Jeremy Silas

So Jeremy I read on your website that you were born and raised in Redlands, Ca… what brought you to Tacoma and how long have you lived here?

Basically I left my home town in southern CA when I was 19, I came to WA to audition for the
theater arts department at Cornish College of the Arts, after I was accepted I decided Theater was not what I wanted to study, after moving back and forth from WA to CA for a few years, I decided to stay in WA for a while to live with family who had moved here, after living in Puyallup with family, I discovered Tacoma and decided to live here. It was while living here I decided to start painting, this is where I became serious about my art. I have lived in Tacoma about 9 years now.

What are some ways you have marketed your work in the Tacoma Art Scene?

Mainly by getting out and talking to as many people I could about art in general. I always welcome
a great conversation about art, usually over coffee. For years I had set up my own exhibits in cafe’s and eventually I found my way to landing a spot in a show at the Tacoma Art Museum. I have marketed the majority of my work by myself. I have met some great people who have allowed me the chance to exhibit my art.

What motivates you to create? What inspires you?

I am inspired to create simply because I am in awe of art as a means by which to express my deepest yearnings as a person, I am inspired by the struggles we endure as people, I am inspired by music, I am inspired by poetry, I am inspired by every color that exists, I am inspired by conversations I have with people I meet, I am inspired by nature, I am inspired by loss, I am inspired by joy and sorrow, I am inspired by love, I am inspired by nature, I am always inspired…as for motivation, well, that’s the stuff I have to muster up from within, that’s the pep-talk I gotta give myself, I am motivated because I want to see results where there were excuses, I am motivated by my own sense of artistic vision, I am motivated by time and passion.

If you were given the chance to have any building in Tacoma as your canvas which one would you choose?

I would consider it a great opportunity to make a beautiful mural on any building that was
offered.

Beer, Wine, or Coffee?

I have always been more attracted to cafe culture over the bar scenes, so coffee for sure, but I do go
out for a beer or a glass of wine once in awhile.

What’s your favorite restaurant of Tacoma?

I’m just gonna say…mexican food.

Would you ever want to paint as a living or do you prefer to just do it when you want?

Well, there was a time when that was all I did to earn my living and it was great, so yes…I would welcome that again, if I had the opportunity to make art or music full-time I would love that.

What other hobbies do you have? Music etc?

I love writing songs, and I love writing poems.

What does your workspace look like? Is it one of those amazing artist lofts with really high ceilings and big windows or more like your garage?

Well my last studio was amazing and huge, but I had to leave because I was not generating enough income through selling my artwork to maintain the cost of renting the studio, so for now, I have a little kitchen space that works just fine, if I want to make large-scale work in the future I know I will need another big studio.

Well that’s it Jeremy you are off the hook. Thanks for taking some time out of your day any last words of wisdom or shout outs?

Yeah, I just want to say thank you to the people who support the arts here, whether you offer words of encouragement to local artists, attend a musical concert, purchase a work of art, attend a dance or theater production, or donate to a variety of great art causes, I just want to say thanks to those that keep it going, I also want to say thanks to the artists for their continued strength and courage.

Visit Jeremy Silas’ Website at: http://silasunlimited.com/