Artist Q&A with Jerry Kirk

Why did you become an artist?

It was never a question of why. I began making art the moment that I was old enough to hold a crayon in my hand and never had a thought to being anything but an artist. I’ve been making art and have been an artist my entire life.

How is your work different than everything out there?

My work is different because of the variety of styles and themes that I incorporate. Unlike most artists who find their niche or one style and stick to that I like to follow my muse wherever she leads. From neo-realistic landscapes to expressive figurative and narrative paintings my work is basically all over the place. To work in one style pursuing the same theme or genre over and over would bore me so I choose to do it all and by doing so, I believe, grow and evolve more as an artist. The media that I choose to work in is also a variety – from painting to drawing to digital. I also write poetry. My art is about expressing whatever my soul desires in any way that I can. I think that this sets me apart from other artists and makes my art different. 

What’s different about your current body of work?

Lately I have been pursuing expressionistic land and streetscapes along with politically and socially themed narrative paintings. After 30 years of living in one place I recently moved to a different state and this new local is infusing my land and streetscape paintings with a different look and feel; more expressionism than realism. The current social and political environment that we are all living in is filling me with the need to express my opinions and concerns on canvas. This is giving my narrative paintings a harder edged focus and statement.

What’s coming up for you?

Having recently moved to a different city I am slowly working my way into the local art scene. I also recently self-published a book of poems and drawings.

Who are some of your favorite emerging artists that no one else has heard of?

There are several artists who I think are great and need to be discovered beyond their local scene. Two of my favorite are painter and furniture designer Tim Sheaffer and muralist extraordinaire Nick Napoletano.

To learn more about Jerry and his work, please visit www.jerrykirk.com.