Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesse Clark.
Hi Jesse, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Because we have spoken before in 2019, I’ll keep this brief. My name is Jesse Clark, and I am a multi-disciplinary artist and makeup artist. Raised in the suburbs of San Diego, I’ve been located in Los Angeles for 4 years now.
I’ve been making art my whole life and it continues to be a way for me to share with my community and as an outlet for emotional processing. I’m not dedicated to any one medium, but I typically work in the realm of portraiture, installation, video, animation, and performance. I’m more concerned with ideas and how to bring them into the world in the most exciting way. Art for me is a process of sublimation – where difficult emotions are transformed into an acceptable or productive outlet.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Last time we spoke I did not rely on art or creative work to pay my bills at all. That’s changed now. I freelance as a makeup artist for a portion of my income and the ups and downs of the nature of freelance work is something I’m still becoming comfortable with. But it’s worth it to place trust in yourself and your ability and have more control over what you spend your time doing.
Making art is a vulnerable thing and most artists can be sensitive about what they make. The more deeply you trust yourself in your making and the more visible you become, the more naked you can feel being viewed by the spectators of your work. I’ve had many moments of artistic rejection and doubt when my ideas for exhibitions are shot down or when I’m competing in the ballroom scene and get eliminated for example. You just have to keep going and prove your conviction.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
For me, art is a social experience and I always exhibit my work with this in mind. For example, as a video artist, once a work is completed I never premier the work on its own. Instead, I try and organize an event to show the video and pair my work with other pieces by myself or other artists, cooks, performers, creatives, etc. in my community. This creates contrast and dialogue between the works and makes sure that the experience is something a viewer can only experience that night in person. I use this tactic when displaying other works like sculptures, prints, and performance pieces as well. So, curation becomes a big part of my practice along with making the art itself.
I’m also known for my work as makeup artist and my many makeup transformations which I pour a lot of heart and soul into. I pride myself on my range of styles – anywhere from classic beauty to drag to abstract illustrative makeup. To have an image of yourself or someone else and be able to bring it into reality is such a powerful feeling and I love how it can really transform how you feel. It may sound vain but shifting your appearance can really let you channel a confidence or access emotions that lay dormant in us all. It really excites me to coax those feelings out into the world.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Comparison is the thief of joy. Just stay in your own lane – if you are persistent enough people will see your vision eventually. We live in an age where simplicity and digestibility is rewarded but we are all much more nuanced than the world wants us to be. Don’t simplify yourself for others.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://jesseclark.us/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesse.mobile/
Image Credits
Tristan Kallas
Miwah Lee
Jesse Clark
