Welcome to another episode of the Hilltop glove podcast. Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with the infamous John Claude. John Claude resides in Lexington, Kentucky after spending the past several years working as an artist in Charlotte, North Carolina, he received his bachelor's of fine arts from SCD in 2008.

He finds himself working daily on illustrations paintings and graphic designs. As one of 13 children, he learned at a young age to use his art as personal refuge. Has been dedicated to his continuous evolution as an artist for as long as he can remember. Edward's fine. Art has shown work throughout the us and Sweden under his design alias, infamous Jean Claude.

His clients include skate shops, restaurants, record labels, and clothing brands. As an artist, he is constantly creating, even while he sleeps his style blends, illustration, symbolism, and abstract paintings into a style. He calls neoism. His paintings, drawings and digital works are an exploration of inner and self relations to the outer world.

Take inspiration from different spiritual philosophies, such as collective consciousness and psychological theories from Carl J he uses his art as a visual meditation that is deeply personal yet universal at the same time. He likes to consider himself an avid observer of self and others and documents his reflections through a visual dialogue that aspires to be colorful and engaging most of all genres, but especially hip hop soul remains a constant grounding force in his life and inspirations for his art.

How are you today? I'm doing well, man sitting my apple juice and  happy to be here. Excellent. Excellent. Excellent. Well, I mean, you have an excellent  excellent background.  And I would say, what is it, what do we call that thing? What's it called? What's it called?  Portfolio of work as well as your experiences that you have.

And I know I've. Been glued to your Instagram for the past week.  Looking at the different work that you do. And I know my brother was really amped and excited about this, especially with knowing who your brother is not putting two and two together so early, it was kinda funny, but it makes sense now.

And  so we are very glad to have you with us today here on the Hilltop globe podcast. It's a beautiful Saturday. So we look forward to have a great conversation and  I'm gonna start off like we do with all of our guests, man. We just want you to give our audience a little bit of your background  growing up  if you could just explain to us who Jean Claude is and what makes you so infamous.

Okay.  I think the infamous came like down the line.  Just in general, like I grew up in Lexton Kentucky  as a college town  just very. College kids and just regular neighborhoods, you know?  But my backyard at, and on the trains and just like looking at like jet magazine and  different like magazines, I, like, I was drawn towards like  the way things look, you know  and a luckily had like  parents who were like, if you like something let's explore, go to the library, go to the orchestra, let's go to whatever.

So. My  palette of like just art was open at the very young age and just, I, I built from there. And  when I got to high school, I really opened up  like trying to figure out like, what is my style, but I didn't really know what my style was.  I, I was, I took French class from, I'm gonna know I'm bouncing around a lot, but , I took, I took  French class from  freshman year to.

My senior year and that's where I got the John CLA part from. We have to pick a name  ah  with that the infamous kind, just like attach itself to the name. I didn't wanna use my regular name  while being an artist  I wanna have like alias to like  create like a platform to something different than myself, even though like it all merges just something like the different space.

 But like just infa, I think  infamous for. , you know  also learn and persistent in what I do.  Nothing too wild, just I'm very passionate and whole and true to what I do are very authentic. So I've got a lot of the work that I've gotten with  these, I guess you wanna say prominent or up upcoming artist, just being myself and connecting with like a just higher level.

they really care about what they do and it, they, it just aligns now. I didn't have the, the most followers, the most people  watching me, but they knew just off conversation and building that they could trust me into like, creating what they needed for their product. Right. Wow. Yeah. Okay. Okay. So  with, with, with you saying all of that, did you.

seek this. And I know we, we were recently  myself and  or my colleagues on the show. We actually went to  our exhibition. Okay. And we were sitting in on this talk and during the talk, the artists were explaining and expressing why they knew.  At whatever age it was that they needed to be an artist to express themselves.

And do you have a time when you knew, okay, sixth grade I was sitting there and I was drawing such and such and I knew, yep. I should do this. I got you.  When I, when I was younger, I think like most, most kids, I thought I was gonna be a basketball player, man.   and then  yeah, and then, but I could always draw.

My, my parents always told me the story. Like when I was in kindergarten  they had like situation where we had to like draw a fire truck. And everybody like generally drew like the square circles, you know? And I drew like the, the  the holes and like the wires and like the, the, the person. And they're like, okay, you're probably gonna be an artist, you know,  so  as I got older, Especially, like, I wanna say like middle school, high school, I kind of resented art because every time  art would come up, they'd be like, gee, you can do it.

Julie can do it. I'm like, you know what I'm saying? Like, why, why, why me? You know what I'm saying? Like, I, I knew I had a gift, but I didn't appreciate it at that time. Cuz it was always you do it. It wasn't nobody else. So I think once I heard, yeah. I think once I hit passed college  or the end of college where I had some like health problems  art became like my refuge and also my therapy.

