Today we’d like to introduce you to Jose Perez
Hi Jose , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I don’t know anything but art. My journey started as a youth growing up in NY. The crack epidemic hit my neighborhood hard, and people turned into zombies before my eyes. My father had significant struggles with drugs, and my mother was doing her best to hold down a household with 5 kids and no income, despite her significant mental health issues. Our home was in a mixed/ industrial area adjacent to the projects.
There were very few programs to assist families in my neighborhood. They just left us to figure it all out. We did have a food program where i could wait in line and get lunch and dinner, and there was a free art program at the community center in the projects.
Those programs were everything safe and stable in my life.
I rode my bike to the drawing class every Wednesday at 7pm, Rain or shine, I am on the autism spectrum, and I didn’t understand that people had holidays, so i was always there waiting regardless.
I learned the basics of art. Composition, color theory, perspective, shading.
When i wasn’t at the art class, i was writing on walls and anything else i could find. I learned that the best graffiti had the same elements: Composition, Color, perspective, shading, It was all the same.
My art teacher gave me some stick charcoal and newsprint to practice on.
i rode my bike to the local library and would get discarded magazines. I spent endless hours duplicating the images in the magazines with my charcoal. I would also ride my bike to art galleries to see how other people did it. When i was allowed in the gallery, I would write down the names of the artists i admired and hand write them letters asking them about their process.
My art teacher took some of my work and brought it back to the nonprofit program she was employed with.
When i was 15, i was blessed with a scholarship to work under artist Joseph Mack.
Unfortunately, I was only able to attend a handful of classes before my family was forced to move out of state due to safety reasons resulting from my fathers addiction.
I received no other formal training, but I’ve been drawing and painting my entire life.
As a single father raising 2 daughters, art was always my 2nd job. I would do some commissions every month, or sell some oil paintings to help pay the mortgage and bills.
My children are grown now, so I;m able to pursue my art full time,
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Everything good starts as a struggle.
My mind works in pictures. There is no separating me from my art. Ive lost relationships and many connections because of my single minded nature, I paint and draw in my sleep.
Not painting and drawing is not an option for me. There have been many times when I chose art supplies over food for myself.
For most of my life people have looked down there noses at me and my art. I cant tell you how many times i was told to give it up and get a degree, so I can work in an office somewhere.
I learned everything on my own, through trial and error. I couldn’t afford canvas so i painted newspapers with latex house paint, When it dried, i would sand the surface with fine grit sandpaper and use that as my painting surface.
I don’t understand how someone can go to school to “become” an artist,
You can learn skills from college, but an artist is born from a struggle.
The more you struggle, the more your art speaks,
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I think of myself as an urban artist. Because I learned the basics, I.ve been able to sell work professionally in oils, acrylics, charcoal, pastel. watercolors and airbrush.
The last 10 years or so I have been focusing on my oil paintings, and have had some success with their sales. About a year ago, i became frustrated with myself because I felt like my drawing skills were lacking. Since that time, Ive worked hard to master watercolor sketching in live environments.
I’m known as an urban artist.
I find no joy in painting landscapes. They have an eternal pose, and the only challenge is duplicating the beauty before me,
The real challenge lies in taking an image that people would normally actively avoid, or at least ignore. Finding the beauty in the moment; in ALL moments is my challenge today.
By painting these scenes, I;m helping people find the beauty in the moments of OTHERS.
Thats how you heal the world.
I’ve become extremely occupied with the relationships we have with our manmade environments, Especially within our wonderful city.
My latest project involves exploring corner bars, coffee shops and breweries of Baltimore. I bring all of my art supplies with me , sit at the counter or the bar, and document these perfect moments.
Places where regular people go for no special reason, These are the beautiful parts of the week that we overlook for the weekend.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My two daughters have always been my support system.
I just remember when they were young, and i was trying to figure out how i was going to pay bills.
Or dealing with some other household issues.
If i went too long without painting, my daughters would come to me and remind me that I needed to do more art. My children grew up with my studio in the living room.
I’m still in touch with my high school art teacher, Karen Barrett. and I credit her with teaching me what i needed to be a successful artist.
My brother , Antonio , who has always encouraged me to keep going.
When you have people who truly care. You can’t give up. That means all of their efforts in supporting me were wasted. and that’s no way to treat people who care about you .
I believe that art should be accessible to all. Nobody should have to struggle to obtain art. I currently sell original art from $50 for my 6×8 watercolors, to $2000 for large oil paintings and commissions.
Pricing:
- 6X8 candid Watercolor sketches. Created on site: no prints $50
- 8.5X11 watercolors $100-$150
- oil on panel, 8X10 – 16X20. $300-$600
- oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas 24X30 $1100
- 3’x4′ original oils on Gallery Wrapped Canvas, $2500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alljose.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alljoseallday/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alljose/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@alljoseallday
