Christmas SPECIAL 2009 Interview of

Jasmine Becket-Griffith

& Matt Becket

For Peaceful Art Jewelry/Design LLC

CHRISTMAS WITH JASMINE

JASMINE'S QUESTIONS:

 1.)        First can you tell us a little of your family, your names and how you got them, your parents and siblings and where you came from.  Please also tell us if you have any animals in your family.

A:  My maiden name is Jasmine Griffith, my sisters are  Amber and Kachina.  I was named for the jasmine tea that my parents often drank at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco before I was born.  My sister Amber is named for the resinous stone amber, for jewelry that my great-grandmother had.  My sister Kachina was named for the Hopi Indian spirits (we have some Native heritage).  I was born in Kansas City and lived in Missouri until about 7 years ago, when I moved down to Florida where I now live in the city of Celebration.  The "Becket" in my name is from my husband/assistant, Matthew David Becket.  We currently have two cats - their names are Mama Wolf (a feral rescue Maine Coon cat who is rather wolfish!) and Tigrillo (a silver feral we recently rescued) - she is named for the beautiful but tiny wildcats that live down in Mexico - we'd recently seen some there while visiting and thought the name suited her!

 2.)            Jasmine we are going to start with you so could you please tell the readers where your dreams came from for starting to do art since you where young and how that progressed.

 A:  I've always been drawing, painting, colouring, scribbling, doing something.  When I was a little girl, (like 4 or 5) I used to draw pictures and go door-to-door trying to sell them to neighbors, usually of birds.  I had a book about the "Birds of Missouri" and drew a lot of robins. I suppose that was my first "professional" attempt.  My family had a lot of art books lying around the house and I had a lot of wonderful illustrated books (Grimm's Fairy Tales, Alice in Wonderland, etc.) and that left a big impression on me.  When I was about 12 years old I became interested in fantasy art specifically - I was very into Dungeons & Dragons and fantasy/scifi novels and was particularly enamored with the artwork and illustrations that went with it all.  It was around that time I began taking my art more seriously.  I'd won a lot of money in the National Spelling Bee and spent most of it on art supplies, books and videos about how to paint, etc.  I opened my website in 1997 when I was 17 or 18 and began showing my artwork online - and shortly thereafter I began selling it there and on other websites and venues as well.  By the time I was about 22 or 23 I was doing well enough to quit waitressing and do my art fulltime, and a couple of years later Matt was able to quit his day job to come work for me fulltime as my assistant!

 3.)        What is it in your young schooling or in your life that you remember that struck you when you knew you were an artist and what was it and when?

 A:  When I was in 3rd grade I did a lot of portraits of the other kids in class - pastels, coloured pencil, etc. - they would give me $5 or so.  One day the teacher came over and thought there was some sort of trouble or mischief going on when she saw that I was taking money from students, hehe (I had been doing it all very surreptitiously!).  I explained what I was up to, and showed her the portraits and then the next day she asked me if I'd do her portrait, and paid me $10!  Back then, that was a good chunk of cash for an 8 year old!  I think that was probably when I saw that people were often happy to pay money for original artwork that they enjoyed.  

 4.)        What was your first professional job as an artist of when you knew that you were going to proceed with doing art?

A:  I'm not sure really - it all happened seemingly so grass-roots and so gradually that there wasn't really a specific project.  I remember selling a painting one day for around $500 and realizing that was almost 2 weeks of my salary working at Dairy Queen and it striking me that I was much better off (financially and emotionally!) staying home and just painting.  It's a hard leap at first to take though, not having a regular paycheck.

PINK LIGHTENING

5.)        I know that you have told people many times where you went to school so can you please list it and also tell us what other areas of schooling or courses that you did that have helped with your career.