And that's when, like really hit me like, okay, all right, this is, this is my calling for real cause I would, I guess the perfect example is  a lot of stuff in my, my senior portfolio  was very like commercial or  for. And I knew I wanted to do more than that. I wanted to be like album cover art, or like people who did stuff like in  complex magazine, if y'all remember that magazine mm-hmm

Yeah.  So what I would do, I, I would do the assignment for the class, but then I would go home and just like do my personal work. And then the last couple weeks, when it was time to show, you asked portfolio, I was like, I'm just gonna bring in what I've been doing at home. And then I was the first present and the teachers.

After the whole thing was over. She was like, Julie's the only one that has a cohesive portfolio. Mm-hmm  I was like, I was like, OK. I was like, all right.  I know I'm fine. I'm fine. And then from there that just like sparked me up to be like, all right, I'm gonna figure this out, you know? Yeah, man. That's dope.

That's dope, man. So that kind of goes right into the next question  with, I haven't looking at some of your works and it reminds me of like a collage. Yeah. But can you tell people, like you have mixed media? Like what type of  Like what inspires you to create your different types of work? Cause I know I do art also.

Yeah. But doing collage work is usually like I get a couple magazines and just cut out images and then just place them all together. Right. But being a, like a graphic designer, that's a little bit different. So can you explain  your medium, your favorite, medium, and what inspires you as an artist? Okay.

 I think I started with like doing like acrylic  painting.  And that, and that was like a heavy process, cuz like you really gotta like dive in and like take time and all right. What, what do I wanna put on the canvas? Mm-hmm  how do I wanna start? Like all that.  And then with the, with the graphic design part  once I left college, I know like album covers use like Photoshop and all that.

And I wasn't proficient in it at the time, but I know that's how you credited it. So. Draw and scan and then like use whatever. I, I knew at the time to like build illustration with graphic design mm-hmm  okay.  Yeah. And then eventually I just, I just found a style that worked for me with the cut out star wars.

Like I didn't have to like take the, the, the time to like cut out  pieces precisely. Yeah. But I, I can, I can make the look through the program. Mm-hmm . Al also became like, almost like a meditative thing in itself where I'm like making it how I want it to look. Yeah.  But there's also like elements of that, where it comes to structuring the, the, the piece.

So the, the composition where like everything aligns with, without you actually  looking at straightforward. Okay. That, that triangle. Connects to that shoulder connects to that, that end of the, that  top of that hill, you know what I'm saying? Like it makes balancing the peace, but that's the type of stuff.

I, it takes me a while to like, make a peace. Cause I really think about those things. That's why people feel are drawn to a lot of my work because I make those  conscious decisions  to make the work  elevate, you know? Yeah. Yeah. Nice. Yeah. Your work does speak for itself. It does. And what was the, the last, last part of the question?

I don't even remember.

what is, oh, OK. OK. I remember, I remember like, do you re what, what, what inspires you as an artist? Like what do you gain inspiration from, in your environment or in your community? Okay.  I think just life in general  nobody has the same perspective. Mm-hmm  so like conversation. Chilling in nature.  Your own thought process  just, just living this, this, this life is, is a lot

Yeah, so mm-hmm  if you can connect with other people, but also be lucky enough to have like release those  thoughts. It's it is a beautiful thing, man. This, this world is, is, is a lot . This world is been very heavy, a lot to deal with people. And  people take, I guess, a lot of their  I guess escapism through like different vices, but one of my vices is my art man.

It just, it makes sure I make sure I can like express that as best way I can. So other people, if one person sees it.  inspires them to like, whatever they need to do or achieve or follow the purpose I'm I'm doing, I'm doing my, my purpose, you know, so yeah. Nice. You seem very  spiritual and mindful and aware  that I've had  a few situations without over elaborating where we.

things just open up for me. Like I pretty much open up things, man. Just put it that way and it's hard. It's hard to close it.    Yeah, so you see the world different.  You're not , you're not whatever you just, you, you, once you find your purpose, you, you just, you go with that and just live life the best way you can and extend those  gifts that you.

Tell other people and hopefully they'll plant seeds for themselves, or at least listen and open up just the thought of like, I'm, I'm more than my own thoughts, you know? Mm-hmm  yeah. Yeah. So in the Webster dictionary, art is defined as the conscious use of skill and creative imagination. Mm-hmm , especially in the production of aesthetic objects.

Mm-hmm  but you being the artist, can you tell us your definition of. And how has it changed over your lifetime? Oh, that's a heavy question. Okay.  My definition of art  it, Hmm, let get a second to breathe real quick. Start with the heavy shit right off the bat. Being the artist. I was kinda hard. Simplify art.

I, I guess for right now, it might change, but expressive representation. I think that's what art is.  It's your own thought process cuz you can't fully  show what's going on in your mind. You know what I'm saying? It's hard to like really.  say or tell, okay, this is what is in my head, but if you get like a glimpse of like what's in your head, people understand it a little bit.

Mm-hmm, , you're doing something right. You know, it's, it's beyond like a pretty picture. Cause  for the long, for the longest time, like I did, I never understood like Ja Jackson Pollock, and like somebody just putting a dot on a, on a. On a, on a, a canvas. But I understand once you master your craft, it gets to the point like what's next.

