Instagram is an interesting social network. The only other one I’m aware of that offers the branching out found in “ig” is Pinterest. Facebook and Twitter don’t easily allow a user to get much of a look into who the person they are following is. But Instagram does and it really builds an actual network. It was thanks to the street artists I follow directly that I found Jimmy C also known as Jimmy Cochran. Someone had “liked” a photo he’d posted of the portrait he painted on 5 Pointz Aerosol Art Museum. It was one of many paintings that captured my son’s and my attention while doing our photojournal of the property. Jimmy creates portraits using a very unique style he calls “drip painting” — single sprayed dots that drip down. Upon following Jimmy C on Instagram, I contacted him for an interview which he quickly agreed to.
[hr color=”light-grey” width=”100″ border_width=”50″ ]Are you a native New Yorker?
No, I was born in the UK, then moved to Australia and there for most of my life, but am now back living in London.
What was your first art and how old were you when you started creating in it?
It is difficult to say because we are always creating and playing when we are children, but perhaps my first resolved pieces were during the high school art classes, then later on the street when I was involved in the graffiti scene.
If not painting, when did you discover your talent with a spray can?
This came about during my adolescence and through the connection to the graffiti scene. It took a while to develop the skills and technique, and 20 years later, here I am still working with the spray can.
How did you develop the “single squirt” method?
I first started experimenting with dots back in 2004 and I had an exhibition that I titled the Aerosol Pointillist series. This developed into what I called the Drip Paintings, which is a technique that I use often when painting on the street — images made out of dripping dots.
Are your portraits of people you know or faces of your creation?
A bit of both, but more often from people I know or have met.
Are you strictly “street” or have you also done any gallery shows?
I have a balance between working in the studio and painting on the street, and some of the work I do in the studio will end up being exhibited in a gallery.
Most other artists I know create in more than one medium. What other mediums to you work in?
I used to work with oil paint also, but almost of my work now is done with the spray can on both walls and canvas.
[hr color=”light-grey” width=”100″ border_width=”50″ ]Jimmy C on the web:
http://www.akajimmyc.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/akajimmyc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jimmyc.artwork
Instagram: http://instagram.com/akajimmyc
— Kathy Creighton | @Mama_Kath
