VERGE
Interview with Jeff Claassen
by Meana Kasi, VERGE Staff

This self-taught artist claims his favorite piece is always the next one he works on…at 23 he’s already establishing himself as an artist, working in a style that is reminiscent of graffiti art. Meet Jeff Claassen and see his bold, colorful work that adorns not only galleries and homes, but many skateboard decks as well.

Verge: Tell us about the process of painting for you. Do you have a concept and title in mind before you touch the canvas?

Jeff Claassen: My process of drawing and painting is what I like to call "freestyle" because I make up the whole piece as I go.

There is no real preparation and I don't work from preliminary sketches and I don't use pencils.

Verge: How long have you been creating art and how has your style evolved over time?

Jeff Claassen: I've been drawing for as long as I can remember. Back when I was in high school and even college, I never took notes. I would just doodle the entire class period, and looking back on it now, that's where this freestyle technique came from. I always hated using a pencil. Even in math I always used a ball point pen. So, when I was "note taking" I had no choice but to make my doodles in pen. I think it's great training for any artist to not use a pencil. The times I have tried using a pencil I never finish the drawing because I end up erasing a lot. With a pen you have no choice and I like that.

Verge: Are you a self-supported artist, or is your artwork something you do on the side?

Jeff Claassen: I wouldn't quite say that my art is paying the bills, but that's what I'm working towards.

Verge: Is your family supportive of your pursuit of art?

Jeff Claassen: Very much so. Besides, they don't have much of a choice.

Verge: What is your favorite piece you’ve created, and why?
Jeff Claassen: My favorite piece is always the next one. I feel the next piece is usually the best one, too. There is something exciting about the unknown and every new painting I do is stepping into that realm.

Verge: Tell us about the faces you use in your paintings. Many of them look alike or similar, as though they are specific characters. Who inspired these?

Jeff Claassen: I've noticed that it's close to impossible to not draw or paint faces. Most artists concentrate on the face and it makes sense because artists are people that observe. Well, everybody observes, but I think artists do so more intently. Anyway, every person in America probably sees over 100 faces a day. You know, at work, school, while driving, at the grocery store, putting gas in your car, in magazines, that dreaded beast: the television, basically they're everywhere and you just can't ignore them. So, it's natural that it comes out in a lot of people's work. It's hard to get away from faces. I remember going on camping trips with my family when I was young, we were going through the redwoods, you know, where you can drive your car through that tree because it's so damn big. Anyway, my sister said something along the lines of "you see one tree-- you've seen ‘em all." That statement pretty much sums up why the faces I paint sometimes look alike. So, there are no specific characters that I focus on and the faces I end up creating are inspired by no particular person, but rather by just being a person.

Verge: Your work utilizes lines quite a bit. What artists are you inspired by?

Jeff Claassen: My work doesn't stem from the inspiration I get from looking at any artist's work. Of course, there is a lot of artwork out there that I like and there is even some that my work can be compared to, but there is none that really inspires me. If I had to choose something that inspired me it would be the way in which some particular artists get things done. I guess I'm more inspired by how prolific some artists are or the way they present their work to the public. Things like that.

Verge: Are you self-taught, or were you trained in art?

Jeff Claassen: Self.

Verge: Your diptych "Surrounded by Women" is especially nice. Much of your work is very busy, very colorful, almost psychedelic feeling. What is your definition of the type of work you do?

Jeff Claassen: I'm really a boring person. If you saw me walking down the street, well...you probably wouldn't even notice me. I'm just plain. I think that's why my paintings have so much going on in them and are so colorful. I would like to leave the definition up to the viewer. I know that sounds like a cop out, but I have a good explanation: If I was to define my type of work it would change how you feel about it when you look at it and I would feel bad if I took that away from anybody.

Verge: You paint skateboard decks which is a terrific way to get your artwork out there in an unconventional manner. How did you get started in painting and selling skateboard decks?

Jeff Claassen: I got my first skateboard when I was about ten years old. I liked everything about it. Eventually, when I got older I ended up with a job at this mail order skateboard company. I was only a sales operator, but it gave me the opportunity to see some things I probably wouldn't have if I didn't work there. One day the owner shows me this thing that looks like a little Christmas tree made out of skateboard trucks. It turns out that is what they look like when they come out of the mold. it's like there is a trunk and the branches were the skate trucks. Anyway, the owner goes on to tell me that he is trying to accumulate some cool stuff like that because people don't really see that stuff and everybody always likes to see "behind-the scene" type of stuff. He told me he was going to try to get some original artwork from some of the professional skaters that are also artists. It's no doubt that skateboarders are very creative people and there are actually some that show artwork in galleries pretty regularly. So I saw an opportunity. I bought a blank deck and took it home that weekend and painted it. I had always customized my boards with spray paint and stencils but never hand painted them to just hang on a wall. And that's what I did. When I came back to work after my day off I went into the owners office and showed him the deck I painted and I suggested to him that he have some of the skater artists just paint a deck for decoration. He looked at it a minute and said, "I kind of like yours. Do you want to paint some for us to display around here?" Of course I said yes and that is how that started. He had me paint six of them.

