Kentucky-based artist Jeremy Sales space captures the essence of the American West via his daring, minimalist fashion, specializing in the long-lasting imagery of cowboys and Western landscapes. His work, which blends up to date design with the timeless grit of the Wild West, has gained acclaim at Christie’s and Sotheby’s and drawn in notable shoppers like Wrangler, Nike, Apple, Warby Parker, and British GQ.
On this interview, Jeremy shares insights into his inventive journey—from early days in digital illustration to current ventures in portray—and his mission to bridge the digital and conventional artwork worlds, all whereas preserving the authenticity of his topics.
Brady Walker: Welcome to Makerspace Spotlights. I’m excited to have painter and digital artist Jeremy Sales space with us. Jeremy, may you give a fast intro to your journey as an artist?
Jeremy Sales space: Positive. I began with graphic design in highschool, however the whole lot shifted when I discovered Adobe Illustrator. It felt extra pure, so I made a decision to keep it up. My work was experimental at first, however I knew I wished to pursue industrial illustration and wanted to seek out my voice.
Then I bought sick and had my first grand mal seizure—a scary time with no clear solutions from docs. Artwork turned my escape and helped me uncover my place within the industrial illustration world, laying the inspiration for the place I’m at the moment.
After six months, I had mind surgical procedure, and the whole lot’s been good since. It’s been 13 or 14 years now. I constructed a portfolio, signed with companies in France, North America, and the UK, and my industrial illustration profession took off.
I labored freelance for large shoppers like Stella Artois, Apple, and British GQ. However in 2020, I wished a change and joined Coinbase as a product illustrator. Round that point, I bought keen on NFTs, minted my first piece on Basis, and began transitioning to advantageous artwork, specializing in Western and bodily artwork. That’s my journey in a nutshell.
Sons of the West (2024) by Jeremy Sales space (evening & day variations)
BW: Fairly the journey—going via seizures and mind surgical procedure and popping out extra solidly your self.
JB: Yeah, life feels far more treasured after that. I see worth in paintings in a manner I by no means did earlier than; it’s been foundational for my story.
BW: So, you have been a industrial artist—when did you begin portray? Had you at all times dabbled in it?
JB: I painted geometric shapes on canvas for a few months about seven years in the past. It taught me some fundamentals like crisp strains and coloration mixing, however I moved on from it then.
Once I transitioned to digital advantageous artwork, I spotted that entering into the advantageous artwork world let me select my very own material, so I began exploring Western artwork. Round that point, I met Robert Hagan, who’s been portray the West for over 40 years. We curated a few of his work, and he finally invited me to Kansas to expertise and seize the Western life-style.
Hagan impressed me to attempt conventional portray. Coming from the digital world, I wished to bridge into conventional artwork, and portray felt like the best way to do this. I see it as going out as a form of “missionary” from web3 into the standard artwork world to fuse each. That’s my mission, and Hagan actually sparked that need. So, I attempted it out, and right here we’re.
That occurred in spring of ’23—that’s once I began portray.
BW: However you already had a robust sense of your self as an artist and your fashion.
JB: Yeah, portray is hard. When individuals ask what’s tougher—digital or bodily—I say bodily. I’ve finished digital for therefore lengthy that it’s second nature, however portray requires breath management for line work and coloration mixing to match my digital palettes. I can’t simply choose colours; I’ve to layer them to make them opaque. It’s difficult, and I’m nonetheless studying.
Misplaced in Moffat County by Jeremy Sales space (evening & day variations)
BW: Was the job with Coinbase serendipity, or have been you already keen on blockchain and NFTs?
JB: I knew somebody on the illustration workforce who talked about they have been on the lookout for illustrators. I began as a contractor for 3 months, then went full-time for a 12 months and a half till their first massive layoff.
BW: In researching for this interview, I realized that some ranches host open photoshoots. How typically do you go to these?
JB: It’s pretty frequent if you already know the place to look. Ranching is hard, and workshops present further earnings. I attain out to ranches, and so they’re normally open to it. It’s a welcoming group.
This 12 months, I went in spring with my spouse, who’s an expert photographer. She helps so much. I’d’ve gone once more within the fall, however I broke my foot, so she went alone. We go periodically for recent imagery and inspiration. Being on their land, in that panorama, with these individuals—it’s superb.
BW: That tees me up for my subsequent query. Was there an early interplay that gave you a deeper connection to this world, past simply aesthetics?
JB: Positively, I’d say respect for the horses. I’ve realized that portray a horse precisely means avoiding awkward expressions or poses. As an illustration, if their ears are again, it may sign misery—one thing I keep away from in my work. I purpose to honor the horse as a lot because the cowboy.
Over the Ridge (2023) by Jeremy Sales space
BW: When did you begin to really feel like an insider, if ever?
JB: I’m slowly getting there, however I nonetheless really feel like an outsider. This tradition has so many nuances, however everyone seems to be extremely welcoming and prepared to show. I’m continually studying.
BW: Do you keep in contact with individuals you’ve met, like ranchers or cowboys?
JB: Sure, particularly with the homeowners of Sombrero Ranches in Colorado. They host an annual occasion referred to as the Nice American Horse Drive, shifting lots of of horses. They even despatched us jackets as a thank-you. My spouse despatched them a photograph, and I’m sending a print. We nonetheless be in contact.
BW: That’s superb! I’d like to see you paint a drone shot of an enormous cattle drive.
JB: Oh yeah, that will be loopy.
Cowboy Luck (2024) by Jeremy Sales space (evening & day variations)
BW: When did this topic actually come alive for you?
