CG-Hub

 
What can you tell us about your book Salvaged?

Salvaged started out as a series of photoshop experiments back in 1999.  The only artist that was doing innovative work in such a new field was Dave McKean.  I was really drawn to his graphic designs and overall play of shapes.  Really a genius of our times and has fortified a new artist era of digital art acceptance.


At one point, after trying to deconstruct McKean’s work… I had to set aside all his work and just focus on my own ideas.  I had spent many hours creating and experimenting in hopes to fortify a style that I could call my own.  Finally in 2000, I created an iconic image titled ‘Transfusion’ which solidified a working method and also a style that I could claim as my own.


Over the following years, each day after I would return home from my full time job, I would just sit right back down and work until 3am on the Salvaged series.  It was a wondrous time and also a stressful one as trying to live a duel life of 2 full time jobs was starting to take its toll.  Plenty of sleepless nights, panic attacks, and various drama start to plague my life.  Right then, I knew that I had to take a break.


A year later I started to showcase my personal work online and at a few gallery events.  Everyone seemed to love what I have created and was given praise for the innovative ideas.  It then dawned on me to collect the work and make a small collected volume.  Right away, I started to work on the book layout, contacted publishers, and did my best to figure out ‘How to make a book’.  That took 3 years before Salvaged finally saw print and was released last year of 2008.
 
Who are your favorite contemporary artists?

Beksinski, Rick Berry, Jenny Saville, and Dave McKean.  For motion design and film will be Matthew Barney, Brothers Quay, and Chris Cunningham.


Anything else you'd like to share?

The concept of Salvaged started in 1999 and did not see completion until 2008.  During those years the artwork and book faced many obstacles.  At times, the whole project all most collapsed upon itself which would have resulted in this book never seeing the light of day.  JS Rossbach was brought on as the graphic designer in 2005 which helped immensely to complete the book with unconstrained artistic integrity and style.  It’s a relief to have the final book in hand, excited to share with everyone the work, and very proud of the end result.
   
One lesson that I have learned is this: The journey in life is about knowing your goals and where you want to be.  The most difficult road to follow is being true to yourself and never forgetting why you do what you do.  Never giving up, never loosing focus, and persevering has lead me from the deepest depths of depression to the brink of bliss.

Where do you want to see your work headed in the future? What do you see yourself doing five years from now?

I love and embrace all the new digital tools that are around us.  There was a period of time where digital photo manipulations were to avant-garde for any market.  I’m always pushing  headed towards exploring more with my digital transmutations and also to dip my hands into motion & film shorts.  Digital is such a liberating media and honestly I feel unconstrained by the limits of my own imagination.  It’s a new frontier that needs exploration and I want to be within that abyss of the unknown.

In 5 years time I see myself dividing time between producing more personal projects with original IP’s (art books, children books, and graphic novels) and continuing to work with the entertainment field of video games, film, and print.

Relevant Links
Jason Felix's CGHUB.com Profile
Jason Felix's Webpage
Jason Felix's Blog
Buy Salvaged Online