This month’s artist spotlight features photographer and illustrator, Jason Covert.

Artist Name: Jason Covert
Website: http://www.jasoncovert.com/

How would you describe your artwork, and what are you expressing through it?

On the surface my artwork is varied in both message and medium, but deep within one will find a core that speaks to our culture's obsession with "the other."

From Warhol's early 60's fetishized Death and Disaster series to today's non-stop glut of reality tv programming we have embraced our "everyone love's a trainwreck" mentality with open arms. Seemingly it is better to look into the lives, loves and failings of someone else, someone other, than it is to look within. Traces of this can be found in every aspect of our society from our entertainment to our academic pursuits. My work serves as a lens through which the viewer's attention is focused on a subject of my choosing, but rather than scold I seek to serve by providing the viewer with that which I believe they desire, even if they don't yet know they want it.

What medium(s) do you work in?

Though I consider myself competent in a variety of mediums, I always come back to illustration and photography. For me they're often the most effective.

What inspires you?

Like many, I'm inspired by the things that surround us on a day to day basis, but the short list looks something like this: I'm inspired by eternal optimists, by the seemingly meaningless occurrences that only make sense days or weeks later, by those that dig deep and move forward no matter how little progress they seem to make, by the morning sun on my face after a week of rain, by unspoiled nature, by the sound of waves lapping on a quiet beach, and as corny as it may sound, I'm inspired by the thought that success (as I've defined it) could be around the very next corner.

What kind of artistic training do you have, if any?

I initially attended university with the intention of acquiring a degree in the sciences, but ended up with a bachelor of fine arts (go figure.) My undergraduate areas of focus were in illustration and painting, and though a great deal of my current work manifests as photography, I am entirely self-taught within that medium. I plan to continue my studies in the next year or so by pursuing a graduate degree in the arts.

Who are your heroes (artistically and/or otherwise)?

Stylistically I marvel at the work of Klimt, Schiele, Mucha, Durer, Ron Mueck and Hans Holbein the Younger. For the historical significance of their contributions I look up to Picasso, Dali, DuBuffet and Boccioni. For their reinventing the art game I applaud Warhol, Koons and Hirst (via Saatchi really.

Where do you work?

I work both at home and at my studio in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, which is provided by chashama.

How does your city/community affect your work and process?

Until very recently my work was almost entirely devoid of inspiration from my location and community, other than to say it inspired me to look elsewhere. My most recent body of work, however, is inspired almost entirely by the city in which I live (New York) and stands as a good example of the fact that though artists will often have recurring themes or motifs in their work, there are always avenues for discovery, inspiration and exploration. Come to think of it - retreating to your earlier question - this very fact inspires me.

How is your art influenced by your physical workspace?

Quite simply actually: the larger the space in which I am allowed to work, the larger the ideas I gestate. While working at home, at my small drawing table where the ceilings are low and the space somewhat cramped, I find my work tends to the extreme in terms of density and detail. When sitting in my larger studio with high ceilings and a sense of echoing space the work grows in both size and scope.

How did you hear about chashama?

A few years back, while working with another organization to bring a project to life, their liaison suggested I apply for a residency program that took place in upstate New York - it was chashama's chaNorth Residency Program. I had never been a part of a residency before and was skeptical, but with a small amount of prodding I sent my application into the ether. It was relatively close to where I lived (2.5 hours) and took place in a country setting that focused on organic foods, which was something I was making a priority in my life. Happily I was accepted into the program and to this day it stands as a constant reminder that in the art world it is difficult to guess how your best connections will be made.

Have you worked any side jobs to support your art? If so, tell us about them.

Over the years I've worked many, many jobs in order to make ends meet, but most recently I've done graphic design work in order to support my artistic endeavors. For the past two years, however, I've had the great fortune of being able to work almost exclusively on my fine art, with only a few cherry picked design jobs on the side.

Where are you from originally, and what lead you to your current city?

I was born on the Massachusetts peninsula known as Cape Cod between a harbor and a marsh. I currently live in Brooklyn, NY by way of Connecticut, Boston, Portugal and San Francisco - and like any good story I originally came to NY for a girl.

If you live in NYC, do you like it? If so, why? What's special about NYC?

I love this city - there really is nothing else quite like it in the world - it's unique: the people, the neighborhoods, the food and the seemingly endless parade of opportunities presented.

Do you have a website that we can link to? If so, please provide the address.

www.jasoncovert.com

What are some things you do to recharge? Are there any places you go? (Yoga, bars, parks, etc.)

I love to travel: it provides me with a sense of relaxation and distraction that often lets the parts of my creative side quelled by day-to-day minutiae rise to the surface. When sitting on the beach or exploring a small town in a distant country new ideas percolate and I'm able to view the world around me through a different lens. Obviously, one can't travel all of the time for when would you make your work (speaking as a studio artist). For those times when I need to recharge but can't get away I'll often find myself in a coffee shop in the middle of the day, or less frequently, in a museum.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face personally in persevering with your art?

Given the current state of the world economy I suspect that no one will be surprised to read that the greatest challenge I face in persevering with my art is money: sales, for an emerging artist can be difficult to secure at best, but the past few years have shown that people are less likely to take a risk with their hard earned cash. I can't blame them - it's my job to convince them. As an emerging artist, having only been working intently on my body of work for 3 years, it can be a frustrating process to break into the world of fine arts - it is both insular and nepotistic. And though it may rankle when I encounter the oft repeated mantra "it is who you know and not what you do", I must remind myself that I create my work because I must and have faith in the fact that reward and success comes to those who persevere and strive both professionally and creatively.