Venice Stories’ Jason Hill – Venice Paparazzi | Venice Beach CA, Photo Agency, Community Info, News, Events

Today the Venice Paparazzi spotlight shines on Venice Stories’ Jason Hill

How many years in Venice? Six

Tell us about your art/medium? I create the Venice Stories page for the Argonaut every month, I’ve just released the second anthology, now more than 50 stories completed. Venice Stories is a series of photo comics based on Venice Beach history, featuring interviews with local personalities.

I’m also a graphic designer and printmaker primarily with experience in photography and painting . I’ve also been working on product design. I’ve recently started a new business called Washed Up. We create all-natural housewares, all handmade in Venice by local artisans.

How many years, and how did you get into it? I studied design at the University of Oregon. I’ve been working as a professional graphic designer for nearly 25 years, the last fourteen working independently as Jason Hill Design.

Describe your style. Bright and bold.

What would you say has had the largest impact upon your particular style? Too many influences to list them all! Sixties poster art, modern architecture, local history.

What projects are you currently working on? I work on a wide range of projects, Venice Stories every month, custom print designs, illustration, advertising, branding, it varies all of the time.

Upcoming shows: Venice Stories Vol. 2 book release is this Saturday, November 17, 2018 at Surfside Venice, 23 Windward Ave. Venice, Ca. View flyer for details

What accomplishments, projects, or pieces that you are most proud of? Several of my logo designs have ended up on Abbot Kinney storefronts, I’ve illustrated for the Wall Street journal several times and many prominent magazines. I’ve designed over 40 national billboards for Johnny Walker and graphics for nike that wrapped around buildings in Tokyo and all along the pacific rim during the 2000 olympics. I’ve participated in more than 40 art exhibitions, including several solo exhibitions- Retro-Futurism, Visions of a Modern Oasis, Polynesian Pop!, Venice Art Walls to name a few.

Where do you find inspiration from? Everywhere! Magazines, books, bike-rides, conversations.

What brings you to the arts and how has it helped your life? Always wanted to be an artist and I am! It’s all about manifesting your own point of view, which is very difficult and takes a lot of tenacity. Not for the faint of heart!

Among the many artists who’ve created here in Venice, who are your favorites? Willliam Attaway, he has a lot of soul. It’s not superficial stuff.

Photo courtesy of Jason Hill

Past art projects? Any pieces shown in Venice?

‘Seeing Stars’ and ‘Venice Art Walls’ at Budman Studio
Venice Artwalk and Artblock.
Also our Washed Up Pop Up at the WNDO, Venice.

Finish off the statement “Art is… in the eye of the viewer.

What advice would you give someone starting out in your field? Stay true to yourself and never give up!

Favorite affirmation, mantra, or quote: Actions speak louder than words.

Favorite band? The Beatles

What’s one thing we can do to make the world a better place? Speak the truth.

Venice Questions:

What is your craziest or fondest Venice experience? Cary and I were eating at Baby Blues BBQ on Lincoln Blvd in 2016, during the presidential election. We always have a good time there. Who walks in? President Clinton! He went from table to table and took pictures with everyone there. I called him ‘Bill.’

Photo courtesy of Jason Hill

What are you Venice Go-To places? I love Westminster at the Boardwalk. Wee Chippy, The Fruit Gallery, Groundwork, even that new Pizza place on the corner is good. Sometimes Vinnie Caggiano plays the guitar there and the place just feels magic.