February James

Photo Courtesy Of February James

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND RAISED AND WHERE TO DO YOU PRESENTLY LIVE?
I was born in Raleigh North Carolina. Raised in Washington D.C. Currently live in Los Angeles, California.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR CURRENT CITY OR HOMETOWN?
The best thing about my hometown is the (Go-Go) music, the Mumbo Sauce and My People. I have such a great sense of pride in saying I’m from Washington D.C., It’s a magic I just can’t explain. The things I really have grown to appreciate about living in Los Angeles, hands down, the weather, I can drive all over the state of California to experience a different scenic flow and creatively I feel at my best here.

WHAT WERE YOUR ASPIRATIONS GROWING UP?
From the age of five until maybe middle school I aspired to be a scientist. I had all the books and tools relating to science, observation and discovery. With age and more life experience that desire turned into wanting to attain a career in psychology. I’ve always had this very inquisitive nature to know and try to understand the inner workings things. I really enjoy moments that are filled with learning about things in their natural state and unearthing moments.

WHAT HAS BEEN A PIVOTAL MOMENT?
In what? Life? My career?

WHY ART?
Art has always been a part of my environment, my culture and my family. I was always drawing as a kid. While I was working as a make-up artist my sketchbook was apart of my kit. It wasn't until after I ended my career in make-up, the birth of my son and losing my mother, did I really pay attention to art's place in my life. That's a part of lessening the noise or the static of life. With all of these endings and newness it became the cradle of comfort for me.

WHAT’S YOUR BACKGROUND TRAINING?
I'm an artist. I did not have any formal training to call myself an artist. I did not go to any technical school for artistry. I did not enroll, start or partially complete any graduate or post graduate programs for art. I did not attend schools that had any comprehensive art classes. That said, I don't think schools can teach one how to "Become an artist"... I think we just exist. To be at this place in my career I can clearly see how vital some training/schooling would’ve been and can be to me as an artist. All of us are artist in some way. I'm starting to question that term "Self-taught". What does that really mean? Since i came out of the womb I've been learning from my environment. Since I've held a pen or a pencil I've been creating. My art is effected and a direct reflection of my life and times that I experience. We are all born with this innate ability to create. If you never, ever picked up a colored pencil but you can always find your keys, your place is spotless and your sofa cushions are always fluffed… you create order. There’s a gift there. It’s just learning how to allow this talent you have to spill outside of your immediate controlled environment.

WHAT'S FUNDAMENTAL TO THE WORK OF AN ARTIST?
That’s a tough one. Everyone is different, therefore their needs are different. What’s fundamental to my process is discernment, discipline and focus. Pushing against fear is the biggest thing that pops into my head. Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of being unknown. Fear of not having a clue sometimes. You have to push against a lot of fear. There will be peaks and valleys and places where what’s been familiar becomes vacant and unknown. You have to push against that. Learn to use that, everything is source material.

WHAT THEMES DO YOU PURSUE?
I don’t pursue any themes.

WHAT'S YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS AND PREFERRED MEDIUM TO WORK WITH?
My creative process involves a lot of music and cinema. A lot of biopics and documentaries. Things vibrant with emotion. A good range of emotion. The medium depends on my mood honestly. Some days I am really longing for powered graphite, other days watercolor.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU ON A DAY TO DAY?
Everything I encounter.

WHAT DO YOU GET UP TO WHEN YOU’RE NOT WORKING?
Think about working again... I like to laugh a lot. I hang out with my kid and try to pretend I’m the same age as him - try to rediscover some things.

HOW DO YOU UNWIND?
I live in California.