Today we’d like to introduce you to Jared Schwartz.
Hi Jared, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been drawing throughout my life, but I owe my current trajectory very largely to my Mom, who encouraged me to bring my activist posters to the Women’s March in L.A. a few years ago. I had been studying film production, but seeing how many eyes lit up upon seeing my illustrations got me to switch from 24-frames-per-second art to one-frame-forever art.
Now I do signage for a popular high-end grocery store chain, and my artwork is in several galleries and shops throughout Los Angeles!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s smoother than I expected, but the road is still rocky quite often. Despite my being lucky enough to find a full-time job in the arts, trouble always finds a way to pop up, whether it be difficult managers, setbacks on projects I’m pursuing, or of course, the rejections that so often populate the lives of people in the arts. They’re all worth it because those problems form the ground level that the successes are built on top of.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a sign artist for a popular high-end grocery store and a gallery artist as well. I’ve been lucky enough to have been published a few times for my writing and for my drawing, but I think I’m most proud of my political cartoons. At the core of my doing is the hope that I can help the world be better, just via successful communication to others. My political cartoons allow me to do that.
That pride extends to many of the places my artwork can be found like a shop I love in Long Beach called Page Against the Machine. The pride I have when I see my artwork near such revolutionary books as are housed there is similar to what I feel knowing that some of my protest posters are archived in The Center for the Study of Political Graphics. Connectedly to that spirit, though not as pointedly politically focused, I’m proud that my artwork has sold multiple times in CASA LA’s Art+Wine show, which benefits L.A.’s foster youth.
What matters most to you?
At this moment? Improvement. Annoyingly, many in the world stand up against the improvement of anything, but at least I can improve myself as constantly as I see fit to whenever I get the chance. And maybe those self-improvements can even sometimes improve the world around us too, what with getting involved in communities and whatnot.
Contact Info:
- Website: JaredsArt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jareds_sketches_new/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-schwartz-4082561b3
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jaredsketches
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq7Q4olqsSZ4QNuYdcV291w
- Other: https://www.redbubble.com/people/JaredsArtPrints/shop
Image Credits
All photos and illustrations created by Jared Schwartz.
