By Zach Smith



Jayme was nice enough to answer some questions I had to ask about her wonderful art. Her art is very beautiful, incorporating various colors and images to move the viewer in several different ways at once. We learn what that one word is to describe her better, looking for better ways past the retail money, and her little experiment with this whole thing.



i can only speak for the scene in Toronto, but I believe it's the best city in Canada for an artist. The only problem I come across though, is more love being given to people who went to art school. People like me, who don't necessarily believe in art school to succeed, have to prove ourselves more in this city at least.



That's a hard question to answer because I don't think it's necessarily a matter of what country you're in, but more of what city you're in. For example, the art scene in Omaha would be much different than the scene in San Fransisco. Also, I know absolutely nothing about the art scene in the States.



I'd use the same word people use to describe myself: reckless.



Many of my pieces show a gritty, political, or rather sexual scene. I suppose I like to contrast that with bright, often flourescent colors.

I mainly use permanent marker, acryllics, and stencils. Lately I've been addicted to Letraset (those press-on letters). I also like to use doors i find on the street. Doors make a great canvas, but they take up a lot of space in a Toronto apartment.



I work in retail full time, I also do the odd modelling/acting job. I've started to get into commission work, and I'm currently working on puting some of my stencils on t-shirts to sell. Retail money doesn't get you very far.



Since I was 2 and I picked up a crayon for the first time I was told I had a talent. The rush you get when you finish a piece and you're happy with it is probably comparable to that perfect hit of herion. If I ever stopped producing art, guess what I would be doing...

I've never thought about it that way before. That's interesting, maybe it's the stencils or the mix of mediums. A lot of times I'll start a piece heading in a certain direction and I'll realize I hate where it's going. I'll paint over whatever it is I'm unhappy with and build on from there.



Usually it's something I see or hear, or something that happens to me. Maybe it's just a friend who's face I like, or a drawing off of a photograph I took that I like.

I haven't been a part of the art community long enough to tell. I don't think it makes a difference.



Like I said, I never went to art school. So I guess that means no formal training. I'm a firm believer in doing things on your own as far as you can. It might just be a side of my own narcisism, but I feel like if I can make a name for myself without the help of school I'll be a lot prouder of my work and myself. My dad even offered to pay for my whole schooling and as much as I've heard I'm stupid for not taking him up on that offer, I'd like to just see if I can. It's kind of an experiment.

Some fellow Canadian artist friends: Nicole Legault (look i drew you!), Julia Deakin, Jessica Lucas, Tomas Del Balso, Nathan Houbraken, Daniel Romano, Team Macho, Geoff Farnsworth. I know I'm forgetting a lot of people, and I'm sorry. Feels like an Oscar acceptance speech or something haha!

Jayme can be reached here.