Apsara Gurung

After what seemed to be like a never-ending episode of struggling and technical difficulties (my fault), I was finally able to sit down and have a video chat with Jacob Thomas. Based in New York, Thomas is the mastermind behind the satirical portraits of the common enemy, Donald Trump. In the hopes of further tarnishing Trumps’ already shitty image as a political figure, Thomas has created a whole collection dedicated to the goon, highlighting the focal point: his sphincter-esque mouth. His artwork is currently being showcased in Galerie F, located in Chicago along with over ten exhibitions spreading across major cities such as New York and Alhambra, California.

 

You originally wanted to be a graphics designer – what made you take the artist route?

 

Well, I took graphics design - I really wanted to become an illustrator but I just took the graphics designer route because I wasn’t confident enough that I could do that yet. It was always my intention to be a working artist; it was my passion so I’ve been doing it all my life.

 

So once somebody actually told me about illustration because I didn’t even know the name of it, I just knew commercial art, for instance. As soon as someone said illustrator, I was like, “Yes! That’s what I want to do.” More recently, I’ve been more gallery driven than illustration driven but you know, it’s all kind of similar, all of it.

 

 

Did you have any role models while growing up?

 

There’s so many. Norman Rockwell was, early on somebody that I have admired; comic book artist, Todd McFarlane. He started image comics and was a big influence - I liked how drew characters. So, Chuck Close, Norman Rockwell and then I started going towards comic book [route]. The older I got, it was more pop art and Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, all those types of influences and then living in New York, I kinda got sucked into the street art scene.

 

You also mention Andy Warhol on your website – in what way did his artwork inspire yours?

 

Well, I went to school in Pittsburgh so Warhol was huge around there. That was his hometown and honestly, because of that, I was turned off by Warhol at first. I was a painter and had this kind of chip on my shoulder because he was using photography. For some reason I was like, “Ahh, that’s cheating” you know?  But the more I peeled back the layers of what it was to be an artist, I just appreciated the way Andy Warhol was thinking behind his artwork. I have a mentor John Ritter who is very “Andy Warhol” in his style and between the two it just gave me a strong appreciation for the conceptual faking. It all being [less] about, “Oh I can draw a pretty picture”, and more about going beyond that and explore what this art thing really is.

 

If you could describe your artwork in a few words, what would they be?

 

I think I strive for intelligent artwork. That’s what I kinda beat myself up over, trying to really project a message. Whenever I make a piece, I want it to be thought out, so, more than technique or genre, or style, I tend to create based on what I’m doing at the time. For instance, a portrait of Donald trump, I painted a toilet with a poop emoji. I thought that was a smarter vehicle to create that portrait than just painting him. I guess a few words; a soundbite if you will, of my artwork would probably be a combination of pop art, street art and comic book art.

 

So, your works inspired by Trump have become a social media sensation. What motivates you to create such visually provocative pieces?

 

What started it all was that Donald Trump told some kids on the news that he was Batman. I just had to draw that because I thought it was funny, you know. I liked the idea of him crammed into a batman suit; it made me laugh and then when he said he was running for president I was like, “Oh Christ, really?!” But then he became a serious contender and that scared the shit out of me. I just couldn’t sit back and do nothing. So, the idea behind my series was [to] pair him with comical looking things like pop art, quick read just to make people laugh instead of taking him seriously. That was kind of the simplistic idea that was driving my work. Unfortunately, he’s our president now and he scares me. He continues to make scary choices and I just feel like he’s going to run our country to the ground. So, it motivates me at least to use what I do and my talent the best way that I can. I don’t have money - I can’t compete with his wallet but I have ideas and I can at least try my little part to influence so that’s kind of what drives that body of work.

 

What kind of reactions do you get from the viewers?

 

Well, I think- it’s been mostly positive but you know, everyone has their opinions and there’s definitely people that flat out don’t like me. I’ve gotten a few threats but for the most part it’s been positive. People laugh, commercially it’s been doing alright in galleries which really wasn’t my intention but it kinda just ended up being more of a gallery driven show and I was like that’s good again. More ways to influence people.

 

If you could create a huge art piece for Trump, what would it be?

 

A huge art piece for him? I don’t know if I would take that assignment on, I probably would deny it. I wouldn’t mind selling him what I have already created, I think that would be kinda funny and ironic. To be honest, I don’t know, that’s a bit of a tough question. When it comes to my personal work, I work off of what inspires me and if he called and said, “Make me a piece of artwork” that just really wouldn’t inspire me.  

 

 

Out of all your creations, is there an art piece that’s near and dear to your heart?

 

It’s everything I make as soon as I make it. Then, I make another one and I’m like, “No, that’s the best thing I ever created.” It’s more so about the process and the experience but I did just do a mural at the empire state building and I think that would be up there with one of my best experiences. I’m more of a process man you know, I like to be in the process you know so the end result isn’t as exciting. Its more about while I’m lost in the moment creating.  That’s exciting to me. So as soon as I make a piece of artwork, it needs to be out of my hands because I’ll just end up painting over it.

 

You also seem to have a pretty star-studded client list. Could you elaborate on that?

 

Yeah, Shutterstock hired me to create some gifts. They had an event that the mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio and Prince William were attending. They basically told me it needed to be New York, London and connectivity. I made two pieces. One kind of highlighted the New York icons and the other highlighted London - the mayor got the London version and Prince William got the New York version but yeah, they didn’t tell me who it was for until the night before. I was pretty surprised; it was definitely a pretty cool project to work on.

 

What is your advice to all the pioneering artists out there especially the ones from the younger generation?

 

There’s so many ways to answer that question. Whether if it’s for gallery or commercial, I think it’s about being seen. You have to be seen. I would say don’t use anyone’s advice as a bible to create your artwork, listen to yourself and create. Make your own rules. Whatever someone has told you might not necessarily gel with who you are. It’s good to have mentors, it’s good to take advice, it’s good to be critiqued but just keep making, you know? Keep creating and keep being seen and be nice and be humble. Don’t act like you’re creating sex or something – you’re just making artwork. You’re not reinventing the wheel – just try to stay humble, try to learn as much as possible. I think experiencing things in life, that becomes your style, your brain, it’s constantly changing so everything you put in your brain is going to become a part of how to make your decisions when you’re creating your artwork. So I think, the more you read the more you experience life and travel and learn, the better artist you’re gonna be.