Jose Spencer

The little canvas, Mixed media. Charcoal, oil pastel, and oil on acrylic 

What are your earliest memories of being artistic?  I clearly remember being extremely excited at the sight of a stack of blank paper as a child and feeling an overwhelming desire to create a new world on each and everyone of those blank pieces of paper.

When did art become a pursuit?  Art has always been a part of my life I never really identified art as a separate part of myself until I became older and I wanted a career in the animal medical field and my parents wanted me to attend an art school. Many years later after moving to Massachusetts, it became apparent that my creativity was not only a source of great interest to others but that I should pursue it with more intent.

Are you self-taught or formally educated in visual art?  I did attend an Art high school and took a few art courses but I am predominately a self-taught artist.

How did you first become involved with CAA?  I have been craving more involvement and interaction within the arts in and throughout the Boston area and so joining the CAA was a must!!!

In what other ways are you involved in the local art community?  I have been participating and exhibiting in many local art shows and local fundraising events.
I also plan on hosting an open studio at my own personal studio as well as participating in an open studio with several other local artists.

Macaw, Mixed media. Oil pastel on acrylic and plaster 

What role do you think the artist plays in society?  I’m scared to envision a society without the involvement of the artist. An artist can envision and motivate something that others normally can not, they give insight to emotions and thoughts which can inspire change and growth.

What medium do you currently work in and how did you choose this medium?  As an abstract artist, I love the use of different types of art mediums, as each provide a different overall affect. I currently enjoy the combination of pastels over acrylic or to further enhance or define the look of oil.

What is your creative process? Where are you finding ideas for your art these days?  I love plants and I love gardening. I am always so inspired by the natural world. The way that nature naturally blends and combines colors and textures.

How do you choose your subject matter? Is there a reoccurring theme that carries throughout your work?  I’m drawn towards emotion and it motivates a lot of my work. Recently my father passed away from cancer, before he passed he ask if I would take ownership of a few of his pets, a pair of lovebirds came home with me and I find the coloring of their feathers so fascinating and intriguing. It is currently the theme for a lot of my work and it has helped with honoring his memory.

In your opinion, what’s your best/favorite piece you’ve made?  Of course there’s a story behind the answer to this question, many years ago, while rummaging through in an old basement, I found an antique mirror that was extremely dirty and dusty, with a grayish blue tinge that faintly reminded me of murky water. I took my finger and haphazardly sketched a few water lilies upon the dusty surface. However random it was, the effect was quite lovely. Almost making me wish it was an actual painting, the years of dust and the dull gleam of the mirror held my attention within the abstract forms of the water lilies, which I had drawn. So many years later I still recall that image and those waterlilies, and I know the lesson learned on that day as naturally as my fingers sketched those water lilies upon that dusty surface, the true fact that there is beauty everywhere and in everything regardless of the circumstances and the conditions.

Blue parakee, Mixed media. Charcoal, oil pastel, acrylic, plaster

What is one of your artistic goals?  It would be an honor to have my art exhibited internationally and in museums.

What’s your favorite place to see art?  I am originally from Brooklyn, New York. So I really enjoy the diversity of art in the city and throughout Brooklyn. MoMA, the Guggenheim, the Brooklyn Art Museum. However, I can spend hours at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. I really love going there.

What living artists are you inspired by?  I love, love, Love Maggi Hambling, Rupert Muldoon and also Tracey Emin. I also love Larry Koons and Gerhard Richter. There are a few local artist that I am being introduced to like, Katherine Downey Miller, that I really like as well.

Do you own any art by other artists?  I own a few pieces of photography by Thomas Barbey, and one outstanding large abstract piece titled “Octopus Garden” by an artist who’s name escapes me. The piece reminds me of Lee Krasner’s works.

Do you have any shows coming up?  I do have an upcoming show in Newton and as I mentioned I will be hosting a open studio at my own studio very soon!

See more Jose!

Website:  Josespencer.com
Instagram:  @spencerdiaries