Be kind: over the years, I have learned that it is better for me mentally, spiritually, and physically to be kind to others. Harboring anger becomes a distraction for me personally and interrupts my craft and business. It’s better to be kind rather than the opposite.
As a part of our series about “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became An Artist” I had the pleasure of interviewing Jeremy Booth.
Kentucky-based artist Jeremy Booth boldly captures the essence of the Wild West with remarkable minimalism and dramatic aesthetics. Focused primarily on iconic cowboys and Western landscapes, his art embodies the spirit and culture of this simple, hardworking, and honest lifestyle while paying homage to those who live it.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. My parents divorced when I was 5, and my mother raised my sister and I. My father was still in the picture, and we saw him every other weekend. My mother worked incredibly hard to ensure that my sister and I were taken care of. We lived a humble life. At a young age, my interests revolved around make-believe (cowboys & ninjas) and drawing. I would either be pretending to be fighting off bad guys or trying to draw cars. I played some sports growing up, although they never really grabbed my attention. I also loved movies and still do.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
My journey as a Western Artist began over a decade ago, and at that time, I had no idea that this is where I would end up. It has been one stepping stone after another. I started as a graphic designer, then moved into brand design, and eventually found my passion for illustration. Everything changed when I started illustration work; I discovered my natural talent and fell in love with the craft, so I decided to pursue it full-time. I spent most of my career as a commercial illustrator, working with clients such as Apple, Roku, Eero, and British GQ. About two years ago, I shifted towards fine art, creating digital Western Art. I wanted to explore more fine art and needed a new subject matter, as my style had remained consistent while working as a commercial artist to suit client needs. I found the idea of creating a Western series interesting, as I have always been fascinated by the West and was particularly drawn to the cowboy culture through shows like Yellowstone and artists like Mark Maggiori. So, I decided to give it a try, and I fell in love with the genre. Since then, I have also started painting my digital work and have been focusing more on painting.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Becoming a Western artist and painting has made the past couple of years really interesting for me. I’ve had the pleasure of auctioning off works at Christie’s twice and had a solo exhibition at the Marfa Invitational without having any prior gallery representation. I am told that this doesn’t really happen. I only highlight that to say that not every path should look a certain way, and I believe things like that really happen when you are pursuing what you were made to do. I’m extremely humbled and honored by these opportunities.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
I had my first solo exhibition at the Marfa Invitational this past May. It was a collection of seven pieces. I am currently most proud of that body of work and the opportunity. It was the perfect setting for my Western art in Marfa, Texas, at an old mercantile building. My work was well received and it was such an honor to be there.
Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?
Most of the interesting people I meet are cowboys on the ranches I visit and spend time at. Each year, my wife and I make a trip to a ranch for a few days to take photos of cowboys as reference material for my paintings. It is on those trips that I get to interact with the cowboys and ranchers. They are the salt of the earth, hardworking, and honest folks. I am inspired by them every time and try to honor them as much as I can.
Where do you draw inspiration from? Can you share a story about that?
My time on a ranch photographing for reference material. It’s in those moments that I am reminded of the importance of simplicity, honesty, hard work, community, and boldness. These are the elements I try to portray in my artwork.
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
I believe it’s an incredibly important question and one that I think about on a smaller level first. My main goal for success is to create a positive impact on my family. Often, success comes, but the family is the least impacted in a positive way; sometimes neglect is a result of success. My goal has been to involve my family more and have a greater impact. One small way I’m working on creating a greater impact in my family is by bringing them along on many of my work-related trips. I want them to have these memories with me and hopefully, it will create a stronger bond between us and make us better humans.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
Be consistent: my career has taken on many focuses, but the key to my success has been showing up every day and working towards something. Regardless of my focus, I show up.
Work hard: don’t be afraid to put in the work. I firmly believe that hard work can outweigh talent. I didn’t know that early on in my career. I worked a ton and had no other options, but now I see it as an attribute of success.
Walk humbly: as I’ve walked this creative journey, I’ve learned that there will always be someone better than you or in a higher position than you. Never let your ego get a hold of you; stay grounded and walk humbly.
Be kind: over the years, I have learned that it is better for me mentally, spiritually, and physically to be kind to others. Harboring anger becomes a distraction for me personally and interrupts my craft and business. It’s better to be kind rather than the opposite.
If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
I hope that my artwork can inspire others by showcasing simplicity, honesty, hard work, and boldness. These are qualities we all need to be encouraged and reminded of.
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
Jeremy Booth: 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became An Artist was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.