 A:  I just went to Kansas City public schools from when I was in kindergarten until I graduated.  I then went to the University of Kansas City in Missouri on a full scholarship to pursue physics and mathematics (science is another passion of mine).  Partway through though I'd began doing well with my art career and determined that I was already going to be making a living from that instead.  I figured I could always study science as a hobby (which I still very much enjoy) and switched majors to Art/Painting instead.  Unfortunately while the university had a great science program they didn't have a whole lot for studio artists - they did not even have a room on property for us to paint in at the school itself.  So I finished school with an Independent Study at home - basically painting whatever I wanted and bringing it up to school once or twice a semester for review.  Being self-taught though is really the best way that I learn, so all in all I think it worked out for the best!

 6.)            Jasmine as a acrylic painter can you tell us what it is in materials that you love to work with the best and if you could paint with anything if money was not involved what would be your mediums and your materials of best choice and why?

 A:  Hard to say really - I think that all mediums are fantastic and I see so many artists doing such beautiful and varied works with them all!  In my personal experience, I think that oil paints are the easiest to handle - they blend so darn easily!  However I went with acrylics and use them pretty much exclusively.  Acrylics are water-soluble and they dry quickly, which is important to me.  I do not like using toxic chemicals and I like being able to scan in paintings or even sell them the same day I complete them, I'm too impatient to sit and watch paint dry!  It's very humid down here in Florida too, and I think that makes oils take even longer, lol. 

 7.)            Jasmine please tell us how you came to understand business in self promotion as a artist and what it is that you learned along the way that has helped promote yourself?  Do you have a tip for other artists in this category?

 A:  I just basically came across it all as I went along.  I don't know really if I have much of a head for business, but I know what seems fair as a general rule, and am fairly literate when it comes to contracts and legalese which helps a lot.  I really love what I do, and love the paintings and characters I create and I think that my enthusiasm and honesty comes across whenever I have to "sell myself" or represent myself in any situation.  The biggest tip I can give is to ALWAYS remember to keep the art first and the business a distant second.  The art itself is what everything else stems from, and without a solid foundation there is nothing.  For the past 12 years (unless I am out of town, at a show, travelling, etc.) I have painted nearly every single day, many years I have even averaged painting at least one painting per day.  This means that I have forced myself through constant practice to improve my technical proficiency, which is very important.  It also means that I have a very large body of work that stays new and fresh and evolving which is essential as far as marketing goes.  For example if a company is looking to license images and you have 10 paintings to show them, they may not necessarily see one that strikes their eye.  But if you show them 1,500 paintings odds are they'll see something they like - not to mention see that you are very dedicated and have taken the time to craft your own individual style.

Loup Garou D Automne

8.) Do you do all your own book work and accounting and if not when did you decide to get help and what did you look for?

 A:  I sure do!  I have a strong foundation in mathematics and actually somewhat enjoy keeping track of all the numbers.  I am very exacting with my record-keeping and tax records.  I can't let myself forget that it is very much a business, not only my own livelihood but that of my employees as well.  I'm basically a control freak and it would be rough for me to turn anything like that over to somebody I didn't know.  I use Quicken and a couple of other small business software programs to keep track of everything.  Like a lot of other things, I just taught myself as I went along, reading books and consulting the government websites, etc.

 9.) Did you ever search for a licensing agent?  If so or not why?

 A:  No, I've always represented myself.  To be honest I never even thought about doing it any other way.  I don't think I really ever knew how or what licensing was before it slowly started happening to me and companies began approaching me.  I always represented myself and read the contracts and did all that, I didn't even realize that it was something that an artist would have somebody else do on their behalf.  Now I know a lot of artists work that way, which works well for them - so I suppose it's all up to personal preference and how much a person wants to be personally involved with that aspect of the art business.

 10.) What is the best thing a artist can do for themselves to keep themselves painting and in the mood to paint all the time?  Do you ever get stuck or what they call blocked for creativity?