And like, you're just expressing in that moment, how you feel. I'm not, I'm not saying every time fully, but I understand, you know, like if you, if you started with like  traditional art, like painting faces    new drawings, whatever, like still lives. And then you got to the point. How far can I take this?

I, I want to track, I want whatever, right? This, you, you gonna get to a point either. You're gonna like repurpose, which you already been  doing and like just flipping it or you gonna be like, you gonna go down to like a dot  you gonna be, okay, this, this is my, this is where I'm at right now. You know what I'm saying?

Might change. But this is what makes me like, this is my, my key point, you know? Yeah. But it creates, it creates conversation, which. After battle of like, or anyways, like what is next? You know what I'm saying? What, what can I do

hell that, that brings up a good point.  That art is pushing to have you ask questions. Do you  purposely attempt to do that when you create your  expression of art or is it something that comes as a side effect? I think it's a side effect.  Usually just.  I get into like meditative state when I create mm-hmm  and I just like, go on, like I was earlier, I go off of like  my experiences, but I feel the way I create a lot of myself, people can relate to it.

Mm.  So they, they jump in. Okay. I, I get this. I don't, it might not be exactly how he  he was a cause for example, when I had my art show in August last. . It was like young kids to like professors to 70 year old  couples. They all came up to me. Like, I like this because of blah, blah, blah. It wasn't the same idea, but it was a similar content, you know what I'm saying?

Okay. And I'm like, I'm like, okay, like I'm, I'm doing something, you know? Cause like it just, I just do me, you know, like, but it, it opens the element of like, why are we here pretty much.  I know that's very, that's very. Open topic, you know, but probably on earth, you know what I'm saying? Like, it's the thing thing it's the most recent, but also the biggest one.

Yeah. Yeah. But that, like you said, there, there can be like a line or a thread between  the different.   Pieces that you create, right? And this is a point you're making, I like, I like what, how you're talking about this.  Even though the folk had different con like ideas of what it was or understandings of it, there was a concept through it.

Yeah. That was keeping everything held together, which goes back to what you were saying earlier. You were doing, you put your pieces in that you did at. For yourself. And when you bought it to the, to the  to display at the end of the semester, she was like, here, this stuff is cohesive because like I said, that's something that came from your spirit.

Yep. Yep. And it was all D it's all different stuff, but it just made sense, you know? Yeah. It was part of the flow part of your process. Yeah. Cause like the class assigns to like draw. A turtle working at a desk, you know what I'm saying? I'm like  this is not my, this is not what I'm, I'm rocking with. You know what I'm saying?

But, but it was, but it was like corporate stuff, you know, like yeah, yeah. Stuff you put in like  design magazines, or home, home and cooking, you know what I'm saying? Good job. Yeah. Just, it just wasn't hit for me. You know what I'm saying? And  that's right. I would go home and. Get my zone. Just draw, like, this is what I'm feeling, you know what I'm saying?

Like, this is, this is, this is my, my whatever brought stuff in they're like, oh, okay. All right.  yeah. So did you ever, ha have you ever looked to get a job in the corporate world with your art education or have you always looked to, to be a  a freelance producer?  Always wanted to do freelance  I I'll be real, like, just in general, just for like the stability part I wanted to do like    corporate, like I know I was gonna hate it.

You know what I'm saying? Like, I just, it just wasn't gonna fit.  Cause I know I, I would like try to like do my, my version of whatever and they might be like, that's cool, but we're looking for this, you know? So mm-hmm  I got, I got blessed. Right, right outta college. I was, I wrote like a business plan, gave it to my pops and he R I P like, he blessed me with like a good chunk of money.

Do you son? And then I just, wow. I, for the first, I wanna say six months when I moved to Charlotte, I just, I, I honed in, how can I figure this out? I was like, okay. What's, what's the best place I can start. I was like, my space is popping at the. So like I would go to the music page and I have a pretty good ear for music.

So I would like find artists. And like, if I like what I heard, I'd be like, I'll do a cover for free or I'll do a cover for hundred dollars. Or if I do this, send me more art artists, and then I'll just build like  clientele from there and I'm not going, I'm not going like  say some of the people that.

I like this stuff for no namedropping, no name drop it. All right. But, but, but a lot of them are famous right now, but they probably don't know who I am. But  it's the robot walking. You decided what you wanted to do? Yeah. Yeah. But they, they, they stayed in contact me like during the MySpace days and then I helped them and they helped me.

And then that how I got more clientele and I stayed on it. And then I met people like  Eric, Gar Elliot from the fat zombies.  Iman Amari  few other people. They they've rocked me since, so yeah. Dope, dope, dope.

 I guess moving on to, to the next question  and I know I'll have some other  things to ask you though, man, cuz this is very interesting. Thanks. Making make, and this is why we're asking cuz you know, making, living as an artist, it can be challenging. Yeah.  We we've talked with other artists about this before and the fact that they there's  certain ideas that artists are  out here living off of Ram noodles, trying to make it for the next, next to the next payday.

