Meet jason cope | Artist and sometimes musician.

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

Hi jason, how do you think about risk?
Risk is a necessary step forward to bring to light which what was once uncertain. Maybe to cause a radical change or as simple as meeting someone new.. Risk sets the ground in motion for the basis in determining if the risk taken is becoming more of a success or failure. And despite the outcome. Win or lose. A new insight of knowledge is gained thru the experience. How can I do things better? What area’s do i need improvement? I’m never making that mistake again, or do I really have the skill set for the demands of the enviroment? You learn from making bad decisions and it’s as simple as that. Pursuing as a creative seems like a risk everytime i start a new painting. In my head I have it planned out, but once I start, things change and critical choices must be made along the way. If the painting turns out better than expected, that’s success. If i looks like mud, that’s failure. I have a lot of time and costs of supplies invested. When a gallery asked me to hang for a show, and I follow thru, that’s success. If I don’t make the deadline and miss an opportunity to sale my paintings. that’s failure. I can eventually recoup the cost, but Its the time and work I can’t get back. As I get older and more experienced i find myself becoming more conservative with risk taking. I have more of a past than future. I can’t bounce back by renting and living in a friend’s closet anymore. I have to harness all my skills and treat my next risk as a chess game, methodically thinking out my next move in hopes of predicting or determining the outcome of the game. It can become paralyzing at times. Like I said, its getting harder to bounce back. Risk is becoming more like a big burden of weight im carrying on my back with all odds against you. Now that i look back and reflect on all ive accomplished and done, i have no other choice but to keep pushing forward. It’s better to regret the things you have done, than the things you have’nt. If that makes sense. With all that said. I gotta get back to work.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The paintings I create are abstract depictions of nature scenes. Sometimes there is a narrative, sometimes I leave it for the viewer to decide whether it has meaning or is it just a simple landscape. I incorporate mixed media techniques along with collage to add background noise. The mostly paper layers help with creating heavy textures and provide some sort of under painting. Even though i consider myself a great indoorsman, i do enjoy being in nature and draw inspiration from fragments of a landscape or what I call a gardenscape. A macro scape may be the better term to use. I use certain colors to convey the mood I’m in. I’m a big fan of art decor and antiquities. I love history and the aspects of evolution and the radical change it brings for the better or the worst. My current series for an upcoming group show involves the use of cardboard and found objects for a 3D effect. I’m really proud of myself for enduring and really just sticking in there when the going gets tough. For odd reasons the creative life can become to much to deal with. At times It can seem silly, something you can’t take seriously anymore. Giving up seems like the only solution to the frustration it brings. I question on a daily basis why I choose to put myself through what I do just to make art. At the end of the day it truly dies make me happy. I keep things in perspective by reminding myself you created this, you wanted this, be careful what you wish for, you will be miserable without it. So get to work! I guess that what separates myself from others is possessing a strong work ethic and maybe Alittle hint of foolishness. I watch many artist friends of mine drop off, change directions, and choose something more lucrative all the time. They take a risk risking everything they worked so hard for. Only to take on another risk in pursuit of something new. That’s being an artist, the ability to develope unique skills to get yourself into new unique situations, while meeting the demands of the enviroment.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m pretty one dimensional when it comes to entertaining someone, they usually get bored and start showing me around. Lol. I would definitely treat them to lunch and or dinner at one of the many pho restaurants Denver has to offer. To many good ones to list. (I’ve tried them all) it all comes down to service. Pho 555 comes to mind as a personal fave. Then head on down to Baker, South Broadway and hang with the crew at Mutiny information Cafe, great artist slash musician hub, you can get to know many creatives all the way from comedians to authors sharing what they do. Drink their delicious coffee and shop for records and books. Wax Trax records would be on the list as well as Twist and Shout records. Can you tell I adore music? That night check out bands in one of many seems like endless venues Denver has to offer. Sleep. Repeat. All of this would be Post Covid of course.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Bill Thomason and Bitfactory gallery for giving me the opportunity to show, improve and build upon my confidence on taking greater risks in my creativity for the future.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j.cope.art

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jason.cope.7

Other: I am in the process of developing a website. Hopefully will be finalized by weeks end.. To soon to include address today. If not next time.