Meet Jim Mazza | Artist/Screen Printer

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

Hi Jim, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I think i mostly just did it out of necessity. Growing up I didn’t really have dreams of owning my own business but I think it’s really your only option once you reach a certain point in your career. I just want to sit and draw pictures or screen print. The actual administrative side of the business is not something I look forward to.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m an artist and a screen printer. I also design art toys and other self promotional merch. My main focus for most of my career as a self employed artist has been screen printed gigposters. I’m not entirely sure what sets me apart per se, I think how I’ve managed to get to where I am today has just been through force of will. It hasn’t bee easy by any means. Lots of second guessing, self doubt, thoughts about finding a more stable career. I think the appeal of gigposters was designing and printing these tactile pieces of art that get people excited about a show or event. When people see a poster I’ve made and say nice things or want to purchase one, this helps keep me motivated and really helped fuel my desire to keep making things. Eventually, if you can stick out though all the tough parts(of which there are many) you can get to a point where you can make a viable living doing something you love. And at that point it’s even sweeter. The biggest thing I think I’ve learned is to just keep your head down and put out the work. If you make good work, in time, people will notice. I started making posters in 2004 and I didn’t go fulltime as a freelance artist until the end of 2011. When I made the decision to go freelance, it wasn’t a well thought out plan, It was more of a now or never type scenario. Looking back it was the best decision I’ve ever made professionally but it was a very big gamble and still took years before I made a comfortable living.

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?
Fave spots in the Denver area…..the number one for me has to be Red Rocks. Such an amazing venue. For eating, I would say Jax Oyster Bar is up there as well as il porcellino salumi for an amazing sandwich. Another one of my favorite spots is Furthur Frames. As a poster artist and just a fan or art in general, they have some of the nicest framed pieces I’ve seen. They also do the most amazing custom framing.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Wow, this is a tough one. There are many people who have had small impacts in my life and career that helped me along the way. The most important person was definitely my mother. I went to a vocational high school for welding and that was meant to be my career. I worked as a welder from the time I was in high school until I was about 22-23 years old. I was really unhappy and depressed and felt like I needed to make a change. I had wanted be an artist from the time I was maybe 5 or 6 years old and for whatever reason, lack of self confidence mostly, I never really seriously pursued it. My mom and my stepfather helped me leave my career as a welder and go to art school which without that new beginning I would not be where I am today.

Instagram: Mazza_Art

Twitter: @MazzaArt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jimmazzaart

Image Credits
Jim Mazza