Yeah. But  branding is key, like to creating value and I know there's some. One person. I do like that talks about this is David banner. Okay. Who talks about the fact that you have to put value into whatever you create. And that goes with the branding, the marketing of it, and making sure that people pay you your fair share for your word.

Right. So with that being said, if you could describe your brand with one word, what would that word be? Hm. Authentic. Mm. Yeah. Why, so, why would you say a.  Because I, I never switched up to like fit a mold. Like I knew it was gonna be a long run mm-hmm .  But I, I was blessed to have a dope older brother, Y freedom as y'all know.

Yeah.  He's like, I was like, he at the beginning, I'm like, man, I, I wanna get more money. He's like, man, this, this dude, like, don't worry about the bread. It'll it'll come. And that, like, I was just too eager. You know what I'm saying? I was, I was, I was, I was thirsty to like, get in there. You gotta pay your dues.

Like, and one thing, just like to connect like arts and music, like most people are like, how did this person blow up so fast, man, I don't get it. If you look back at their resume, they've been doing it for 10, 15 years before they got to where they need to be, you know? Right preach. So I've been, I've been doing this now for about four years and I wanna say the last five years has been like my catalyst to connecting with like the circle.

And my circles so strong now, like people just like refer me to other people just off the shrimp. You know what I'm saying? They just it's been, it's been a blessing because they to see the work ethic, they talk to me on the phone. They're like, chill, let's say, you know what you want. Like, we trust your, your talents.

 That's how I got like the moon child cover.  Working with Eric Robson, these are like my most recent stuff. Yeah. And he's, he's extended his network  to me, to like a whole bunch of other artists in the game and help. I'm very blessed that he's did that, but just  and, and, and just me being me, he's like, I see what you doing fam like, go, just go.

I'm alright. At work respect, man. That's an important. Is awesome point that you made. And I know, especially for us millennials, the one thing about podcast is trying to show people from people that are doing it, how the, the, the real way that the sausage is made and the fact that you said, you know, how many years you have to put into it?

I know my brother and I, we were having this conversation this week about knowing that there are steps yeah. That you have to take. Yeah. Could you explain some of the steps that you took to establish your brand over that period of of 14 years that you've been. Yeah.  I don't wanna give away all the sauce, man, but  little sauce.

Give a little sauce. Yeah.  But like basically I had a certain email I would send  at the beginning I had a certain email I was send and like, I would like  switch out the names, but like, it was like a, it was like a set email, like blah, blah, blah. Like I respect what you do. You know what I'm saying?

It was very, it was not wasn't generic, but it was. A placement holder, you know? Yeah. And then as, and then  I would get like a good amount of people off of that. But  as  Instagram came, I would cater the email to the artist. So I would make sure I listen to the music, see like, look through their Instagram and then be like, I would be very  brief.

Like if you like trying to say too much, like in your beginning statement, they're not gonna look. You got, you gotta be very precise. You like, I like what you do. I'm from here. Here's my artwork. If you resonate with it, thank you. If you don't appreciate your time and to get out it, they they'll eventually look at it.

You know what I'm saying? Like artists check their being, like, if they're like a big, big arts, but like news and followers, it might be different, but like in general, they're gonna check it. You know what I'm saying? Just don't think it's gonna happen like in two days or a week or whatever, but, but what I'll usually do.

like for, for example, when  Eric and Robson  he added me like randomly like, oh shit. So I immediately DMD him. And then he, he responded right away. You know what I'm saying? And then we started working right away. So it's, it's literally like, people gotta realize they do check their DMS. You just can't, you gotta be, you gotta be patient, you know?

Gotcha. But. Precise, what you, what you're about you can't be like beating around the Bush. Like yo was good fam him, blah, blah, blah. You know? Nah, you can't be doing all right. I like what you do. I like your sound. I think the, our, our work will mess together. Here's some of my work like show examples of your work and then be like, mm-hmm  if it, if, if a rock is you cool, if it doesn't thank you and then leave it alone.

You know what I'm saying? That's it? Yeah, it, it is usually gonna come back around. So at some time, cause one thing I'm.  All the time is that like the music industry in art industry in general is very  small, but it's big, you know, so people, a lot of people know other people. So in my, it is basically the six degrees of separation.

Cause I all talk to a artist, I'll be like, do you know about, oh yeah, I know a person. Cause they know they knows them cause, oh, that's how I know you. I seen you work. Like five years ago. I didn't know you did that. Oh, oh, you did that governor. So like your, your resume speaks for itself. Mm-hmm  but that's what you gotta realize too.

You can't have things happen overnight because you don't have a resume. You don't have something they can look back on and be like, all right. They they've been putting in putting in the work. They know what they're doing. Thank you. Yes, sir. Thank you. Thank you. I like that point people. They don't, we, I used to have that question too, as, as a, as a young one, growing up, watching these artists, like, there'll be certain people start following 'em mm-hmm  and you'll be able to like, especially when the ability to binge on stuff came out.

