Jason Grace

Year of birth: 1998.
Where do you live: Greenhills college.
Describe your art in three words: Thought provoking, abstract.
Your discipline: My discipline is if you feel it paint it.
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Your art is deeply influenced by your personal experiences growing up and your connection to emotions. Can you talk about how your past challenges, such as bullying, shape your creative process?

There was a piece I did recently called “chaos theory” I remembered being in school and it was chaotic energy I harnessed that energy into the painting! 

When my classmate died it just exploded onto the canvas!

As someone on the autism spectrum, how do you feel your unique perspective influences your work and the way you connect with the audience?

What i like about connecting to an audience member is to see what they see. As a person on spectrum i like to make sure the audience relates to the piece! One piece I just did recently called “all eyes on me” it helped me understand how the viewer sees art in a different way I’m still working on this piece! 

Could you explain more about the role of emotion in your work? How do you express emotions through abstract painting and charcoal drawing?

As an artist it’s important to express yourself in your paintings or charcoal work I find it very important! 

I remembered one time in art school my teacher told me that it’s important to express how you feel and it stuck with me! The way artists can express it’s quite powerful! 

How I express is how I feel regarding my artwork it sticks like glue and I’m quite proud of my work as an artist.

How does your experience with being part of the deaf community inform your art and your approach to communication in your work?

Ohh that’s a tough one as I love deaf community, when I was a kid I remembered my sister teaching me sign language and I didn’t understand it at the time but how I felt later on in my life was it was a powerful tool!!! I give all my thanks to my big sister Isabella! 

You’ve mentioned that your project aims to show the world how powerful our emotions are. How do you think art can help people better understand and express their emotions?

Yes 1000% sometimes whenever we’re confused in life it’s good to express your emotions one way or another! I remembered my art teacher in secondary school pointing me out in front of everyone and said” you can’t make it as an artist” I’ve clearly proven him wrong! 

What does your experience being signed with Connection Arts mean for your artistic career? How has this partnership influenced your work?

Yes, I love everyone in connection arts every time I created something new there always someone supporting me. Im extremely proud to be signed by them they helped me understand my craft! My mentor has helped me as well. We’re just a supportive bunch I love them all! Without my mentor I wouldn’t be here today! It has definitely helped my artistic career! 

What do you hope viewers take away from your pieces? What kind of emotional reaction do you want to evoke?

I want the viewer to see what I see it’s a very tough thing to do! I’m proud of my work! It sometimes tough as we see the world differently and it’s not all black and white sometimes we need a bit of colour to brighten our day.