 A:  I've never once had "artist block"!  Quite the opposite.  I am obsessive compulsive and one of my compulsions is painting.  I get struck with manias and hyper-active painting sessions which can last sometimes 20 hours a day.  Those who know me personally are well aware of it, and it does very much hinder my social life (or lack thereof).  At least it's somewhat constructive and brings joy to others, there are a lot worse roads that a disorder could take!  I've always had an overactive imagination, and I'm thankful to have a creative outlet that also provides income for my family.  One good tip I can give my fellow artists (other than developing a chemical imbalance!) is to always keep a notebook or sketchbook handy.  I do this and I write down ideas I have for future paintings - just a few words will remind me of the vision I had in my head for the painting.  This way I have a long list of paintings planned.  I have between 1,000-2,000 paintings written on that list right now, crossing off ones I've finished and adding new ones as I get struck with ideas!

11.) What was the most exciting thing that FIRST happened in your art career professionally that made you just shake?

 A: Gosh, let me think - maybe the last day I went to my waitressing job and came home.  I'd given my notice and knew that I was going to rely on my artwork for my income.  I thought to myself, "I am never going to sell hamburgers again.  All I am going to do for work the rest of my life is paint."  One of those "this is the first day of the rest of your life" sort of notions. 

Marie Masquerade 

 12.)  When and where was your first trip out of the country for you career?  Was it for subject matter or for marketing? 

A: I think the first time was probably the trip to France I did with Larry Elmore a few years back.  One of my long-time favourite artists (he was the artist who did a lot of the Dungeons & Dragons illustrations that inspired me as a kid!).  He held an artist retreat in Burgundy in an ancient castle/manor house, I and a handful of artists went with him and had a fantastic time sketching scenery, talking about art, doing photo shoots and figure studies, etc.  I've done a lot of  his other artist retreats since and always get very inspired!

 13.)  Do you go to other countries to promote your work or meet some of the companies or associates that license or buy your work?

 A: No not really - all that type of thing I typically just do over the phone or email, or the representatives come see me over here!

 14.) Does living close to Disney World help you with your creativity or inspiration?

 A: Most certainly, Walt Disney is one of my favourite artists and is a huge role model for me as a business person as well.  He's from Missouri like me and that always made me feel proud when I was a little girl, that a kid like me could maybe grow up and change the world with their vision.  We live in the town of Celebration, Florida which was designed and built by the Walt Disney Company and it is very aesthetically laid out.  I think being around such lovely architecture and nature here in town as well as of course the themeparks, etc. is very inspiring and provides a pleasant backdrop for being an artist.

 15.) If you could just spend 2 weeks doing painting in a environment somewhere in the world where would that be and why?

 A: Hehe - honestly?  Probably right here in my own house, with no interruptions!  I love being in "the zone" when I'm painting and not having to get interrupted with the mundane aspects of day-to-day life like eating, sleeping, paying bills, etc.  I would love to spend two solid weeks just painting right here.  My art desk is right alongside two big screened windows overlooking my backyard which is filled with plants, flowers, and animals.  I have banana trees and night blooming jasmine, bougainvillea, pineapples, citrus trees, hibiscus, all kinds of palm trees (including a date palm that literally pokes me in the arm through the window screen while I work!).  At any given time I can see dozens of lizards and frogs and butterflies and at night I get visited by armadillos, raccoons and possums.  I love where I paint and it's my favourite place to be.  Maybe that's a boring answer, but it's true!

Lute and Lyre

 16.) Do you buy and sell any of the pieces that other companies make to sell yourself?

 A: No, I don't buy any - there is just way too much stock to keep up with.  They always send me free samples and I often sell those when I do art shows or conventions.  There are literally thousands of different products with my artwork and there's no way I could inventory it myself.  It's all Matt & I can do to keep up with just the paintings & prints!

 17.) Can you please tell us some of your favorite products being made at the present time, the company and what it is and why?

