Meet Dontrell Jackson of arTrell in East of LA, San Bernardino

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dontrell Jackson.

Dontrell, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve been strictly painting for about three years now but I’ve always been into art from an early age. I always found myself doodling on the sides of my classwork in class from an early to my later high school day’s as well just always doodling. I played sports in high school (Fontana Summit High) and I really didn’t like how art was taught in class, with all the rules and regulations of art and I just didn’t like so I mainly focused on sports.

A lot of people didn’t know I was really into art until I went to college (Adams State University) where I studied Art and Mass Comm. Even at Adams, I still didn’t like the art classes so much and that’s nothing against the art professors there, I just really didn’t like the so called rules of art, it put my creativity in a box I feel. After college, I went straight to working warehouse jobs as that was the only jobs hire fastback in my hometown. Work and meeting other great artists that I worked with, we would constantly tell each other, “we shouldn’t be here” or “why aren’t we creating right now instead of moving boxes” we would be joking around but serious at the same with conversations like that. Taking a leap of faith, I no longer work warehouse jobs and I have committed full time to my art and that’s painting. Its a nice journey going so far, I’ve been in many community events like this SB Food Fest, Misfit Market and Panana Night Market, The Breezeway and etc. I’ve also done some live painting at The Study in Hollywood and the Adults Only Bar off Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth ride. I’ve been living off of paint sales only and it is hard at times but I have a great support system with my family being around and management team (UhMillionMGMT). I have always been in a bit of a hard situation just growing up with my mom being a single mother raising three kids but she always working multiple jobs to make way for us and not really being able to get art supplies because it was already little extra with me playing sports and my siblings playing sports but did her best and made sure the things that we needed we got and provided shelter for us always and that’s what drives me to paint more now because I know my art will able me to provide one and I’ll be able to pay her back for everything.

Please tell us more about your art.
I’m artist, I mainly paint but you never know what I may do next, I’m not afraid to venture out. I paint using acrylic on canvas mostly and I also do custom leather jackets and custom shoes and I been requested to do a couple of indoor murals so that will be coming up. I mainly specialize in contemporary and expressionism feels so most of the favorite work is always a one of a kind something special always. I know for my unique style, I’m always bringing something crazy or odd or I would like to say just “thinking” art. I want you to stop and look and then look and think the second glances, pause peoples steps is what I try to do. I’m most proud of me just hanging in there and continuing my art journey even when the times get really rough with low or even no sales and sticking to creating art and believing and trusting that one day I will a successful artist and will be able to give back and provide opportunities.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Honestly, having the opportunity to be featured in Voyage LA Magazine is probably one of the proudest moments in my art career, I’ve seen so many creatures come have a lot of success after being featured in Voyage. I really think y’all are doing something great with the Inspiring Stories Series and just reading a lot of the stories it really is inspiring, I appreciate Voyage seriously thank you.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 909-667-6878
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/artrelluhmillion
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artrelluhmill/

Image Credit:
@jhowardphotos, @robertswappphotography, @yriarte_photography, @issa_cahlik

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