The man behind the FOH Mural.

[El Presidente]

The FOH mural is pretty famous locally. It is not uncommon to come down the stairs to the cafe and see people on the driveway taking photo...the occasional tourist bus to the infamous Bogga Road Prison ( located around the corner/long shutdown but open to the public) stops by on occasion 

 

Jason Campbell is the artist who conceptualised and executed the work.  We caught up recently and I put a few questions to him. I thought you guys might be interested. 

Where did You grow up? 

 I grew up predominantly in south east Qld. Ipswich, Kingston, Rochedale and the Gold

 Coast. 

Brief family background oldest/youngest?? 

I’m second oldest of four boys. My parents separated mid to late 2003. (My final year at school) and provided the perfect excuse for me to use in my failing of year 12, however I now see it was the perfect storm that blew me into the direction of art and creative expression. 

What was school like for you?

 I Ended up failing my final exam in year 12. I Wasn’t able to attend my end of school formal as I had outstanding assessments.  

Fortunately enough, my genius didn’t align with the rigid schooling system of that time, so instead my genius came alive in the only school book to get a workout, that was my sketch pad, that was absolutely loaded with flavour! 

There was one teacher who noticed my passion for graffiti and letter formations / hand styles come alive, infact come to think of it she was the only teacher of that time to adjust her style of teaching to match the students style of learning, so with the principals permission she encouraged me to bring my aerosols to school. Providing me with substrates to paint on, and all the right protective equipment needed.  

School was loads of fun actually now I look back. Minus the odd sack wack and self esteem check the bullies dished out. 

 

Who have been your biggest influencers?

 In the way of influencers/ mentors, I must mention Christian Griffiths aka Sauce. Without this guy, I’d be locked up or dead. Appreciation levels through the roof !! Many thanks, Other artists to influence also, Payer, Kosie, Emor, Marcus, Pleas and the SR crew, Boske, Spar, Mikey, XXI, Silly Sully, Rumeks - RPM, Kasino, Jacko, Roms, Lezo,  

 

How did you come about doing murals/artwork? 

Bit of a story behind this one.  

I've never really put much thought into how this all came about until I was asked the same question in different words by a guy I crossed paths with in my early 20s..  

I noticed him probably 20 meters behind me watching me paint a legal board at woodridge skate park one afternoon. I thought nothing of it initially, but felt his eyes still watching until I’d finished my piece. 

 Whilst packing up my stuff he approached and complemented me on my style and says he’s been following my work for some time. Humbled, I ask if he paints and what his tag name was, turns out he was a big influencer through my younger years. This guy absolutely crushed the Southside and did it with some steeze..  hin my eyes who’d single handedly grabbed the attention of so many passers by with his frequent long distant walks with can in hand on roads to nowhere just to get more rumeks per mile . Or RPMs commonly known in his later years.

Rumek suggests we go for a paint together. Without hesitation I suggest a chilled Spot in the drains under paradise road, woodridge.  

Whilst painting beside one another the question was presented amidst the small talk .. “so what made u get into graffiti” he asks . Thrown by the depth of said question, I thought back to see if anything from my younger years rings a bell. Then I remembered when I lived at Kingswood lodge (government housing for disadvantaged youths) one afternoon a kid arriving to the lodge with bags that rattled spiked my attention. Curiously I asked what was in his bags and he said “paint” I then asked what the paint was for? Then he replies “art”  

After sharing this with my new friend I noticed his face show some mixed emotions. He responded with a question “your parents names were Phil and Sylvia yeah?”  

So the person asking what inspired me to start painting , ended up being the answer to his own question. 

 

How did you meet your paint partner? 

 Marcus and I met at a party around 2006 I think. Had similar interests and were inseparable for years. At this stage it was mainly illegal spots that were relaxed enough to give us time to practice. 

 

 

Tattoos.. how did this come about? 

So around the same time Marcus and I started painting my older brother gave me a tattoo kit to have a go at. Marcus and I went and tattooed ourselves straight away. From there I tattooed friends any myself for a year or so before I started in a studio. I really didn’t know much at all about skin, tattoo machines or even stencils .. everything was freehand pen on skin through this initial period 

 

Since then I’ve worked all over in quite a few studios. Tattooed at several tattoo expos. Making some solid friends and of course a few enemies along the way.  