Yeah. You could binge on the season or so. And you be like, Ooh, they got like three seasons up. And then now they're putting out this other work over here and, but how do they do this? So. No one tells you that they took steps to get there, right? That it took four or five years to build up that content. Yep.

To create foment a, a movement behind them that could support that brand.  Do you think that going to an art and design school prepared you for that? Yes and no.  It gave me like the. Structural foundation, like just like reiterate like my skills as an artist, just like, know  the formulas of like what what's drawing, you know what I'm saying?

How, how to draw face, all that type of stuff.  Creating composition, like all that, all that type of stuff. Yes. But like in general, it's it is basically , it might sound bad, but it's, it's basically like a, a, a competi. Within the competition in the school, you know what I'm saying? Like you you're competing on somebody else's craft when you gotta find your own style, you know, dang like bad.

Yeah. So that's once I like reel that back, cause like aesthetically, some of those kids are extremely talented, you know what I'm saying? Like, I'm like, damn, I can't draw like that. But I was like, that's that? I had to rule myself back. Like that's, that's not your space to, to draw like that. You know what I'm.

Yeah. Like you, you have another lane you're you're on and nobody's on that lane. You know what I'm saying? You cruising. So once I, once I locked in, in that and realized that I was like, okay, cool. I'm good. And then like that, that  last told you guys that like validated what I needed to know  as it created, like nobody's art is going to look the same, you know what I'm saying?

Like a pretty pitcher. Yeah. This is pretty pitcher. Abstract can like, bring so much  thoughtfulness and openness compared to like a pretty, a pretty picture is good to look at. And it's not bad. It's not a bad thing at all. Yeah. But like that could be copy. Copy. Like you can't copy a style if you do. You just, you just jocking somebody, you know what I'm saying?

Like, and that's, it's not, that's not, it's not tight.  . And then when I look at your work, I see a certain. Like you have your you've created your own aesthetics, so yeah. And can you break down again?  For some of the people that don't understand the term mixed media and the difference between graphic design and painting.

Okay. The, the difference. Yeah.  Like painting and just like campus work. So like acrylic oils  something the other medium they're like paint, paint, brush. Canvas  grab designs usually like in Photoshop or scanning work back in the day and then making stuff like you seen, like magazines or posters or billboards, things like that.

 In the question, my bet  I lost my train of thought for second. No, you did. That was it. But what, what is your favorite since you do everything, what is your, your unique style? Which one is your favorite? Cuz you incorporate all of them. Yeah, which you have one more than the other?  I re I really like, as like a, I'm probably painting, but that takes a lot out of me cuz mm-hmm  when  I was really going through it for a minute.

 In my twenties, like paintings were, was like my refuge man. And like, I really like tapped into painting and like, I, I would like literally like mentally escape. The world , I'd just be like in the canvas. And just sometimes I, I wouldn't even, it wouldn't be like a finished product. I just like putting a brush on the canvas and just going, you know  graphic design is a little bit more easier because just the functionality of it mm-hmm

But I still get those states where I can like get meditative and just like how I place things. I can move one piece around. For 10 minutes, like, okay, should go here, maybe go here. But you know what I'm saying? Like just making it look right. You know, I like, I like that part of the process of like aesthetically making it appealing besides the, the, the    just the, the colors and all that.

Just like making all the elements come together and make a, a beautiful piece.  So I think  my paintings probably number one, my graphic design two, and then my drawing.  maybe two, three. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So I know being an artist  like your mind is like everywhere. Yeah. How did you did the business etiquette side of things down?

Mm-hmm  as an artist. Mm-hmm  cause I know that's a, a, a tough route for most people they just wanna create. Yeah. But still gotta do stuff behind the scenes. So how did you, did you have a mentor in that area or like you said, you had a business plan. Yeah  Jer  if I needed any additional type of like, okay, what should I do on pricing?

What should I do on this? Mm-hmm   he was there. Cause as you know, Jare is very multifaceted when it comes to like music and just, he's very smart and intelligent dude.  so like he  he would like guide me and then    the, this young lady.  Katie Pilgrim, she became  my  my art rep for five, six years.

So she gave me a lot of shows in like Knoxville  Nashville.  She kind of handled that stuff. And then when she moved to California  we kind of broke ties. We still talked. We cool. But  I've been doing it pretty much on my own the last seven years, but I'll hit her up every now and then she had free time to like, just get advice, cuz she used to work at.

Galleries in  California. So she's very much embedded in the  gallery and like art scene.  She's been for a, for a while, so she helped Dery and then actually I just invested in  a brand cause about a month ago. So that's gonna take a little  relief off me so I can focus fully on the art. So indeed.

Yeah.

And I, I have a quick question about  the gallery and the art shows. Ex exhibitions. Yeah.  Ex and I know in the art world there is this  Hey, say usually there's a gap between which you consider gallery style work. Yeah. A straight way. Do you exist in both worlds? And that's what I was about to ask.

