RD: When did you start painting??

John John: well ive always done art except for my long bought with narcotics many years ago but i used to do flyers for local punk and hardcore bands like Nausea, Agnostic Front, etc...back in the 80s...the style and series of works that you know ive been doing for 6 years...

RD: Where are you from??

John John: i was born in NYC and raised on the Lower East Side now i live in Brooklyn.

RD: Main art influences??

John John: weirdly enough i dont have any painter influences. my influences are the cut and paste art of Jamie Reid who did all the Sex Pistols art and Vivienne Westwood's Seditionaries clothing line in the late 70s. like the Destroy, Expose, Punk Gang, and Vive Le Rock designs are brilliant as well as the muslin cheesecloth shirts and bondage gear...i draw my inspiration from my life experiences since my paintings ARE autobiographical.

RD: Do you have to get in the "zone" to paint, or do you just jump right into it??

John John: well after a few cups of coffee and walking our boston terrier, Bela i start.,,,then i work on my hot rod at night. (i'm in the Rumblers hot rod car club in NYC -formed by Roger Miret from Agnostic Front)

RD: What kinds of Music do you listen to??

John John: 70s and 80s punk rock.

RD: How did you develop your stylle??

John John: i dropped out of high school at 15 and never returned to school so i invented the format i use everyday in my work. its an intense layering process. im self taught and ive ALWAYS done everything in the DIY way with trial and error.

RD: Do you have any crazy art gallery moments??

John John: no, cuz art openings are boring.

RD: Whats your biggest accomplishment in terms of Art??

John John: showing alongside Salvador Dali, Ernst Fuchs and HR Giger is pretty great. As well as doing a few lowbrow shows showing next to Robert Williams, Mark Ryden and Pushead. But honestly being able to support myself by painting not have to work a regular job and living in autonomy is freedom and i wouldnt trade that for anything.

RD: Do people ever send you pictures of tattoos of your work??

John John: yeh more lately now. i wish people would send more. some are amazing and some are, well...bad. one person had a whole arm sleeeve done and its looked incredible.

RD: What do you think of porn??

John John: porn's fine. im not really "into" it.. i like it. more now that theres more punk girl sites. the blonde boob jobbed stripper types arent my thing.

RD: What kind of girls are you into??

John John: skinny, tall, supercute , tomboyish.

RD: Do you have any "art gallery groupies"??

John John: yes.

RD: Any Crazy Sexual Exploits??

John John: none of your biz. 14. What do you think of razordolls??

John John: as i mentioned i like the punk porn sites...im glad they exist now. but i know most pay the girls terribly. and i also know that alot of the girls are 15. but i also know some of the girls are dying to be a suicide girl or a burning angel and would do it for free so whatever.

RD: Whos your favorite razordoll??

John John:

RD: Do you think Porn will ever be an accepted art form??

John John: it is in the porn industry. but not in the mainstream in America. probably will never be. Europeans have a much more liberal take on nudity and such.

RD: What upcoming artists should we look out for??

John John: my girlfriend Lauren Utter.

RD: Do you like Horror Movies??

John John: If so Whats your Favorite??

John John: "Dell Amore Dell Amorte (Cemetary Man)" , The Sentinel, and Evil Dead II.

RD: Whats your opinion on the art scene today??

John John: Since i fired my art gallery last month i have no comment on the art world. i just do what i do and love it and live in my own rediculous little reality.

RD: Anything else you want to say??

John John: just wanted to say thanks to you Derek and to my friends and fans everywhere. the fanmail always makes my day and dont be shy to say hello...unlike many artists, i am exactly who my audience is , im one of them...and i think thats why soo many people identify with my work. because its honest. http://www.johnjohnjesse.net/