Verge: Your website’s design and layout reflects your personal style. Still, it is professional and promotes your work. How long have you been online and how has promoting yourself online helped your career and your sales?

Jeff Claassen: I started building sxtyfoursquares.com in November of 1999. It finally went live on January 14, 2000. So I've been up for almost a year and a half. It's still too soon to mention how it's helped my career or sales. Although, I don't see how it can harm either one.

Verge: Explain to us please what your "Guerilla Art" is. Are those pieces leading people back to your site?

Jeff Claassen: Guerrilla art is really nothing new. I'm definitely no pioneer in this field. I don't even really have a good definition. It's just guerrilla-style postering. Putting things up where they don't belong. Well, where most members of society don't think they belong. It's about going out at night and creating a visual attack on the environment. It's also just fun to do. It's so juvenile, you know. Anybody that's doing this type of artwork could get more in depth, including me, but it's best to just keep it at this level.
I don't think these street pieces are leading anybody back to my site. It seems to work in the opposite direction.

Verge: Sxty/Four Squares. What’s the story behind the name?

Jeff Claassen: I met my first love when I was in the fifth grade. It was this thing. This thing called chess, which is played on a board with 64 squares.Verge: You sell tshirts, stickers, posters, etc from your website. Describe the feeling you get when you see a complete stranger walking by with one of your creations on his/her shirt.

Jeff Claassen: I have yet to be that fortunate.

Verge: Is your hometown of Pasadena, CA a creative environment and does the community embrace artists?

Jeff Claassen: Well, one of the most prestigious art schools in America is in this city so I'd say it is a creative environment. the only problem is I haven't found out where this creativity has taken place. Ironic?

Verge: Describe the perfect setting/atmosphere/mood that you would need to create some of your best work.

Jeff Claassen: Alone at 2 o'clock in the morning with an endless amount of Barq's root beer and Cat Power's Moon Pix CD on repeat.

Verge: How old are you? Do you feel that your age prohibits some people from taking you seriously as an artist?

Jeff Claassen: I'm in my 23rd year of being stuck on this planet. I don't think my age prohibits the amount of seriousness I receive from people. It's also not something I think an artist should think about, but since we're on the subject.....I would say that the public in general is more likely to take an artist serious if the artist is being shown in a gallery or has some sort of following or a website and things of that nature. Also, young people are hip and in tune with the times so I think that young artists sometimes have a better chance at making it.

Verge: The one thing your website lacks is a biography. Is this something you’ve omitted on purpose? If so, why?

Jeff Claassen: My main focus is the artwork. I have intentionally left out things about myself because at this point, it's not too important to let those things be known. Of course, I contradict myself by doing things like this, but it makes more sense having tidbits about myself available somewhere other than my site.

Verge: Are you affiliated with any artist associations, galleries, or guilds? If so, how have they helped your artistic career?

Jeff Claassen: When I lived in San Luis Obispo, I was involved in this open studios tour put on by the SLO County art's council. That was a great event from a career point of view. The tour was just for one weekend, but I did pretty good. If I could do that once a month I wouldn't need another job.

Since I've been in Los Angeles, I hooked up with the Cannibal Flower, which is essentially two guys that curate a show once a month. They don't have a permanent space, but they find a place to rent for a few days out of the month. It takes about two days for set up and on the third they put on an opening. The work comes down the next day. They have a huge following and the turnout always amazes me. It's pretty incredible. They told me that I'm on the three month plan right now which means that they include me in three consecutive shows and then skip me for the fourth. It's a great deal to me. Any opportunity to show work is a good one.

Verge: Where and how do you sell your artwork?

Jeff Claassen: Most of the sales have been done in my apartment, which is kind of funny. I would eventually like to have a studio for things like that and some solid gallery representation. I think there are some evil galleries out there, but you have to play the game from time to time. So far all my sales have been done with no middle man involved, which is nice. All sales have gone directly through me.

That will partly be changing in the near future with the launch of jeff-claassen-fine-art.com. Through this new site, some selected works will be available to purchase instantly using a credit card. I think I've missed out on sales by not accepting credit cards. Nobody likes the idea of writing out a check and sending it to some post office box to an unknown artist they found on the Internet.

Verge: What methods do you utilize to promote yourself as an artist?

Jeff Claassen: The Internet, distribution of stickers and posters, showing my work as much as possible, and submitting samples to other venues.

Verge: What are some of your favorite hobbies and pastimes?

Jeff Claassen: Reading, music, chess, eating lucky charms mixed with cocoa puffs, taking pictures, watching movies by myself, sewing, skateboarding, making stretcher bars and stretching canvas, trampoline tricks, driving all over the city at 3 o'clock in the morning without the Thomas Guide, and some other things I don't want to mention.

Verge: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10? 15?

Jeff Claassen: I try not to do that. I concentrate on right now because it takes a lot of energy to think any further ahead than that.

Verge: What is the biggest challenge you think artists face?

Jeff Claassen: Accepting compliments.

Verge: What is something in life you are most thankful for?

Jeff Claassen: I'm currently trying to sort that one out.

To see more work by Jeff Claassen, please log onto http://www.sxtyfoursquares.com.