Today we’d like to introduce you to Joey Feldman.
Joey, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started tracing from the book “son of origins of marvel comics” that my father bought me when I was 8 yrs. old. I then became obsessed with drawing and doodling. All through Jr. and Sr. high school I drew all over my notebooks. I was terrible in school. Failed almost everything including art. Just had no interest in learning what so ever. I hated it. I then got into drugs and started working at tower records in Philadelphia doing in store design and displays. It was there my boss said that my work reminded him of illustrator Ralph Steadman. Once I saw Ralphs work I was obsessed, there was no internet so I had to hunt his stuff down at used bookstores. Then in 2000 I flew to Colorado and met Ralph. To say that was inspiring is an understatement. I have had contact a friendship with him since then. I just saw him at his retrospective in DC. I became a “professional” illustrator when the OJ Simpson verdict was announced. I did my first published piece and haven’t stopped working since then. I’ve worked on editorial illustrations, ad campaigns, etc. today I work on band print/posters, book covers and a soon to be published children’s book. I sell prints of my art through bottleneck gallery in NY and original and printed pieces through Gabba gallery here in LA.
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?
Definitely not a smooth road. Finances can be a problem when you want to live your life as a living/working artist. In the beginning and middle I have always had a full or part time job -because I needed to pay the rent and survive. I have never stopped drawing. there have been times where I have had bouts of depression, or now with the internet comparing my insides to others Instagram profiles can really do wonders to my self-esteem so I don’t engage in social media that much. But I’m grateful for all the times- good and bad. Especially the bad time, I never ever want to forget where I came from.
Joey Feldman Artist – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am an artist/illustrator. I provide images for various mediums and products. I paint everyday and I sometimes never know what I’m going to create unless it’s a particular assignment from a client. I have a very loose, spontaneous pen and ink conventional style. I don’t do digital. I like the art o be raw and work with mistakes so no pencils with erasers and control Z keys allowed! I think I’m most proud of myself for never giving up and realizing that there is plenty of abundance out there for everyone to follow their dreams. Today I get to do what I love so it’s not a job.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
There have been so many but I’d have to say when someone asks me what I do for a living and I can look them in the eye and say “I’m an artist”.
Contact Info:
- Website: store.joeyfeldman.com
- Email: joey@joeyfeldman.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/joeyfeldman_artist
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/joeyfeldmanartcollectors
- Twitter: twitter.com/@joeyfeldman
Image Credit:
Portrait by Ben Blair
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