A few weeks ago we were able to cover muralist and live painter Jonathan “Espy” Cirlin, as he created a mural for UPVHS in Los Angeles. After 20 years of conducting art, Espy is in the prime of his art career. Moving forward he has decided to only work on projects with people who have positive intentions for art. Born in Jersey & raised in Philly, Espy would start in the streets of his communities; coming from a family of artist it was not hard for him to get inspired. However moving to LA was a turning point in his career, he was able to surround himself with artist that were better which allowed him to improve as an artist. Today you can find him in the field, working on a new mural. Follow him and his work here.

"I have over 300 murals in this neighborhood"

INTERVIEW

Question 1: what inspired you?

A great amount of things, music, art and whatever motivates me in that moment. I produce art everyday, it is my living, my life’s dream and form of expression. So staying inspired is a way of life. I try to have a steady stream of various music, dance and art every day in my life as well as surround myself with working professionals who are like minded artist.

Question 2: what advice do you have for the youth aspiring to be artist?

Some advice I would for the youth trying to be artists would be to surround yourself with positive people that support your dreams. Produce art for yourself, not for anyone or thing(Instagram,social media etc). About 90% of the work u will make won’t be sold, so focus on perfecting your craft and create your own standards and practices. At the end of the day you will be a better artist for holding yourself accountable for trying to reach your dreams. And like anything the more u practice the better u will be. Whatever ur passion or outlet to creativity is, make sure it makes you feel joy and follow those feelings and directions and it will lead you to where you need to go. As a professional I’d say there is always opportunity for artist to make money being creative, so if you desire you can do art or creative work the rest of your life and feel bliss while seeking it.

GALLERY

Photography by Jamil Brown & Marrice Hill

We took a trip to Orange County to pay Matthew Knott a studio visit and he sent us home with some gems. The SoCal based artist shared with us his journey on how being inspired by cartoon drawings turned into painting large murals in your favorite neighborhoods. In high school Matthew started taking the craft serious & developed his style. Known for his illustrations, drawings & murals; you are able to view some of his newest work on display @ Sneakertopia or follow his social media here. Below he shared with us his inspirations and advice he has for aspiring artist. Don’t forget to like & share, enjoy!

“I’ve been an artist my whole life, I remember winning most artistic in 8th grade”

Interview

What inspired you?

So, you ask what inspires me? I could easily go into a rant, saying Picasso inspired me or Andy Warhol inspired me. Which they have of course. However, I wouldn't say that being a fan of their work and many other great artists' work, is the reason I chose art. I gain inspiration from almost anyone I meet. I'm fascinated with people. I love working with people and hearing their stories. Growing up I wasn't the smartest kid in class. I was never the best player on the team. I was however naturally talented at drawing. It felt good to be good at something and I never wanted to let that go. So, you ask what inspires me? I would say I'm inspired to use my art as a vehicle to connect with as many people as possible. The connection is my addiction. I'm inspired to connect with the world.

What advice do you have for the youth aspiring to be artists?

The advice I would have any aspiring artist, regardless of their age, would be to start. I have met so many talented artists who feel like they are not " ready." You will never be ready. I had no clue what I was doing when I started putting my work out there. I learned everything through trial and error. If you are a creator and you put your work out into the world and make at least one person happy, then you did your job. Don't get caught up in trying to blow up or make a million dollars. Learn to enjoy the process and most importantly don't be afraid to make mistakes along the way. The key is to learn from your mistakes and if you are really smart you will learn from the mistakes of others. Be consistent. Treat your passion like a job. Ask yourself everyday. Did I put in the 9-5 work ethic with my art today? Would I fire myself if I was my boss? Treat it like a job. Develop a daily routine. Go out and meet people who are doing what you want to be doing. When you eventually find those people who love what you do, make them your new best friend. Create a circle of positive influence. Youtube is your friend and can teach you almost everything. I could go on for days on what to do and what not to do. However you will learn that on your own, but only if you start.

Photography by Jamil Brown & Marrice Hill