Meet Janez Jevnikar, aka 'Sprayman'
Interview by Sandra Castle [SndCastie] - Staff Columnist

I`m 35 years old. I used to study electronics, but 12 years ago I found spray paint :) I got married 4 years ago and now my biggest joy is my 10-month old son Jaka.

How long have you been doing this kind of Art?

12 years, but like a profession...10 years.

What got you started using spray paint to do art, and why?

About 15 years ago, I saw a man in Nuremberg (Germany) doing spray art. It was simple, few planets and stars, kind of art. It was in my mind ever since, but I had no courage to try. After 2 or 3 years I tried it and never stopped. I was mostly broke in my student times, so I went on a street to sell my paintings. Sometimes I didn't sell anything in a whole day, sometimes I got  "richness". Beginnings were simple, like man in Nuremberg, but after time I grew.

Did you create the techniques shown in the video, or did someone teach you?

After a year or two, I hitch-hiked (autostop)  to France with my guitar (playing on the street). I saw a man in Cannes doing awesome  spray paintings. I had no camera, so I had to remember what he did. Of course, I forgot most things when I came home. After a year I was there again. That helped me to improve my self a lot.

 Where do you get your inspirations from when doing your images?

Sometimes I open the newspaper, sometimes the internet. Sometimes I even take a look on the net at what other spray painters do, and I try to make replicas. Lately I don't have time to experiment. I got ideas from my customers that order from me all kinds of paintings. From a Harley bike to a mosque in Bosnia.

 

Do you have any art education? If so, where and what did you study?

I had no art education, when I started, but after time I found out that I need something to grow. So I went to a couple of courses of drawing, composition, colors...  I  also read some books about similar techniques, like airbrush.

Do you do this for a living, and where?

I started on a street in the Slovenian capitol Ljubljana. I worked also in the Canarian Islands and France. 7 years ago I opened a stand-stall  in the Slovenian tourist town Portoro-Portorose. I worked there for 5 months in a year. 2 months ago I put some of my videos on the net. Since then I have plenty of work. I send my paintings mostly to USA and Belgium.

 

What advice would you give to someone who would love to get into this art form?

First of all, you need a good mask or ventilation box like me. You should buy some quality spray paint, some glossy heavy weight paper and just start. I think my videos and videos from other artists can help you a lot. I don`t know any piano player that knew how to play overnight. All of them, even one with absolute pitch, have to practice.  Here it is the same.

Thank you so much for allowing us to interview you. Keep up the great work!

 

For more information, more art, and some great videos of Janez' work, please visit: 

 

 

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