We had the good fortune of connecting with Jantzen Peake and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jantzen, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
My background was shaped by knowing at a very early age that my life’s pursuit would be art.
Not many people know until much later, if at all, what they want to pursue and be passionate about. So, I consider myself fortunate. However, that gift was a double-edged sword. How so? It made school very difficult for me because I could not concentrate on other subjects and became distracted easily which certainly was a problem for teachers and my parents. I was able to reconcile this and went on to earn my bachelor’s degree.

I was born and reared in Southern California and always lived close to the beach. This setting allowed me other avenues to release my frustrations with school such as surfing and skateboarding. Punk Rock and Hip Hop music spoke to me as did graffiti and street art and became incorporated into my art repertoire.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

For over nine years now I have been a Colorado Springs resident. I consider myself an Urban Pop Surrealist. My current body of work is an attempt to express the visual side of the language of love. I am known for my use of vibrant colors and an out of the box in your face style. A lot of my inspirations stem from my youth through my college years like vintage cartoons such as the Ren and Stimpy Show, Beavis and Butthead, Tim Burton films/art, Ed Roth/Rat Fink, Dry Point prints of Albrecht Durer, art of Pushead, Greg Simkins art and so much more. These influences are seen in my line work, themes, vibrant colors and the twist and turns of the typography. My work doesn’t have to be in letter form to give the viewer a sense of the culture I was immersed in. I try to break every rule where possible with my art. My art is therapy, not only for me but also to the ones who dare to step outside the box.

A surprise spin off from my life as an artist is the chance to teach art. I am so thankful to Colorado Springs Fine Art Center at Colorado College in a private school named Bemis School of Art for providing me this opportunity. These three years of teaching have been a very fulfilling and rewarding experience.

I have arrived where I am today as a full time professional artist by never giving up, never taking silence as an answer, practicing and learning techniques everyday and understanding it takes hundreds of rejections for that one yes. That one yes could ignite the flame. My story is ever evolving with time. I am currently available for commissions.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I don’t have a lot of favorite spots in the town of Colorado Springs. But here are a few things I enjoy in town, The Perk Downtown for great coffee, great customer service, great two story hang out spot. While your there take some time to check out all the amazing local art hanging on the walls that I Curated. I have been conducting quarterly exhibitions at the Peake Gallery inside the Perk Downtown for little over three years. I painted several beautiful murals located on the second floor expanding into the patio space. Another cool spot in town is called, COATI also located on Tejon St. in Downtown Colorado Springs. They have great selection of food, art on the walls and live performances practically every night.
I also have a new exhibition currently in the space at COATI. A must visit is heading West to beautiful Manitou Springs for the art galleries, culture, hiking, food, shopping, natural spring water, The Manitou Springs Incline and so much more.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a Shoutout to my father for believing in me, supporting my passion to be a professional artist. I also want to shoutout the Perk Downtown owners for allowing me to Curate the wall space with local artworks.

Instagram: @JantzenPeake

Linkedin: LinkedIN/JantzenPeake

Twitter: @PeakeJantzen

Facebook: Facebook.com/PeakeGraffix

Youtube: JantzenPeake

Other: Merch shop, www.zazzle.com/Peake_GRAFFIX

Image Credits
Art by Jantzen Peake

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