A: Oh wow, that's REALLY hard to say.  So hard I don't know if I could come up with a good answer!  I guess I'd have to say that I'm really enjoying my lines with the Bradford Group - they make all of my figurines with Hamilton Collection, Disney stuff, dolls with Ashton-Drake and all sorts of collectibles of course through the Bradford Exchange.  They are so nice and easy to work with, very respectful of my artwork, and create such high quality products.  I also really love my figurines that Pacific Trading makes too - they are adorable and there are so many of them!  So I guess my answer would be my statues & figurines & dolls - all the 3-dimensional representations of my work.  Which is kind of funny, since of course I am a 2-dimensional artist (a painter).  I think it is because I spend so much time at my art desk, thinking about my paintings & characters as being "real" and trying to bring them over from my imagination onto the canvas.  So when I see them realized as figurines or statues it is like they came "to life" and are actual little critters!

 18.) How does a company approach you to do art for a line of products when they want it for something specific?  Do they leave that up to you or do they tell you what they are looking for?

 A: Almost always it goes like this - I get an email, letter, or phone call from somebody who works at a company that licenses art or artists for their merchandise.  They say something like "Hi, my name is XXX.  I work for XXX company, we make XXX products and sell them to stores like XXX.  We saw your website and are interested in licensing XXX images for XXX products.  Here's a copy of the contract, please let us know."  And that is pretty much it.  Simplified, but that's the gist of it.  I've never gone out looking for licensing, basically I just kinda sit there and paint (and put images online and art shows, etc.) and wait for folks to approach me if they are interested.  Usually a company finds me through my website, or maybe sees it in a magazine or online gallery, or perhaps at an art show.  Mostly my website.  Or lately, after I've already got a lot of merchandise out there they'll see my artwork on other merchandise and think it would work well for their line of merchandise and find me that way (such as "We saw your greeting cards at XXX store and though that your pictures would also look great on our t-shirts, would you be interested?").  It's almost always completely up to the company licensing the images which images they are interested in for which products.  Sometimes they'll inquire about which paintings of mine seem more popular than others, but mostly they just pick what they want and I sign the papers.

 19.) We ask everyone this Jasmine.  Please tell us how you feel about the earth and the environment and what effect you feel it has on the animals and children for their future.

 A: I feel very strongly about the earth and environmental issues.  It is one of my primary concerns.  I feel particularly strongly about animal issues, Matt and I are vegetarians and active in a lot of animal related causes.  I believe that many negative environmental impacts can be lessened by making just a few simple decisions on an individual basis and try to put thought behind my actions as such.  Obvious issues such as reducing ones carbon footprint, recycling, purchasing local goods and produce, etc. are a part of my life.  I try my best as an artist and business owner as well to make good decisions - I try to avoid toxic chemicals in my work, use a lot of recycled/reused products, and keep a nearly "paperless office".  When I do have any sort of hazardous materials I am always careful to make sure that they are properly disposed of and try to keep everything as "green" as possible!

Snow White and her Animal Friends

 20.) Do you see yourself painting forever?  Do you think that you would expand to a large company or do you just want to keep things in the way they are and in the family and why?

A: Absolutely.  I would not be happy if I were not painting, and plan to until I can no longer do it.  I've been teaching myself to paint with my left hand in case I ever lose or injure my right hand.  I would paint with my feet or my teeth if I had to, and I know people who have had to do it!  As far as the business goes - right now it's just me, Matt and my brother-in-law Chris working for it fulltime.  If we need more people I'd surely hit up family members first (for convenience and reliability!).  Since though we mostly just do the actual artwork and prints, bookkeeping, art shows, internet, etc. it doesn't require a lot of people.  All of the merchandise and licensing is of course handled by big companies that have lots of employees, and they are welcome to those aspects!!

21.) Last can you tell us why you feel it is important to put your work on EBay and other self uploading sales sites for a commission of the product sales and the difference between that and a website? 

www.strangeling.com  

Forward to Next Page for Matt's Interview