Hey GRIMERS! We got on the real! w/ artist Jeff Locke

Briefly tell us about yourself and how you came to be involved in art?

The name’s Jeffrey Locke. I’m a Southern California boy, born and raised and, as an artist, I couldn’t be more fortunate to have the surroundings that I do. Art has always been something in my life. I’m an introvert and I think that expression has always flown more freely from me through art: written, sonically, and visually. I always say it’s my therapy—my reason to exist, really. I need art to maintain sanity. Without it, I am just all bottled up feeling.


At what point did you realize being an artist was something in which you had potential?

I realized that something greater could blossom from my art as soon as I saw how much joy and purpose comes from the creative process. Also, my friends and family have been huge in encouraging me to continue on and progress with my art. I’ve seen how much that encouragement can foster better things and I make it a point to encourage everybody in the creative field. It’s incredible what a nice word will do for somebody. That’s what is truly rad about communities like LA Grime. 

Who are some of your greatest inspirations?

It’s funny what/who inspires me. As far as people go, I am just going to shoot off a few names that come immediately to mind: Aubrey Beardsley, Harry Clarke, Dali, Vince Guaraldi, Jeff Soto, David Bowie, Klimt, Thoreau, Vonnegut, Jim Henson, Maurice Sendak, man-I-can-go-for-days-with-this. Something that really inspires me, though, is detachment. When I don’t have any tools to make any art at all, I suddenly have all of these ideas and want to make them happen more than anything. I can be driving somewhere and all of a sudden all of these ideas are flowing and that insane urge to run back into my room and get cracking won’t leave my head. The feeling of not being able to create makes me want to create even more. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, I suppose.

What motivates you to continue to create?

I have to create something all of the time just to escape boredom, a static mind. At this point, I realize art is something I need to do and if I can support myself (however meagerly) by it, that would be the dream. It is also motivating just to have people say they love a piece you have created out of nothing with two hands. There is nothing better.


Out of your pieces, what are some of your favorites? 

This new piece, “Mirela”, that I just finished is something I am digging a lot. It sort of incorporates a lot of elements of my style into one work. 


And what was it that you were trying to communicate when creating that particular work?

A lot of times I try to capture a “stream-of-consciousness,” surreal, dreamy quality in my work. I have a tendency to use female figures, too. With “Mirela,” I like to imagine she is a character from another galaxy altogether. Maybe another dream world. A warrior woman. I try to leave interpretation open, mainly. I’d rather people see what they want to see. Sometimes aesthetics just comes down to that initial draw to an object, not the “meaning.” I always put aesthetic appeal first. Some people might hate me for that, but hey, sometimes it’s just nice to look at something beautiful and leave it at that. It’s like when you pass by a beautiful woman and think, “Hey, that’s nice,” then you never see her again. It’s still pleasing even without knowing her background, her “meaning.” This might be why I resonate with the Art Nouveau movement. Art for art’s sake.


How would you like to describe to us your personal style?

Art Nouveau meets The Summer of Love.


Is there anything you’re currently working on that you would like to tell us about?

I have plans to work BIG this year. I want to do murals, huge panels, canvasses, etc. That’s my goal. It’s 2012; I’ll work big for the Mayans.

Click here to check out more of Jeff’s pieces