So how do you move between both of them, especially since you're doing most of this stuff yourself?  I guess, especially with the graphic design stuff, if in that, that realm where it's  I guess it bells was, I guess, I guess you wanna say high end or whatever mm-hmm   my paintings is still more, I.

Like you said street. So I mm-hmm do in Charlotte. I would have like a lot of art shows, like skate shops, smart. So like they was coming there and like, alright cool. Like, can I shout out to Josh from black sheep skate shop from day one? He never, like, I, I knew nobody besides my brother in Charlotte and I, I was like, I got, gotta start moving and shaking man.

So I, I ended up finding that shop. I was like, yo, Joe, I don't think I. Before I left Charlotte, I think I had like four or five shows there. So he, whenever yeah. Whenever he was like, yeah, just let me know.  you know what? I'm very receptive. That's good. Yeah. He, he was cool. He, he respected the hustle, man, so, but like gallery wise, like it's hard, like gallery wise is very much  who knows.

I know that was bad to say, but that's part of it.   It's it's truth. It's true.  Now they deal with that down here in Columbia, too. Yeah. Not unless  you are big and then like, okay, we bring them in, but it's like, who, you know?  So I I'll propose a, to a lot of gallery, but it's like, they'll ask, will it fit in this gallery?

What type of gallery it is? Who's the audience, a lot of the elements that you have to    place in. To figure it out. Well, yeah, I go, I go back and forth between, yeah. Do you have a favorite between the two worlds? I resonate more with the, the, the skate and hip hop culture, man. So  I don't mind. Yeah.

Yeah. That's how I started, cuz that's where I figured out my style. Just like looking at magazines and like skate videos and hip hop videos, rap city, and.  LRG  advertisements and all that type of stuff like that was my, or like definitely  vinyl covers. Mm.  I would look at like 70, 60 vinyl cover with the collage.

I'm like, wow, this is, this is dope. But they did it like the very, very traditional way, you know? So I was like, yo, this is, this is what I wanna do.  But I didn't fully figure that out until later, but I was drawn to, towards that stuff at a very young age, the gallery stuff intrigued me, but it also. Why, why is everything so clean?

Why  like, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's a, there is a specific way. It goes, yeah. To specific template. And also it's like, I didn't have the, at the time I didn't have the full vocabulary and, know about to, to like talk to some of these people. You know what I'm saying? Some of them were like, like overtalk you, not, not, you know what I mean?

Like  explain to me what you mean.  Like over knowledge, you about art, you know what I'm. Got it. , I figured out a nice meeting where I can still be myself, but also say what I need to say.

 Without them being like, you don't know this, you know what I'm saying? Like, you don't know mm-hmm T or whatever, you know what I'm saying, John? Yeah. So it's like, I'm doing. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Right, right, right. So that has to be kind of interesting. I know.  One of the things I know when we first started the podcast, we always asked  guests this question, and I know if things have started to progress, we've stopped on that.

But this for you would make sense. And I know this is why this question is here and I know the pandemic, it slowed down a lot. Art activities, exhibitions and shows. Right? It's just what it is.  Because the culture of it is to be around with people talking, communicating, socializing, that's part of the game.

Right.  Now that things are beginning to open up,  but how do you think the pandemic has impacted the ability for artists to participate in exhibitions and art shows? Have they had to find new ways. And if so, what did you do  during that time to make sure you were still making a living?

 I, I stayed on my, my hustle with like emails and contacting people. And  I tried to keep my, in addition to that, I made sure I kept my, my mental health tech by like calling people, other artists, seeing what they're doing. Smart  smart figuring out like, alright.  and like I said, I was blessed enough to connect with Eric Robson.

He's like, we're not doing live shows right now, but I'm doing like backdrops where I do performances, but I need visuals for the back. Can you do that? Like that? So I, we figured out like, oh wow. Different things to like, make it work. You know what I'm saying? Like, we, we just worked around it.  like, now, now you now I  I was like, how did I pay my bills?

everywhere that time. But I, but I did though. You know what I'm saying? Like, Time, it was time to pay rent, whatever I had it, but it was, it was, it was tough. It was tough. Yeah. And  your, your recent move as well, has, how has that also given you a little bit of  pause for cause, or having to re restructure how you do your shows and your exhibits in your new market?

Has that been a, has it been a large learning curve or had you just jumped right into it? No problem.  I, I gradually. Moved into it. I knew it was gonna be a different environment from Charlotte to Kentucky.  But I know like most people  are intrigued by art. So mm-hmm, , I just make very dope business cards and have, go and have conversations.

I don't present the car first, the conversation at a bar or like talking to somebody randomly. And then if art ends up being part of the conversation, I'm like, oh, by the way. Yeah, I do. I'll give, I'll give 'em the card then they'll oh, oh, okay. And then it goes from there. So I just slowly, like, I, I make the balance of like, I'm a social introvert, so I make the balance of like staying home, but also on the weekends, going to the bar and just to like connect, like, and you still do that hand in hand combat?

