Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeremy Leasure.
Jeremy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My family has many visual artists and musicians in it, and so growing up I was actively encouraged to nurture those tendencies that I had to create. I was quite obsessed with cartoons and comics as a young person, and I’d find myself always drawing little doodles or painting things inspired by the media that I was taking in during that era.
Eventually, when I was in high school, I started playing music and became very entrenched in the D.I.Y. arts and music scenes of LA and Orange County. Seeing all of those creative people hustling to get their projects a platform from which others could experience their work was very influential on me. There was a sense of empowerment that even I could create the spaces I needed for my art to be shared.
I’m still so incredibly thankful to LA institutions like The Smell and Pehrspace which welcomed and encouraged me as a young artist. During that time, I decided to get a BFA in Drawing & Painting from Cal State University Fullerton. I realized I wanted a degree but had no desire to do so in any other subjects. Which is still funny to me, considering I had no idea what one could really do with an art degree once they had it. In the years since I have worked at creating a body of work that is an extension of my daily life.
This constant flow of work has allowed me to show in over 20 curated solo and group shows throughout California as well as create a consistent stream of commission pieces for many musicians, events, and businesses. Other endeavors have included teaching photography, ceramics, and graphic design in the Orange County public school system and now presently working for the Museum of Contemporary Art in Downtown 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?
I’m not entirely sure what a smooth road would look like, to be honest. There are always ways that my various pursuits could flow better or more opportunities could be thrown my way, but I try not to think too hard on those matters. My main focus has always been my artistic practice. Specifically, how I can consistently be creating the best art that I am capable of. The art is ultimately the reason I am where I’m at. So regardless of whatever external circumstances or pressures I experience in life, my enjoyment still comes from the creation process.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
Over the years, my practice has consisted of doing commissioned work. Some of the projects have included album packaging, book covers, children’s book illustrations, event promotions, portraits, product packaging, and more.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Consistency. Constantly creating has been essential to any sort of success that I’ve found.
By forming daily and weekly habits I’ve created ways that the arts are an everyday part of my life. There is not a single day that goes by where I’m not working on at least one of my various creative pursuits.
As a result, I’m constantly exploring and refining concepts which has lead to a large and (hopefully) varied body of work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jeremyleasureart.com/
- Phone: 714-307-8393
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyleasureart
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