Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Giacobbi
Hi Justin, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Luckily, artist/painter/illustrator Justin Giacobbi was born after 1980. Before the ‘80s, the formal art world was driven by a high art/low art mentality. Illustrative art was seen as commercial, work-for-hire stuff not worthy of critical consideration. On the other hand, conceptually-driven abstraction provided the critic’s food for thought, worthy of MFA analysis and consideration. But thanks to the Pop Art developments begun in the ‘60s, and continued into NYC’s downtown art movement of the early ‘80s (coupled with European neo-expressionism), representational art was in. This art made with discernible forms and descriptive imagery could serve viewers who saw it in galleries and graphic novels.
Into that post-modern world came this person who creates, working to make quality art that pulls from his various interests and experiences. Being an artist is at the core of who Giacobbi is. Drawing on subjects as diverse as the Coast Guard in action, mythic figures and romantic idylls, this artist straddles the boundaries between fine art, illustration and graphic design. In doing so, he creates finely rendered images that depict familiar scenarios in a dramatic soaring fashion. His work is as dynamic as he is in person; his images are as strong as he is in real life.
That dynamism produced results recently. Giacobbi was the official artist for the recent 12th annual Sunscreen Film Festival in Jacksonville; he created limited edition SSFF branded merchandise for fest goers including the festival poster, limited edition coasters as well as hats, shirts and more. Recently, he finished several commissioned pieces for collector Greg Davis, two for Portland, Maine’s Cliff’s Barbershop and four other pieces scheduled to be completed. He’s been booked until September, 2017 also designing a piece for a Minnesota couple, and he’s going to Florida from his hometown of Portland, Maine, to possibly do multiple wall murals for the Texas Roadhouse restaurant chain.
The self-taught Giacobbi has no formal education or training in traditional art. He pulls from an innate talent and a drive to draw. As he recalls, chuckling, “My first successful piece was a drawing of the Mario Brothers.”
Giacobbi’s first visual memories happened in Tarpon Springs, Florida, when he was four years old. He remembers picking up a pencil for the first time so he adds, “I recall my first experience making images. It was in the same place, free-hand drawing Mario Bros. from the Nintendo Game cartridge. Picking up that pencil, I never knew I could do it, I just figured I could do it better than my cousins and then I did.”
And his first influence at the time? “When I was that age, my Nanny — my father’s mother — said how great my cousins were at drawing. So that inspired me to be ambitious, to become a better artist.”
Born on June 11th, 1983 in Dunedin, Florida, both his parents — mom Theresa and dad Frank — came from New York and had that drive associated with such a city. Being the oldest, Giacobbi’s two sisters Heather and Mikayla lent him support as well. “My parents taught me to always strive hard. Hard work will always pay off. In the end, they taught all of us to know where we came from and to believe that our talents are blessings from above.”
But he got the best advice about creativity from his high school art teacher, Mr. Verge. Says Giacobbi, “He gave me the best advice about being creative; he did so by giving me the utensils I needed to express myself. He told me I should teach myself how to experiment with new mediums to replicate specific techniques. As a result, I have been teaching myself how to learn new techniques and ways to express a new form or way of art. Like any artist, I started drawing by looking at images and replicating them on paper.
“Next, I would learn to color them or leave them in black and white. Around eight years old, I started learning to shade my images, giving them dimension with either color pencil or ebony pencil. Around the time I was 15 years old — I was in the 9th grade — Mr. Verge gave me water colors to experiment with for the first time; later, it became my favorite medium to work in. From there, I experimented painting with acrylic, airbrush, oils, as well as painting wall murals on a large scale. Verge was the first person to ever to give me that challenge of getting out of my ‘comfort zone’ and helped me expand my horizons.”
As he notes, “Time after time, my raw emotion inspires the creation of an interesting, detailed form of art.” Some of his influences over the years have been, from Anime and Manga, such classics as “Ghost in the Shell,” “Ah! My Goddess,” “Sailor Moon,” and “Dragon ball Z,” as well as such American animation as “ThunderCats” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” American superhero comic book series such as “X-men,” “Batman,” “Spider-man,” and “Spawn” have had an impact on him as well as has video games like the “Final Fantasy” series, “Chronic Trigger,” “Mario Bros. series,” “Street Fighter” series, and the “Sim City” series.
When asked what classic artists have inspired him, he replies, “Of course, the greats: Rembrandt, Michelangelo, and El Greco, as well as such modern artists from Jackson Pollock to Salvador Dali. Then there’s Easo Andrews, James Jean, Todd McFarlane, Megan Jean Morris, Ayami Kojima, and Brian Fraud and others. “
Elaborating, he continues, “I’m tenacious, always creating new work and never stopping. I love a challenge and am always experimenting with new forms and techniques of art. Graduating from Hudson High School in 2002, I started a wall mural business on the side, getting professional business and fulfilling my dream and passion about becoming a professional artist.”
