Jason Sposa

I'm lucky enough to own one of Jason's sweet Underneath My Tree drawings (it makes me smile every time I look at it) and couldn't pass up the chance to feature him on the site. I'm not sure what I love more, the drawings or the titles that he gives each one.


6 random things about Jason >>

1. i break for thrift stores.
2. i should invest stock in HANES for my endless collection of black pocket tees.
3. i obsess over vintage Casio keyboards.
4. i named my cat Mr. Gymnastics; however, he only answers to Buddy.
5. i crave Thai food (currently: red curry with coconut milk or pad thai).
6. i love the TV show Ghost Hunters

1) Imagine that you're in an elevator and an old friend from your past just walked in - you have about ~15 seconds to answer ..."Jason? Is that you? how are you man?? Yep I'm married with 2 kids! What are you doing these days? Where do you work?"

Hey pal, I actually live in Hoboken, NJ - you know, just across the Hudson. I'm an Audio Engineer in Times Square. It's cool - nice, respectable blue collar job, where you never take work home + you get home early to play around. Yea, I am married, too. My wife + I have a daughter, Olivia Bee, she just turned 13 months. I am actually on my way to pick my daughter up from daycare, so let me grab your number. It was great seeing you! ( I am slowly learning the perks of having a child; ie, constant excuses to get out of awkward situations.)

2) Do you work with music playing in the background? If so, do you have a playlist that you'd like to share.

Here is a list of albums that are continuously playing when I draw:

The Motifs, AWAY

Pants Yell!, ALLISON STATTON

Beulah, WHEN YOUR HEARTSTRINGS BREAK

Slushco, WHEN I MET THE BOSA NOVA

Pedro The Lion, IT'S HARD TO FIND A FRIEND

American Analog Set , KNOW BY HEART

lullatone, COMPUTER RECITAL

AND the ENTIRE WeePop Records catalogue



3) I can't live without... my beautiful wife + daughter [cheesy, but truthful].

4) What was it that made you want to start creating? Did something specific trigger it?

I've been drawing since I was able to hold a pencil + thus became my high school newspaper's cartoonist. I took a break for a long time, during college to pursue my music 'career', + picked it back up when I moved up to NYC in 2003 (living it out of my wife's - then girlfriend - cousin's house with no room for musical instruments + the iPhone wasn't around yet! From there the illustrations began cluttering our apartment and four years later I opened an Etsy shop.

Attending indie craft shows in 2007 really triggered my desire to see if people would be interested in putting my art in their home. Doing shows like the Renegade Craft Fair and Crafty Bastards in D.C. has really made me happy + amazed at the responses I have received so far. I love being able to see + share input/reactions with new fans + old friends.

I have never had any formal training - illustrations was actually my way of concentrating through boring class lectures; oddly enough, I absorbed more from those classes when I 'zoned out' this way.


5) Artists, designers, bloggers who often work from home alone (all day long) develop some pretty unique and quirky habits. Can you share one of yours?

Hmm. Unfortunately, my illustrations don't pay the bills (which is okay since I like doing them + it's just a plus to be able to share them at a reasonable rate. I don't like to think of adding extra money to my work for the hours spent 'working' on it); however, I am fortunate enough to do a great majority of my art while on the job so I like to think I live a fairly normal life - nothing too constricting on the social aspect.

Ummm, let's see, my wife says I never close the kitchen cabinets...if that says anything! Oh, + I always have to pick up pens (Sakura Pigma Micron pens are of choice) cause I am always losing them or afraid I am running out - despite the fact one can find them everywhere in my house, my clothes, my bag, random cabinets, Bee's stroller pockets...

6) How do you come up with your illustrations? Can you walk us through your creative process?

The growth + development of an illustration is very similar to writing a song. Sometimes I sit down + have a very clear vision of what I want to draw + other times I have a title stuck in my head + the image/message just pours out of me. I am constantly jotting little ideas in my phone if I am not near a pad of paper. "Snow globe" is at the top of the list right now if you were curious.


Prior to the arrival of my daughter I had the time to sit down in front of a blank canvas on Photoshop + let my imagination run its course; nowadays, I may draw on a Rhodia pad (+ scan/colour at night when the ladies are asleep) or on watercolour paper (colour in manually with Prismacolor pencils for an original).

In any instance, I never leave an unfinished drawing just sitting on my desktop or watercolour paper. I usually draw, scan + color all in the same day (before the feeling disappears).

7) I know that you also write music, can you tell us a little bit more about that.

Yea, I love writing little indie pop tunes (when I get the chance). Albums thus far have contained analog synthesizers, acoustic guitars, + cozy vocals. Currently, I am working on an album using iPhone music applications + a Boss Micro BR - a little recorder which has been super handy since I can bring it "on-the-go" (ie, to work since home life with the little one can get a little hectic). Oh, + I am crossing my fingers my wife buys me a Kaossilator for Father's Day! Ha!

All of my music can be found on www.jasonsposa.bandcamp.com I also have a MySpace page of my college band LOVE APPLE located at www.myspace.com/loveapple

Thanks Jason!!

Links: www.underneathmytree.com, underneathmytree.etsy.com, www.jasonsposa.bandcamp.com, www.myspace.com/loveapple