JB: When Robert Hagan invited me to a ranch in Kansas. Earlier than that, I used to be utilizing 3D fashions for reference, however Robert mentioned, “Include me, take actual images.” He’s a legend, so after all I went. Capturing these moments firsthand modified the whole lot.
BW: What was probably the most intense or vivid second from visiting the ranches?
JB: In Kansas, we have been photographing close to a ridge the place they drove horses down right into a pond. They advised us to face by a big tree so the horses would go round us if something went off target. At one level, the horses cut up round me on each side—it was wild! An identical, much less intense second occurred at Sombrero Ranches with some Longhorn steers that veered a bit too shut, however a cowboy bought them again on monitor.
BW: What shocked you most about this tradition as you’ve immersed your self in it?
JB: Positively the individuals—everybody’s so welcoming, sort, and keen on my work. It’s been refreshing to expertise the kindness of Western people.
Chaos Enters In (2024) by Jeremy Sales space (evening & day variations)
BW: What are you able to inform me about Chaos Enters In?
JB: That’s Ben, whom I photographed at Sombrero. He had a pistol, and I wished to create some thriller. The background fireplace wasn’t actual—it’s meant to really feel chaotic and go away room for individuals to construct their very own narrative round him.
BW: Your items really feel like lived-in tales, possible out of your illustrator background. What place does femininity have in your work? These are all fairly masculine items.
JB: There are some moments of femininity, like cowgirls, although it’s a masculine occupation total. We don’t typically see many cowgirls at these areas, however my spouse just lately photographed some, and even a Black cowboy, which I’m excited to color.
The hard-working spirit positively comes via within the work. That’s the portrayal you get, male or feminine.
I’m enthusiastic about our reference materials too—we photographed a cowboy named Jamon Turner from Louisiana, who teaches inner-city youngsters to journey and was a stuntman on 1923, a Yellowstone manufacturing.
BW: That’s cool. When portray, do you see your topics as characters or icons?
JB: All the time an icon first. A cowboy hat and a horse are iconic. However I additionally attempt to inform a bigger story, which feels pure while you’re photographing them doing their regular work—it’s genuine in a manner that 3D fashions can’t seize.
Pistolero’s Justice (2023) by Jeremy Sales space
BW: I noticed your work from earlier than you targeted on Western themes. What have been some favourite themes again then?
JB: My material modified, however I stored returning to mid-century fashion and life-style, with a James Bond vibe. I explored this in a print exhibition in Paris about eight years in the past referred to as The Easy Life.
From The Easy Life (2016) by Jeremy Sales space
BW: How has your inventive course of developed? Any useful habits or routines?
JB: References have been key. I used to depend on on-line photographs and 3D fashions, however now I exploit images I’ve taken myself. It’s made my artwork extra tangible and linked to actual experiences.
BW: It looks like your work has grow to be far more tangible — images of actual individuals, paint on actual canvas.
JB: Even my digital work begins in particular person with images. Now, each bit has reminiscences connected—individuals I do know, locations I’ve been. It’s not simply creating and shifting on; each bit holds an expertise.
BW: How do you stability skilled obligations versus making artwork?
JB: It’s about not overextending myself. With MakersPlace, I restrict Twitter Areas to the necessities as a result of I’m additionally getting ready for a solo exhibition in February. Having bodily work helps me keep away from distractions; I can’t be on my telephone or laptop whereas portray. Ideally, I’d have all conferences in at some point and use the remaining for creating. It’s all about scheduling and realizing when to say no.
Daring by Jeremy Sales space
BW: Had been you shocked by the quantity of enterprise obligations as you moved into being a full-time artist?
JB: Probably not, since I used to be a industrial illustrator earlier than. Being an artist and a businessman go hand in hand for me—I’ve to maintain my household. I’ve twins, a spouse, and obligations, so it’s important to stability each.
BW: And your spouse helps with the enterprise aspect?
JB: Sure, she’s a photographer specializing in spirits and hospitality. She helps maintain me on schedule and manages social media by filming me for reels. Scheduling, social media, and images—that’s her position.
BW: Do you’ve got any bold, unrealized initiatives?
JB: Sure, however I can’t reveal them but! I’d like to make figurine-type sculptures with a Western aptitude, impressed by artists like Fvckrender. However proper now, my focus stays on portray. I’m nonetheless new to the standard artwork world, in order that’s bold for me.
I even have some concepts for digital work, and the dynamic paintings with you at MakersPlace feels proper for my digital aspect. I’m specializing in maintaining nonetheless imagery for portray and dynamic work for digital, honing that stability.
BW: That’s superior. With all of the choices in digital, particularly with Transient Labs’ work, plus new bodily mediums, it appears like you’ve got infinite potentialities.
JB: Yeah, shoutout to Transient Labs! Even my bodily items over the previous 12 months have a digital footprint via hint chips. Digital is at all times the inspiration of my work, even when it’s not the ultimate output.
Restore (2024) by Jeremy Sales space
BW: You’re an excellent instance of a well-rounded digital artist, which I feel requires some bodily work too.
JB: Completely, and that connects to the enterprise aspect. I don’t put all my eggs in a single basket—there are completely different markets for prints, digital editions, and unique work. I need individuals to take pleasure in my artwork within the format that resonates most with them.
BW: Final query—how are you on a horse?
JB: A bit rusty. My dad had horses once I was in highschool, and I rode just a few occasions. Trying again, I want I’d ridden extra. I’d get on a horse now, particularly a well-trained one, but it surely’s been some time.
