Community Spotlight: J.W. Pippen
Like many people, J.W. Pippen, moved to Los Angeles in search of something new.
After spending one year in LA, Pippen packed up his belongings and took an architectural job in New York, vowing never to return. However, after a series of unexpected events, Pippen found himself back in California—living in his van in Malibu. It was the decision to pursue art full-time that led him back to LA. Although he was where he needed to be, things were still not going as planned.
With uncertainty looming about the next steps of his life, a friend suggested he apply for housing at ArtShare, a decision that would keep him in the Arts District for the next 15 years. Living in the neighborhood changed his perspective of the city he previously dismissed. He had found a supportive and welcoming community of artists who embraced him and made him feel at home.
”My inspiration comes from the art community, my mentors, and the help I get from my support system here. I learned how to make the transition from sketching in a notebook to creating a fully realized body of work for galleries and exhibitions as a professional artist. Finding this art community was the best thing that has happened to me.”
Today, Pippen is a fixture of the local artist enclave. Walk into any community event or swing by the dog park and he’ll likely be there.
One of Pippen’s favorite places to hang out in the Arts District is Wurstküche. However, he feels like things have changed. “My only complaint is that Pabst Blue Ribbon beer is no longer sold,” Pippen says. “It used to be $2 a beer. The artists would like to see it returned; the ones that are left…”
In his free time, Pippen day trades and hangs out with his dog Maebe. He is making a book of all his art which will go into production early next year.
Pippen is currently refining a pitch deck for an animated series, a deeply personal project in-part inspired by his life. The story centers on a young boy—a character rooted in his childhood experiences—with humor reminiscent of Larry David’s sharp, situational wit.
For Pippen, this project is his crowning achievement and a culmination of his personal experiences and artistic journey. Drawing heavily from the comic books he read growing up, the project merges his personality and creative vision.
Pippen’s artistry is multifaceted. His fine art includes depictions of geishas and vibrant scenes from his travels. Working primarily with colored pencils, pens, and layered gouache, his pieces are a blend of tradition and the new.
At 16, Pippen would wander the Smithsonian, trying to find inspiration for his sketches. He was always drawn to artworks from the Japanese Edo-period, a style that left a mark on his artistic style and continues to influence his work. His art has even garnered recognition from Ichibei Iwano-san, the Living National Treasure of Paper in Japan.
All of the creative skills that Pippen has learned are self-taught. There is a level of integrity to his art—each piece are one-of-one’s. “I never went into commercial art because all the art I do is for myself. I rarely make prints of my art. If you xerox the intent too many times, it starts to fade away,” Pippen explains, emphasizing his commitment to originality and craftsmanship. However, after hospitalization from COVID, his process for creating art was impacted, limiting his ability to go from actualizing a vision of art in his head to the hand onto the canvas. His memory was affected. He has adapted and relearned his process, and continues to pursue his passions.
