I think strong reactions are the ultimate goal. Whether someone loves it and feels connected to it, or whether someone really dislikes it — those are the sweet spots, and both are a kind of success.
Tell us about yourself and what you do
I’m CJ Story, an artist — a painter and a writer. I’ve been creating since I was a child, and while a lot of people lose touch with that, I never did. My work is raw, emotional — because that’s the only way I know how to create I guess. I’m not technical, and I’m grateful for that. I work from energy, from instinct, and I let that lead. Whether it’s paint on canvas or words on a page, I think the art tells you what it wants to become. I see my job as just trying to stay open enough to that.
Who has inspired you in your life and why?
Outsiders, mostly. From being a teenager I was drawn to artists who sat in the counterculture — people like Jean-Michel Basquiat or David Wojnarowicz, who made work that didn’t care about approval. Writers too — Jack Kerouac, Patti Smith — people who write with a rawness and no filter. Beyond that, travel has inspired me a lot. And people in general inspire me — both for better and for worse.
What is your greatest achievement so far?
We signed with a publisher for my first novel, The Chaotic Last Days of Curtis Brown, which is on the way. That felt like an achievement, and I’m excited for it to find its audience. It’s about a teenager trying to make sense of a world that is nonsensical, and it deals with the themes I’ve spoken about — counterculture, the beauty in some people, the ugliness in others. Mostly beauty though, that has to be the ultimate message, right?
Do you have any tips for our readers that are trying to break in the industry?
Don’t try to satisfy others or create for a specific audience. Aim to make work that surprises you, that gives you answers you weren’t expecting. If you’re satisfied with it, that’s all that matters and you’ll find your tribe.
Where can people find you online?
I’m on Insta @CJStory_ and Fine Art America.
