The Lie

What’s going on everybody, back with another post. This time I was able to sit down and speak with an artist known as The Lie. Jay Turner, or The Lie, graduated from The Illinois Institute of Art- Schaumburg with a degree in Game Art & Design. After college he spent some time working as a package designer/illustrator. The Lie has a very unique style of artwork and has a cool story, so check out the interview below!

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• What’s going on man, why don’t you introduce yourself to those who don’t know who you are.

      – My name is Jay Turner aka Lie.

• Sweet, so when did you first start getting into Art?

                -I’ve been drawing since I was a little kid. I was always the kid in the group that could draw really well (looking back… I sucked, but maybe I just sucked a little less than all the other kids), so when I started being able to pick classes in school I took every art class I could.

• Haha, that sounds like a lot of Artists, we always critique ourselves very hard. What inspired you to create Art when you were younger, what continues to inspire you now?

-I wasn’t surrounded by an artistic family or friends or anything like that. I played baseball and hockey my whole life. I remember liking comics. I didn’t really read them though. I would just flip through and look at the pictures because they were so good. I would trace a lot of them or practice drawing my own super heroes. I was drawn to artwork involving people or portraits. I felt like if you were good at those, you could draw anything. As for what inspires me now… all the artists better than me. There are so many talented, creative people in this world. It pushes me to be better.

• Awesome, I think I have that same exact mindset. So your name, The Lie, how did you come up with that name?

-Two things. The main reason was because I’m a very honest person, and I surround myself with those types of people. I think Liars are horrible. The word “Lie” is beautiful in a way. So I took an ugly word and made it a little better I think. The second reason is for all the people out there listening to what other people say about who they should be or what to do. That’s a bunch of lies. Be who you want. People always want me to paint things they like. Well, I want to paint things that I like… what’s wrong with that?

• Man, that’s a super cool way to look at it. I definitely dig the meaning behind it. I have a question about college, I currently attend The Art Institute of Chicago, you graduated from college, do you think it’s necessary to go to Art school or college to study art, or can you make it without a degree? What benefits were you able to receive vs someone without a college degree?

-Oh man… Yeah Sallie Mae reminds me of this all the time. There are good and bad things about school. The major one is nothing replaces experience. I’ve learned more just by submerging myself in the art world than I could ever learn at school, and that’s saying something since I went to college for 7 years. I switched my major 3 times, went to 4 different schools, and finally graduated with a Game Art & Design Degree from The Illinois Institute of Art. But, because I took so many classes and learned pretty much everything from Graphic Design and Pottery to 3D Modeling and Art History, I know so many techniques and random skills. So, would I be as good as I am now without that useless degree? I don’t know…probably not. And who knows where I’d be if I didn’t go to college at all, or stuck with my major which was art education. Either way, it never hurts to learn as much as you can. I record Bob Ross’ show every week and I’ve learned a ton from that guy. Soak it in. You’ll only get better.

• That’s a great answer, I truly believe education is key, but in some cases with art, if you truly have the talent, you can make it without the degree…. I really like your artwork, but have no idea how to describe it. How would you describe your style of art?
  -I’m happy it’s hard to describe because it makes me different, until someone asks me this question…  I’m new to spray paint. I learned about how awesome it was only 3 years ago. Because I wasn’t taught by an OG graf guy or grew up using it, I kind of made my own technique as to how to apply it. So here it goes… I use traditional canvas painting techniques mixed with classic spray paint techniques, mixed with modern street artist techniques, with a comic, realistic, abstract, look to it with some minor classic graffiti elements. Haha, did I nail it?

• Haha there you go, you said it a lot better than I could have. What makes you The Lie, stand out from other artists?

-I like being different and a little outside the norm. I feel it comes through in my paintings. I think the style of it definitely sets me apart too. But besides that, I try to engage the person viewing the work. I want you to look deep into their eyes and wonder what the girl in my painting is feeling/thinking. Once you do that, all the stuff I’ve painted around the focal point of her eyes melts in your peripheral vision and maybe you’ll be able to see what I see when I paint them.

• When it comes to art, do you think that artists should describe the true message behind their piece of art? Or should it be up to the viewer’s imagination?

-I don’t necessarily believe there should be a message set in stone and that’s all the viewer can think about a certain piece. The message that I had when I was painting it really only applies to me. Yea, maybe I try to push a person to think in a certain direction, but ultimately the painting could bring to light a new message to someone. I think it’s a beautiful thing when something that I paint can make someone think or feel a certain way, whether it’s the same way I feel or not.

• Jean-Luc Godard said it best, “Art attracts us only by what it reveals of our most secret self” Throughout your years of creating art, what have you taken away from it? What life lessons have you learned from creating?