Yeah. That's what I call the S hand in hand combat  that's yeah. Cause you gotta get out there. Mix and mingle and  I totally understand, especially  like we were saying, that is part of that culture. You're supposed to do that. And I know for a lot of folks during the pandemic  folk who are artists, they've had to come up with with great creative ways to do.

And, and it is cool though, because they've.  Artists are responsible for a lot of the creative things that we've seen coming out of the pandemic. Like you all create solutions, right? That's one reason why I love art is because it's a solution based median, like that's like people say you could do different types of art, but there's something coming out of it.

That's probably gonna solve somebody's problem. Yep.  So that's something I always like. And then  one more question about  exhibitions and art shows. Okay. 

Do you think it's important for artists to own their own spaces where they put on exhibits? Mm-hmm  and if so, what are some of your ideas on how or how to use that type of idea? Like a C like a, a space where artists actually own it and they can put on their own.

That's a good question.  If you had your own, like, just like regular space, like this is my look, like, look, look through the glass, like all my art. I think that would be a dope situation.  But also me just thinking as just like a, I guess like a share or, or like I understand galleries have to have stay open so other people can see it.

So I. Using their commission.  So it's like a back and forth, like you don't want to take away from those galleries, especially those genuine galleries that  wanna help artists and they need to eat too. But I understand your side with like having your own  gallery can be very beneficial for you.

It's, it's, it's a back and forth what you can always do with like open studio. If you have your own studio where people can come in and just vibe with.  and like, if they like something, yeah. Explain, explain open studio concept. What's that  if you have something outside of your house, like a, like a studio that you rent out or whatever, you can have people come in and just like, hang out.

And if they like a piece, they can buy it right there. You know? Mm-hmm oh yeah. So our link was done. And then  yeah, so  you can do that, or, but like I said, it's a back and forth between making sure the people who. Making space for us artists to have a platform, give their bread, but also us getting bread too.

You know what I'm saying? Yeah. Cause we gotta live  we gotta pay bills. We gotta get more. We gotta get more art supplies, so, yeah. Right. Yeah. And do you think that a go ahead. I said it is not cheap being no, no. I was about to ask like acrylic paint, like one, like the good stuff. Like I said, you can get, you can get like cheap basics or whatever, but like.

Acrylic pain. Like one tube was like, if you get the good, stuff's like $10 a tube, you know? So, and it's like a small tube.  so saying how far does that tube go? Yeah. Long, depending on the piece you're working on. Yeah, exactly. If you, if you, if you have like a larger piece, it's more than the end was like in your mind, like that, that could have been a meal  yeah.

Real talk, real talk. But you, but you, but you're sacrifice.  for the greater good, you know what I'm saying? You you're doing what you love, so it make, it makes sense. But yeah. Now have you ever thought about taking someone under you like a mentee mm-hmm   eventually, yes.  Right now it might be too much, cuz like things are kind of like excelling  mm-hmm  so I, I don't too fast.

Yeah. Yeah. So I don't, I don't. Get them lost in the sauce. You know what I'm saying? Like, I don't want them to be like, oh, what's what's going on. Is this too much? Is it going  but yeah, eventually. Yeah.  Especially when I come, when I get painting, if I have like bigger canvases, they can help like, do like the base and stuff like that.

And  yeah. And just give, give 'em the game. Like.  like my, like my brother did for me. I want, I wanted to help  the next artist.  Mm-hmm  Excel. So yeah. Yeah. I know being an artist is very time consuming. Mm-hmm   so, and a lot of creatives like struggle with finding a healthy work life balance mm-hmm  and effective with it.

What are some of the ways that you maintain a healthy work type of balance? Mm, I make sure I get myself.  Have a, have a pup. So like I I'll take walks.  I sit in nature.  I'll like go to the bar, but I usually go when it's, it's not busy. Mm-hmm  and just like nowadays, like if you go to the bar, like people on the phone, likem.

I'm, I'm gonna be that annoying person. I'm I'm gonna start asking you questions, man.  cause, cause that's, that's the point of sitting at the bar. Like, if you don't want to talk, like sit at the table, you know what I'm saying? Like, that's it, but I'm not trying to be grimy, but I'm just saying like that that's the point of the bar, like yeah, you want detox and just, all right.

Hey, what's up? How's your day going? You know what I'm saying? What's on your mind, you know, just, just build, cause like the bartenders can only take so much. But at the same time, I know we can get like a good conversation flowing.  I guess hopefully it it'll inspire both of us eventually. You know what I'm saying?

So, yeah. Do you have any  like any advice for other people? Cause I know I just, me as a artist, it's hard for me to find time to sit down and create, like I only create when I'm feeling like vulnerable, like you said, it's a therapeutic process. Yeah.  But it's hard for me to be like, all right, I need to create from two to four or through this gap and I need to, and then when I'm looking at the art, I'm like, all right, I need take you feeling it.

