far as creative process, Bukowski did most of his writing at with a drink, so I guess we have that in common. I admire the way Bukowski took so many hard times on the head in order to continue doing what he believed in. Smooth seas make a shit sailor.

Bukowski has an illustrious reputation and was completely committed to being an artist. Even this poem discusses how you need to commit completely to what you believe in. During this international crisis, have you noticed a change in your commitment to working as an artist? How have these changes in your social life and professional life affected or influenced your artwork?

Yea, I mean the dude wrote on and on about Lady Death, and he was not scared or running from her. I try to follow his lead on that one. There has also been a loaf in my shorts since last October. I find myself losing hesitation in my work lately. With Lady Death creeping on our heels, we get a clearer view of the present.

Place a bid on a Loser Angeles original in our COVID-69 Benefit Auction

Loser Angeles "The Joke is on The Sun" | eBay

As society sits idling at this crossroad watching the gas gauge steadily drop, most people are afraid that they won’t have enough fuel left in their tank to move forward once we get the green light. It seems like everything has come to a grinding halt. People are so focused on what the television and internet is telling them, they have been convinced that the Earth has stopped spinning. They are thinking too much to the point where they don’t feel anything. Although socially and economically we are at a standstill, we are still alive. We need to connect to the natural world and to our natural tendencies. For us, the desire to make is natural.

The role of the artist is to try and find that point where the heart and head meet, and make something out of that balanced thought and feeling. When this happens, the result is beautiful and diverse.

Everyone thinks and feels differently, so if the artist can be honest with themselves and get in touch with who they are, their individualities and commonalities will reveal themselves through their work. At the end of the day, what we all have in common is that we are a bunch of beautiful weirdos - but are conditioned to think that being weird is bad. Loser Angeles is someone that recognizes these things and has accepted and celebrates his weirdness. He is someone we should use as an example to keep making life and keep living art. He’s not afraid to leave the keys in the ignition, put on some shoes, and move on forward.