Meet Justin Cownden | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Justin Cownden and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Justin, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
Hiking in a forest and drawing really make me happy. Hiking, especially in the rain help me to think and destress. Maybe, its just the smell of rain, but it really brings me peace. Drawing because I really love creating images and mark making in general. Making a pop culture image of things that I love like cassette tapes or abstract paintings that other people can love and relate to, are things that I really enjoy.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is all over the place really. Getting to where I am now wasn’t easy, mostly because I had given up art and drawing for a long time. Professionally I’m not even a graphic designer anymore except for freelance. I now do IT work. My art and art shops where I sell it are my “second” career that I do for fun / obsession.

I started drawing on the underside of my Mom’s coffee table. This led to other vandalism growing up as I became infatuated with Hip Hop and Graffiti. Eventually I went to art school but soon after became disillusioned with being an artist while also dealing with personal issues and depression. But about 6 years ago, I started drawing again and have done so everyday since 2019. I do this all digitally on an ipad or on my phone. It has become a daily obsession that I can’t live without. I wonder if I can still function without it sometimes. I never really set out to get a lot of followers or attention on instagram, where I post these everyday. It’s nice if people like a painting, comment or can relate to what I do, but I don’t create art for attention. It is an obsession or therapy for me. I do love when other people like it though.

As for my art being all over the place, I have about 6 different series going with things that I’m obsessed with. Cassette tapes, Skulls, Pinup Girls, Digital Collages, Abstracts, and Birds, etc. My cassette tapes paintings are probably what are the most popular and what I tend to sell the most of in my Etsy and other online shops. I just love music, like most people so I think that is why people tend to gravitate toward these pop culture paintings. If anything sets me apart from others, maybe it’s the frequency of posting a drawing everyday or the diversity of the work I do.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them to Edgewater Beach State Park for fun along Lake Erie. Cuyahoga Valley National Park for some of the many beautiful hiking trails or biking along the Ohio Erie Canal and Towpath. There are many great restaurants and breweries here in Cleveland so there would be a lot to choose from.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Mom. She always encouraged me to draw and be an artist. When I was dealing with depression and had pretty much given up being an artist, she would always encourage me. Also, my friend Lindsey Krivenki, an amazing artist and business owner who inspires and encourages me.

Website: https://gingerblahjustin.tumblr.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerblahjustin/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justincownden/

Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/gingerblah?ref=profile_header

Image Credits
All art created by me, Justin Cownden