Spring Break Jake
Jake Kenobi, working under the moniker Spring Break Jake, is a self-taught, Bend, Oregon-based painter and former Artist-in-Residence with Scalehouse Arts. He creates heavily textured work using the juxtaposition of tropical imagery and colors with macabre, Memento Mori-style illustrations. Jake’s work is on a mission to discuss the reality of our collective mental health, shining a light on the all-too-often unseen and unspoken parts of our psyches that, if revealed, could build a genuine sense of solidarity and empathy for others. He places a special focus on challenging our notions of patriarchal masculinity and reducing stigmas around vulnerability and emotionality. The multi-layered messaging of his paintings is reflected in the many layers in each finished work, from the adherence of found materials onto the panel for added depth to the numerous coats of mainly acrylic paints that take on an almost sculptural effect. His work has been shown down the West Coast, from Seattle to San Diego, with upcoming showings in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Reno in 2024.
Spring Break Jake
Can you describe the core themes and emotions you explore in your current body of work?
Death and mental health. My work views life through the lens of being grateful for even getting to exist in the first place. You simply can't have the good without the bad, and so much of society views death as the ultimate "bad" when, in fact, it's the very thing that encourages us to live fully. I see death as the best motivator for cultivating a life full of love, joy, peace, and fulfillment, which includes recognizing, being vulnerable about, and ultimately healing from our mental health struggles.
How does your creative process unfold from concept to completion?
I try to keep an almost-daily drawing journal, so many of my paintings start there. I also often plan out the composition and general idea digitally. From there, I build my own wood panels and usually adhere cardboard, paper, and other found materials to them to build depth and texture. Then comes many layers of acrylic paint using gestural abstract techniques to develop the background, finishing up with the final illustrative work using mostly black acrylic paint and some charcoal and oil pastels for added details.
What inspires you most outside of the visual arts, and how does it influence your work?
Travel and music. Even though I paint tropical motifs, I live in a high desert, so any chance to travel to new tropical locales brings loads of inspiration. I've also been heavily influenced by music and grew up going to many, many concerts and spending my hard-earned PacSun money on CDs (remember those?).
How do you navigate the balance between personal expression and the commercial aspects of your career?
Still figuring this one out! I've been really trying to keep in mind the idea that the viewer can usually tell when something is authentic, so if I paint exactly what I am passionate about, those pieces are (hopefully) going to resonate most and sell best while still being the truest form of personal expression.
What message or feeling do you hope viewers take away from experiencing your art?
Solidarity. The feeling that we all go through hardships and it's not only okay to be vulnerable about that, but that it actually builds a sense of love and compassion for others. No one gets out alive, but we really can help each other find paradise along the way.
