Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Wallerstein.
Hi Jason, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in South Florida and used to play in the grassy areas and swampy fields that made up Tamarac before it had a huge population boom. As a child, I wanted to become a park ranger. I loved catching and releasing animals, and I was constantly drawing them and had a sketchbook at an early age. My Mother was also obsessed with animals and pets; we always had too many pets in our home. At one point, we even had 10 dogs, a pot-belly pig, 10 cats, 2 parrots, a few tropical birds, and a guinea pig named Caruso. My favorite pet was Brunky, a Boston Terrier with massive spunk and moxy – an actual gremlin. I attended Dreyfoos School of the Arts for High School, where I honed my art skills and fell in love with the punk rock music scene. I completed a BA in Fine Arts from MICA -Maryland Institute College of Art, where I majored in Painting with a focus on and passion for printmaking. I moved back to Southeast Florida and continued to create art while building a career in tech. After getting married, having our son, and moving to Texas, I realized I was in the best city to share my art and pursue my desire to share my art in a supportive community. My wife, Donna, built a fantastic art studio behind our home where I can do what I love. She catalyzed BrunkyArt and owns the business, taking on its marketing, sales, and logistics. I lovingly refer to her as my “Art Pimp.”
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I have always created art and never pursued selling it. I would always give it as a gift to friends and family. I have also amassed a vast collection too. When we moved to Austin, we walked art events to get a feel for the market before we booked any shows or festivals. When we began selling my art, we would re-evaluate what worked and what didn’t with each event we did. We have had to pivot a little when we started doing art festivals. Austinites are fantastic, and the artist community is very supportive. We have gotten tons of tips and help along the way, and we want to spread the love and support we have gotten to other new artists entering the art scene. Getting into art galleries has been challenging, but persistence is vital. Rejection is part of the art world, and I don’t take it personally. A No is not a No forever -it usually means a No for now.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
My wife calls me the “Unofficial Armadillo King of Central Texas.” I have always specialized in creating art that involves animals in my local area. My work tends to be sweet and spicy -I create cute animal art with a slightly dark edge (i.e., sharp teeth, claws, or prey and predators in fun colors and sweet settings). I usually paint on birchwood panels with acrylics and have more recently diversified into printmaking with woodblock or linoleum relief prints because I acquired a vintage printing press from a professor in Dallas and have been enjoying that medium.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some changes you expect to see over the next five to ten years?
We’ve seen a decrease in people purchasing original paintings. Still, I hope that changes because Austin art lovers enjoy surrounding themselves with colorful, original art that inspires!
Pricing:
- We offer every price point -stickers for $2.50 to original paintings that range from $300-3k
- Our matted prints go for $40-50
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.brunky.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brunkyart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrunkyArt/