I’ve not got my arms tattooed yet, as I never felt I had the skills to make tattooing a successful career. Comparatively speaking, I was comparing all my imperfections to other artists masterpieces. My own worst critic was the reality.  

keeping my options open seemed like the right thing to do in the early stages. Twelve years into the industry and I finally felt like I could commit, still learning day in day out and pushing boundaries regularly. Only now with the confidence I lacked for so long.  

 

 

The mural at FOH, what inspired you? 

To be brutally honest I liked some Elements of it. And they were the parts that Marcus did lol. Back then I was rarely happy with my art. 

On that note, I’m having conniptions about the idea of a new mural coming soon with FOH. 

An opportunity to redeem myself and flex some skills.  

 

How long did it take to complete?

 Hard to recall as it was so long ago, probably a few days.  

Were you happy with it? 

Not really to be honest, nothing is ever good enough when it comes to assessing my artwork after it’s finished.  

Some examples of other work you’ve done?

 

The Capalaba area has most of my still existing work mural-wise. As Sauce lived there and regularly had a legal spot put aside for me. 

I’ve tattooed and painted from Hobart TAS to Melbourne/ Bendigo/ Ballarat to Sunshine Coast/ Nambour With quite a few stops in between including Sydney ,Canberra/ ACT, Tweed heads, Palm beach, Broadbeach and south Brisbane and surroundings

  

Would you travel for work? 

Definitely willing to travel for work and always love the opportunity to see places I’m yet to visit through work. 

 

What type of work do you enjoy most?

 

I’m really enjoying murals more after a fun wall I did with Mikey Xxi and silly sully on a pub in Maryborough VIC 

Also Colour tattoos are a new found love. I’ve lacked the confidence to play with colour for years and now I’ve revisited what was once a nightmare for me, only to finally feel like I am capable.  

 

Where to from here? What’s the perfect outcome five years from now ?

 

Painting and or tattooing overseas would be an awesome experience. 

Opening an art space of my own, that provides space for artists to come and express/ flex/ connect  

Community Spaces like this are few and far between. The lack of such spaces Pushes misfits and trendsetters alike into the streets. 

 

 

How do our members contact you?  

Instagram: Jasonc.tattoos_  

email: [email protected]

 

 

[SCgarman]

What is the story behind the cigar smoking chimp in the red Shriners cap if I may ask? And who designed it?

[El Presidente]

2 hours ago, NYgarman said:

What is the story behind the cigar smoking chimp in the red Shriners cap if I may ask? And who designed it?

I am to blame for the chimp concept  and our previous designer (nowhere near as good as you Steve ) brought him to life.  He has served us well!!!

 

 

[alloy]

So Jason Campbell, the ex Redskin quarterback is now into art? Wonderful.

 

[RDB]

Really nice interview and a great story about becoming an artist. I love the straight / not too edited style, lets the person come through.

[dobbs]

6 minutes ago, RDB said:

Really nice interview and a great story about becoming an artist. I love the straight / not too edited style, lets the person come through.

true, it is actually a very good interview, kudos.

-dobbs

[Islandboy]

The art and interview are top notch, thanks. 
 

From age 12 here on Maui, I’ve been immersed in the the world of art via my Melbourne-native stepdad George Allan. He’s spent the rest of his life here honing and exposing his talent and passion for the arts, something I’ve struggled at times to connect with, as I trend more towards the rigid arena of mechanical engineering and the logic that follows. 
 

Being exposed to the open-mindset that is common among artists of all sorts has definitely benefited my professional life, and while I don’t always connect with their visions, I totally appreciate the endeavors and courage of people like Jason. Good on ya mate!

[pedro849]

Very cool to hear the story behind the artist. Great art work too!

[Colt45]

Great stuff.

Most striking for me was that JC didn't like it after he was finished (not unusual) - chasing perfection, chasing the dragon. I hope he and his friends can find a relatively low cost builing they can turn into studio space.

Well done guys.