As Giacobbi muses, he adds “Everything has been based on raw emotions; from every pencil stroke to every brush stroke, these art pieces come to life via my emotion transferred to canvas giving it life, from my soul especially the eyes of any creature created.”
At the core of his being an artist, Giacobbi derives not only pleasure from making the work but a kind of spiritual resolution as well. Transitioning from the Coast Guard — where he achieved the rank of OS2, an operational specialist/petty officer second class (E-5) — to a professional art career, his story is something of a Cinderella tale. What makes the work all the more powerful are the trials he’s gone through. It is one in which someone without a traditional art education has built a substantial career through many years of self-education, experienced development of craft, and experimenting in many different media and materials — from canvases to huge wall murals — and an array of themes and subjects.
As he explains, “Art is an expression of my soul. Every time I create a piece, a part of my soul leaves me and goes into that piece. That explains the bold colors that pop, and give the piece life.”
Each piece created tells a tale dedicated to capturing his unique views and perspectives on canvas. The themes of these paintings varying in theme from religious insight to personal experience. He brings his media to life by focusing intensely on the central subject of each work, and then supporting it with a meticulously crafted background. This method enables him to portray the subject in its own light, and allows the viewer a glimpse of the world as the artist sees it.
His artistic philosophy revolves around the concept that the eyes are the gateway to the soul; if an attempt to capture a subject’s eyes fails, the piece is discarded. “‘The eyes are the gateway to the soul’ is one thing I’ve always said,” adds the muscled and tattooed creator.
Conversely, if the artist feels the eyes have been successfully rendered, he will proceed to construct the rest of the painting, working patiently to fill each piece with fine detail. Vibrant colors, rich layers, a strong sense of contrast, and symbolism are all characteristics of his style that engage the viewer and beckon you to take another look at this artist’s meticulously detailed work.
Giacobbi has dedicated many years not only to his art, but also to his academic advancement. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business, with minors in Psychology and Criminology. Justin’s education has fueled his efforts to produce new and innovative pieces, and has given him a deeper understanding of his environment.
His experience would come to include painting over 30 murals in recent years worldwide ranging from Maine to Florida in The United States, and in Kuwait while stationed overseas in 2011 for a year. His mural in Kuwait got recognition for the Coast Guard pin-up mermaid in the February 2012 edition of Maxim magazine.
He explains, “I have displayed my original work in a few galleries in Florida and one time in New York at the Salmagundi Art Club in Greenwich Village. I’ve received acclaim for donating an original piece to the Coast Guard art program.”
As for his further goals, he declares, “The stars the limits. I always love to learn a new form of art. I have a passion for illustration, being creative and creating something that the audience can relate to. One day I hope to display my original artwork in large galleries and auction them off. Always marketing and showing new work.”
Why try making art a professional career now? “I always wanted to be a professional artist. As a child, I have always wanted to show the world my work. My parents wanted to pay for me to go to Japan and study abroad to learn “Japanese art” but unfortunately that goal fell short due to circumstances at the time.”
Now that he has evolved this far, he is tackling other goals as well. He is developing his website and its e-commerce elements selling giclée/print series online and in galleries, booking high-caliber art exhibitions, traveling all over the world to show the artwork, and expanding his reach globally. In summing things up, Giacobbi adds, “My business’s name is ‘Yggdrasil’s Canvas.’ Yggdrasil is the Tree of Life in Norse mythology. And my goal is bringing that canvas to life.”
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being an artist is never smooth road. Back in 2002 – 2008 I own a wall mural business as mentioned before, “Yggdrasil’s Canvas, LLC.” Once the economy took a dump and I joined the USCG. Knowing there was a 2 years waiting list, I worked in many kitchens as a cook until I went to boot back in Cape May, NJ in 2010. I dabbled in art a here and there but really wanted to go back to art as a profession. In 2017 I picked up tattooing, got and apprenticeship and now a tattooer full time.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have been an artist starting at the age of 4, self-taught, who mixes styles of Japanese, Tattoo, and Pop to his work. Served for 11 years in the US Coast guard now a full time tattoo artist. Justin’s has 7 years of tattoo experience and well over 30 years experience with artwork such as: watercolor painting, acrylic painting, tattooing, wall mural painting, mixed media, illustration and graphic design. Being an artist is at the core of who I am.
What does success mean to you?
I would say my success like a roller coaster, ups and downs, had to make some decisions, and a lot of sacrifice to come where I am today.
Pricing:
- Tattoos prices 3 hr session (half day)
- Tattoos prices 6 hr session (full day)
- Painting commission really depends on size and detail.
- wall murals I charge by the square foot
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/yggdrasilscanvas?ref=shop_sugg
- Instagram: @xjgtattoosx
