Rising Stars: Meet John T Steiny of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to John T Steiny.

Hi John T, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am born and raised in Los Angeles many, many years ago. I Am, I would say,
predominantly known for illustration work, which has appeared in various formats throughout the world. My work has been featured in gallery shows, in published books for both children and adults. I have illustrated album covers and a myriad of publications including The Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Forbes, American Airlines, Smart Money, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, Movieline, LA Weekly, Los Angeles Magazine, Shoot and film and video. My client list has included Sony Records, Virgin Records, Warner Brothers Records, Capitol Records, UCLA, St. Martin’s Press, Rock the Vote, Jim Henson Productions, Saban Entertainment and Klasky Csupo. I had line of children’s shirts at FAO Schwartz and a greeting card line sold in shops across the country.

I work in a variety of mediums including paintings, comics, cartoons and illustrated books, but I am most recently proud of the street art that I do. which includes art leave behinds in markets, museums, Pharmacies, galleries, other art shows. a part of these events is to have people go and pick the art up from a variety of locations for free.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Well, when one is starting out there is never enough. At least thats what we tell ourselves in order to keep us available and to help us continue to make some art and money. I have been very lucky in the sense that I have always been able to keep just above the surface with the help of a constant hustle and maintaining connections. The hustle or the reminder that one is still available for hire can be a beautiful art making event in itself. So when things feel sluggish it can cause one to be more inventive with their hustle approach, producing very inventive ways to be noticed. I believe that this is where some my best ideas come from.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work as of late is very self indulgent. It is self absorbed in the sense that it has no parameters subject wise. I’m trying as hard as I can to produced visuals that cause us to question not only what the literal image is, but what all of it is trying to tell anyone. The paintings and ideas are loose and what might be seen as messy, but the intent is not to have boundaries. What I am most proud of is still continuing so the work I make on a day to day basis is still interesting to me and therefore always the best.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I do get lost in the available media. I love to see filmed life from a multitude of perspectives. I am continually in awe of how others live this life. I easily get lost on line just jumping from topic to topic.I teach school and I like to share my thoughts about particular events. Everything from politics to how to repair a hose and because I teach school these events that I roll though on line cause me to think of them in terms of illustration and art making and idea generating.
I don’t go to any one place or use any one app. I am all over the place. I post a lot on line using mostly instagram and tiktoc and facebook. I buy and read many Graphic novels.

Pricing:

• I have a new book out $50.00
• I have many things for sale on my website jt-steiny.com

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jt-steiny.com
• Instagram: jtsteiny
• Facebook: jtsteiny
• Twitter: NO
• Other: tik toc – jtsteiny

Image Credits
J. T. Steiny