Interview with artist Justin Thomasson
Justin Thomasson is a painter from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. A recent graduate of the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, Justin is an art teacher at Mills University Studies High School. in Little Rock. His art explores mythology, nature, and alternate realities with his unique perspective. More of Justin’s work can be at his Instagram and website.
AAS: Justin, tell me about your background. I believe you are from Pine Bluff?
JT: Yes, my hometown is Pine Bluff, Arkansas. My single mother raised my three brothers and me. My family currently consists of four people. I’m the second youngest then I have two older brothers. I've always tried to do what's best for my family, despite the obstacles I've faced. I chose to continue my education at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, after graduating from Pine Bluff High School. I recently earned my bachelor's degree in fine arts. Currently, I’m working as an art teacher at Mills High School. I'm also enrolled in an aviation course.
AAS: When did you discover your love of art and of creating art?
JT: Since I was five years old, I have always had a great passion for art. When I was little, I enjoyed watching animated television shows and short films, which inspired me to create my own. To express my love for cartoons, I then began creating my own images. People would often comment on my artwork, which encouraged me to create bigger, more striking pieces.
One of my first art instructors in high school was Mrs. Hymes, who taught me how to create art using colored pencils and other materials. She inspired me to continue exploring the possibilities of what I might create and aided me in reaching my artistic potential. Now I paint simply for the love of the craft and out of a desire to master it. My spirit has grown, and my identity is built on art.
AAS: I am wondering in what ways teaching art at Mills High and interacting with kids impacts your art practice.
JT: Teaching at Mills has influenced my work in several ways. Seeing how my kids react to my artwork makes me want to create more. Many of them have never seen work like mine done professionally. I like both educating kids and going to work. Being a teacher is a learning experience for me as well and I have certainly benefited from relearning techniques I used as a student so that I can teach them to my students. Patience is another crucial lesson I've acquired as a teacher. Recognizing that we are not all the same and having the patience to teach younger individuals, some of whom have shorter attention spans.
I've seen several occasions where learning is a virtue. I've realized as a teacher that I can relate to a wide spectrum of people and that many others can relate to me. Prior to starting my job as a teacher, I preferred to avoid large gatherings and regular socializing. Now that I have this opportunity to express myself to so many young people, I regard myself as a role model for my students. I feel they are more comfortable in my classroom because they can relate to me. I am careful to monitor how I conduct my class and try to keep it upbeat and fun. They actually like having me around and I have a lot of pupils that come to see me during lunch. I enjoy my job and it makes me feel good that so many of my students say I'm their favorite instructor. Even more important than that, several of my pupils are considering careers as teachers.
AAS: I want to ask you first about Geometric Tangle. It is a beautifully hypnotic image. What inspired you to paint it?
Geometric Tangle, 4’ x 3’, acrylic on panel
JT: A goal of mine is to make a work that excites the audience without using words or focusing on a certain theme. The geometric design was inspired by Hindu sacred geometry. This is spiritual geometry that imbues precise geometric shapes and proportions with spiritual and symbolic connotations. It is associated with the belief that the universal geometer was built by a heavenly entity. Blending aspects of warmth and coolness plus the use of complementary hues in the artwork creates a sense of movement to the observer.
AAS: In Natural Wrath, you morphed this perfect geometry into a vibrating chaos, an almost foreboding look into the natural world.
Natural Wrath, 20” x 16”, acrylic on canvas
Natural Grace, 20” x 16”, acrylic on canvas
JT: I particularly enjoyed painting Natural Wrath. It was entertaining. I'm not scared to include a large number of my favorite animals in a painting. It also feels good. Because the piece requires the observer to be open-minded and recognize that the world's elegance and beauty are balanced by a little turmoil, I had to approach it with greater chaos. For that reason, I painted Natural Grace to complement this painting.
AAS: You painted a very powerful piece called Righteous Soul 2. It is filled with spiritual and mythological imagery. Tell me about it.
Righteous Soul 2, 5’ x 4’, acrylic on board
JT: This is my favorite. It was recently acquired by the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas. As the model for this work, I am myself. It symbolizes the internal conflict that each of us is experiencing. Symbolizing our unmet potential and the heights we are capable of achieving in this world. Various themes are placed into the picture. The wings represent freedom, and their colors correspond to those of the Pan-African flag. Planets swirl around the young man's staff, which represents our almighty strength capable of supporting the weight of an entire solar system. The other hand raises the peace symbol to represent enlightenment and eternal peace. You will also notice the gold necklaces, which represent the riches and commitment of our family. He also possesses the tail of a black panther. The black panther symbolizes Christ, beauty, and strength.
AAS: Many of your paintings are filled with images of faraway lands and travel. I understand you are also attending flight school. Is there a connection there?
JT: Absolutely! I've always been fascinated by traveling across the world and seeing new places, and I've always wanted to visit an alternate dimension. I've always had a fascination for breathtakingly beautiful locations. Flying on a plane I see this all the time. I perceive the natural beauty of the entire earth. It truly is such a lovely world that we live in. When I'm on an airplane, I feel like I'm operating a spaceship, which may seem childish, but hey it’s fun. Space is a frequent subject for my paintings; it inspires a unique sensation in me and pushes my imagination to new heights. I think it also give me a perspective into how the world works and how the sun's light affects everything at the same time. It is undeniably a thrilling experience.
AAS: Cosmic Intellect is another painting that explores the relationships between man and nature. Tell me about it.
Cosmic Intellect, 5’ x 4’, acrylic on canvas
JT: Cosmic Intellect illustrates a man with many limbs and long, black and gray hair, demonstrating the multipotent potential contained in all living things, even animals. It also includes a range of animal species from the animal world, each with a distinct genome that signifies the diversity of life and the reality that, despite our differences, we are all related. The fruit symbolizes the knowledge tree, which is the product of the information that provides life a new interpretation or perspective.
AAS: Who are some of the artists you admire or are influenced by?
JT: Some artists that I admire or are heavily influenced by are David Choe, Kim Jung Gi, Henri Linton, Kehinde Wiley, Aaron Douglas, and John Biggers. These artists that had an impact on me created pieces that were exceedingly detailed. It's impossible to dispute that their work is engaging and amazing and I aspire to create art like that.
AAS: You have been very productive this year and just had a show at Historic Arkansas Museum with Markeith Woods and Rashawn Penister. What was that experience like?
JT: The art show at the Historical Arkansas Museum was terrific. I met several individuals who generously offered to share their experience and knowledge with me. Overall, it was a great experience and would do it again if given the chance. The curator, Carey Voss, asked us for a show after I completed some previous work with the other two artists, which is how the exhibit came about. The title, A Beautiful Struggle, was created after we all settled on a single term that best incorporated all of our labors. I am happy to say that I have an additional event coming up in Dallas, Texas on December 2nd.
I am grateful to Carey Voss for arranging the Historic Arkansas Museum show and inviting me to showcase my work. I'd also like to thank my mother for her encouragement and support in helping me realize my best potential. I'd like to acknowledge Mrs. Hymes again as well as Ms Holmes for sharing with me her high school art lessons. Both women have made me a better teacher. I also want to thank Mr. Henri Linton, former head of the art department at the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, for teaching me a variety of artistic approaches and giving me amazing possibilities to grow in the art world. I would also like to acknowledge Jimmy Cunningham for being a tremendous role model and guardian angel in my life, as well as James Horton. Lastly, I want to thank you, Philip, for considering me for your blog.
