Meet Jason Blyskal | Multimedia Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jason Blyskal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jason, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I think the primer that originally got me interested in pursuing art was the concept of world building. The excitement I felt from making small changes to an abstract idea and watching it slowly come to life was very fulfilling. I call it world building because whatever the product of your creative vision may be, it is still a tiny world completely in your control. A small place for you to make an imprint upon might seem inconsequential or whimsical at first but over time you see your identity revealed to you.

Although not a complete picture, my art is a visual representation of the person I am, what I like, and how I choose connect with the larger world around me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The last several years of my practice I have focused heavily on stained glass but I also work with wood and paper crafts depending on the nature of my project. Stylistically speaking, I like to lean towards a blend of minimalism and geometric abstraction with a dash of poppy colors to round it all out.

Despite the minimalist approach, creating art that I enjoy looking at and that feels authentic to me has been an increasingly difficult balance to achieve. Being plugged into some form of social media 24/7 is not only a distracting obstacle between me and my work, it can sometimes be discouraging to see all the things that other people have created without feeling like I might be close to encroaching on someone else’s brand. When I catch myself feeling this way, I try to remind myself that it should serve to inspire, not oppress my imagination and that it’s a great opportunity to reach out and connect with fellow artists.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a Durham resident, all of my hotspots are specific to the Bull City, but if I had to curate a perfect day for a visiting friend it would go as follows:

> Coffee and breakfast at Monuts
> A leisurely stroll around Duke Gardens
> Pop into the Nasher Museum to see some cool art
> Browse around the Scrap Exchange
> Dinner at Durham Food Hall
> Hopefully see a some live music at The Pinhook
> Cocktails at Kingfisher

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I could wax poetic about so many talented artist friends in our community that are doing wonderful and innovative things but if was to pick one entity that has played a pivotal role in my artistic upbringing, it would be the North Carolina Museum of Art. While I am certainly biased because I work there, I’d be lying if I said my creative vision hasn’t been impacted by it.

Having such a diverse collection of artwork to look at every day is quite a luxury. It has altered my perception of what forms art can take when I need a little design inspiration and it reminds me to take mindful moments while looking at something to fully appreciate how it got there. I think every person could benefit by exposing themselves to art they know little to nothing about.

Instagram: @night.owl.creations

Other: Studio website: goldenbeltarts.com