Yeah. And don't come back for like a year. Oh, wait. I think, I think a good started point is for me is like music. So I might put some music on and that might spark something. Mm-hmm  I might not finish the piece. Right. Well, at least I started and I come back to it. Yeah. Mm-hmm  but like music inspires so many things, especially memories.

Yeah. So you can listen to a song, but oh, I remember when this happened, then you can start creating from there. So one, one thing's like we're always inspired is how motivated are you to want to be inspired? You know what I'm saying? That's an interesting way to put it. Yeah. That's a very interesting way to put it.

Cause like you, you can let, you can let yourself be helped back by like. I'm not ready or not. Mm-hmm  you go get to the point. You're not ready then. And there's, time's gonna be up, you know what I'm saying? So you just got, you gotta push through, you just gotta push through and be like, yo, this is really what I want to do.

 Don't over push yourself, but if you really care about your craft, you'll at least start things. You know what I'm saying? And I'm talking to myself too, so it's not like I'm like trying to preach like this out. Like I'll get into moments where  I'm like, dang, like I really don't wanna do nothing, but I was like, I know.

I, I have something in me that I can like at least start today, you know, mm-hmm  so, yeah, instead of just waiting it out. Okay. I see what you're saying. Yeah. And  I guess when  R P when Virgil passed away, even though I didn't know him personally, and not like that, I respected what he did for the culture.

Mm-hmm  and he has so much more that I know that was in him. Right. Then he was only like, . Yeah. And I'm like, yeah. I'm like, yo, like I can't let these ideas just sit in me, man. Like, right. I, I don't want this  I don't want some, God forbid something happening and like has so much to give it never came up to the world for inspiration.

Just like making my footprint  in this existence. You know what I'm saying? Like, I, I don't wanna miss out on doing that, so I'm just, I'm just going in. Yeah. So man, the upcoming.  A few, I don't wanna like jinx them.  understood. Yeah. But like you, there's a lot of things.  You know how, like you say a project that like they'll fall through whatever.

 I know a lot of these are like solidified, but kind of work y'all just to see it when it happens.  But some great things are going to, you're gonna see about summertime, for sure. For sure. So where, where do we follow you if  we want to just see what's what's coming up. Okay.  My website is  infamous Jean cloud.com.

 My Instagram, the same thing. incloud.com. And I guess for just like jokes or perspective, go Twitter.  Infamous J.

Excellent. Excellent. Excellent man. Dope. That's where I'm at right now is already been bothering around. Looking on that, man. I'm telling you, man, it's been a great  conversation with you today. Yeah.  I know you're actually, you're gonna be, this is gonna be our, I believes our last recording for the, for the year right now, man.

So man, you, you help us make it to our milestone. You summed up that completing our second season. And  you've helped us sum this up. Well  if I could ask, oh, to end the, I guess the pod  can I ask you guys a question? Of course. Sure. Okay.  What do you guys purpose? Ooh. My purpose is to help and assist on this, this planet that we exist on.

I've been thinking about that one for a while. So that's a good question to ask. Yes, sir. Yeah. And my purpose  is to cultivate creativity in people. I want people to understand that everybody is an artist and everybody's a creator. We come from a creator, so they just need to tap inside and dig inside.

So I don't mind helping them pull it out of themselves, whether it's in the  painting, field, drawing, painting, theater, any type of art feel.

Yeah, I got this  this fatherhood thing taking priority at the moment, but,  it's real on a larger scale. Oh yeah. Yeah. But on a larger scale. Yeah.  Facilitating other humans  work kind of nurturing that environment where creativity and  expression can be, cuz this whole like locking off and isolating and echo chamber.

And that's not the way mm-hmm . So, yeah,

he got that fatherhood thing too. Oh, he's stuck. I was trying to get him to get chime in too. Cause I wanted to get all of us on. No, he got a good one. No, I'm here. Oh, of course, man. There you go. All right. What's your, what's your purpose?  I'm connecting other people helping to build.

you a plug be?  Most definitely. Well, that being said, go ahead. Go ahead. Anything else you, you wanna say John club? No. Yeah. I just wanna say mine since everybody sit there. I think it's  for me, it's like to create, inspire, heal myself and mm-hmm  yeah.  It's definitely gonna be the sound bite for the episode. It's gotta be one of them, man. I'm I'm telling you, man. I, I, I I'm, I'm pleasantly surprised on this conversation today and the topics that we talked about mm-hmm,   information that we. Get with the conversation.  And that's just a, a reflection of you, right?

 As well. Cause if that wasn't the case, we wouldn't get that. But  man, like I said, it's been a pleasure conversation with you today. Of course, this will be our last  recording of the season. We want to thank you for  helping us to meet, reach this milestone. And  man, we can't wait for season three, but before we do the part, as I always like to tell people, man  thank.

For  listening to, so at the Hilltop glove podcast, this is DJ Ann. What with Tamaya, skip Mike and our fantastic guests, the infamous Jean Claude holding it down.  We just want everybody to make sure you go out there and love those people around.