We recently had the chance to connect with brandon jameson and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning brandon, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
I would have to say integrity. Intelligence is nice, but without integrity, intelligence can become manipulative. Energy is nice, but without integrity, energy can be used in all sorts of nefarious ways. I think integrity was assumed in the creation of our political system, and a notable lack of integrity in many elected leaders is, in my opinion, why we are having so many problems
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Im a professor of Biology by day, a painter at night, and a dad to a brand new baby boy. My art is an attempt to connect to ideas from an abstracted perspective, to make you ponder, and think. Im a neurobiology nerd at heart, so I love the idea of making new connections in the brain. I attempt to connect old and new ideas with colors, shapes and figures. I listen to documentaries and audiobooks when I paint, so those ideas will find their way into my work as well.
Visually, I approach art from the unique perspective of a person who has never been to art school, and learned by trial and error. I attempted to make something, and when it inevitably failed, I remembered my lessons: too much color here, overworked the paint there, these lines didnt look right. And I would try again. After years of this iterative process, a series of ‘styles’ emerged. Each idea was unique, and needed a different look, so by trying different techniques into the mix, I would end up creating pieces that looked wildly different… something many MFAs discourage. Having never been instructed by the ‘art world’, I never got the memo on what specifically NOT to do.
Over the years, I find myself creating pieces that look quite distressed, with an occasional digital flair as a nod to my computer and video game playing youth.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Im a retired military veteran, and spent time in many places overseas.
Being in countries where the government was essentially non functional taught me the value of governance. A competent government can provide a safe place for its constituents to thrive in every way imaginable. A corrupt or incompetent government will fail at this.
Realizing this was a big ‘growing up’ moment for me, and I do not take my government for granted, even if it is less than perfect at times. I also feel compelled to speak up when I feel its necessary, because many people do not have this ability
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
That sometimes people suffer through no fault of their own. If life is coming down on you like a ton of bricks, that might be due to the circumstances of your birth, coupled with the circumstances of your adolescence, couple with the circumstances of your youth etc etc etc
I grew up poor, and I see the effects of being poor in the trajectories of everyones life that I grew up with. I also see how those experiences shape and color peoples attitudes when they get older,
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
That you can reason with people.
Smart people try to be rational, introspective and thoughtful about their views. They also try to maintain this when debating and discussing with others in good faith. The problem is that people arent always rational in their thoughts or their beliefs. They may say one thing, but renege on it later, and confabulate a reason for it. We are a deeply complicated species, that often gets it wrong. Our emotions can get the best of us and take over when cognitive faculties would serve us much better.
Smart people who wish to communicate better need to learn how to message on a more primal level, as some media organizations have learned to do
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes.
Ive spent most of my life giving my best, without looking for validation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brandonjamesonart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandonjamesonart/