-Every year that goes by I learn a thousand new things. Here’s some that I remind myself all the time.
1. Do what makes you happy otherwise what’s the point?
2. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, even if it hurts sometimes. Plus, who cares? If you’re worried about it, then you’re making art for the wrong reason.
3. Don’t make enemies. You should be more concerned with being friendly and learning from people around you. You’ll get further and better faster.
4. The classic “It’s all about who you know.” Whatever it is you want to do, submerse yourself in it and start making friends. I’m a super quiet guy and am not really a big fan of meeting/talking to new people. I know it’s hard, but get yourself out there. Get noticed and be friendly.
5. Make shit happen. No one is going to do it for you. And, why would you want them to? You can do it, and better anyways.
6. Never give up.

• Those are all great lessons, I truly believe 4. is the best advice for people. Get out and network with people, you never know what that person can do for you. Last year at Lollapalooza I saw your artwork for the first time. How was that experience? Did they just randomly contact you to do those murals?

-Funny story… I actually emailed the general email address asking if they were looking for artists to paint at the festival and that I was really interested. Never heard back from anyone. A couple of weeks later, Patrick at Vertical gallery emailed me saying a client is looking for an artist to paint something for Lollapalooza and he mentioned my name and they liked my work. (Lesson #4 – It really is all about who you know.) That was cool, but really hard. The container had corrugated sides so it was hard to paint a face on that. It was a little frustrating but worked out in the end. Plus, doing something for a big festival like that was really cool.

• Yeah I’m sure that was awesome, a festival like that you probably gained a ton of new fans. Paper Crown Gallery, explain a little bit about your gallery.

-Paper Crown Gallery is an urban/street art inspired gallery in the suburbs of Chicago. “but it’s not in the city!”… I know.. I grew up in the suburbs and I always had to go to the city for anything cool like this. So, since it’s my own business I can do what I want 🙂 I wanted something awesome for all the people like me that wanted something like this close to where they live. Plus, we sell spray paint and other supplies which the city galleries can’t do. We feature all the Chicago urban and street artists as well as other national artists. We have a monthly show, normally the last weekend of the month. And, it’s huge. You’re not gonna find anything like PCG in the city. Take a peek at our website – www.papercrowngallery.com

• Haha I love the I can do whatever I want line, so tell us, why did you create it and how can artists get their work into your gallery?

-I was always just drawing in my bedroom and never took selling my work seriously. After college, even though I graduated with a degree in Game Art, I did graphic design for a large ad firm in Chicago. We did package design for big companies. I’m ok at design, but it was just never my strong point. They soon started using me to do illustrations for packages (ex: Radio Flyer, Wrigley, Aldi). During this time the industry was getting slammed financially, and illustrators are normally freelance anyways so I was soon unemployed. Hating searching for jobs every day, I decided I wanted to start my own thing and it became what is now Paper Crown Gallery. The best way to get your work shown here would be to get in a group show when we have open registration. We have one every December where we let in pretty much everyone. The rest of the year, we jury all the shows (group shows normally still have open registration), but we like to give everyone a shot at showing their work once a year at our Smalls Show. I created this place for artists as a starting point. If you’ve got talent and fit in with the style gallery we are, we’d be happy to have you. Registration will be announced on social media and our website…probably in October.

• Awesome, I definitely want to come and check out the Gallery sometime soon. What advice do you have for any new artists trying to make their brand successful, or just come up in the art scene?

-I’m the curator for PCG so I look at artwork all the time. The things I look for in someone’s work are subtle things. For example: how an artist draws a line, how they fill in big blocks of color, and how many layers they have put down in certain situations will tell me if they have confidence in their work or not. Whatever you decide to make, have some confidence in yourself and make things with a purpose. Another big thing for me is color combinations. People are going to hang it in their house which means it shouldn’t be an eye sore… It’s ok to get crazy with colors, but before you do read up about color theory. And finally – Try to impress yourself. If your artwork doesn’t impress you, why would it impress me or anyone else?

• Bingo, there you have it artists, ^^ read that if you want to learn how to impress others with your art. What’s next for The Lie?

-I have a couple of group shows planned for the winter including         Paper Crown Gallery and Vertical Gallery and then I have a Solo Show at Black Book Gallery (Denver, Co.) that will be opening in April 2016. Possibly another solo show in Chicago next summer, but we’re still talking. We’ll see. Probably some randomness mixed in there too.

The Lie’s Artwork

North Coast Music Festival 2015

Contact information
www.thelie.co
instagram.com/thelie_chicago
facebook.com/thelie.chicago
www.papercrowngallery.com
www.verticalgallery.com
www.blackbookgallery.com
www.chicagotruborn.com

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