We caught up with Jared Konopitski, a local Sacramento artist, to ask about the inspiration for his art and career.
Konopitski’s recent artwork has been inspired by multiple things, including: vibrant colors, strange tales, and things that live under rocks. He tends to work with a wide variety of medias like watercolor and ink, but his favorites are Play Doh and finger paints. According to Konopitski, Play Doh and finger paints have always been his favorite because he has used them for many years and they taste good.
His art has been shown in thousands of galleries with, “the top folks of the art world, to folks just starting off.” Konopitski stated he is honored when galleries or venues want to hang his work and it has all made his life a remarkable journey.
Growing up, he was inspired by many cartoons, such as the Looney Tunes, Dr. Seuss, and Mad Magazine. He was also inspired by anyone he could get to draw him monsters and aliens. One day, he ran across a flier that said, “Fuck art and just make cool shit.” Konopitski thought that was great advice, and since then, it has shaped him and what he does.
In Konopitski’s eyes, art has no rules and you can say anything you want. He makes art to feed his ego and get a occasional free beer or coffee. For now Jared Konopitski is planning on staying in Sacramento and continuing his art career surrounded by fellow artists. Konopitski loves how every artist in Sacramento is connected. It all seems “like a giant extended family. It makes being an art weirdo, not seem so alone after all.”
Jared’s work was recently in a San Francisco showing at the 63 Bluxome Gallery called “Swim Season” all based off of the Cartoon Network’s [Adult Swim]. He also has some pieces in Florida’s Slushbox Gallery’s “Candy Coated Dreams” show which is entirely candy themed. In April, he will have some pieces in Sacramento’s FE Gallery in a show titled “Fauna Anomaly,” which according to Jared “…will be a pretty epic show curated by the legend John Stuart Berger.” And in May, if you’d like to meet the artist you can find him at Free Comic Book Day at Empire Comics.
Learn more about the artist and find on his website jaredkonopitski.com
Words: Heather Uroff
Photos provided by the artist.