Jason Janik has been creating for as long as he can remember. While he is most well known and recognized as a photographer (and professionally, that is his primary focus), when it comes to Art Con at least, Jason doesn’t like to restrict himself to a single artistic medium. “My first two Art Con pieces were photo-based,” he says. “But once I branched out and started incorporating the painting, woodwork and sculpting that I’ve done since I was a child, my pieces doubled and tripled in value to the buyers.” Making art is so deeply ingrained in who he is, in fact, Jason has no tangible explanation of what inspired him to become an artist in the first place or what motivates him even now. “I’m pretty sure it’s just something deep inside me that needs to get out,” he says. And “it” always seems to make its way out of him in truly original manifestations that tend elicit a double-take. “I like to be goofy and playful with my photography,” he says. “I usually try to make something that begs you to look again. So I guess my inspiration is wanting to share that playful feeling with other people.” His work ethic and playfulness have also been strongly influenced by another “look-twice” (or perhaps even a few more times) artist, Andy Warhol, and not even by his art itself but by who he aspired to be and thereby encouraged others to be. “It was his diary,” he says. “It gives you such massive inspiration and motivation.”

Jason grew up in Rockwall, TX, and has spent the majority of his adult life in Dallas. But while he has called the DFW area home all his life, his career as a photographer has allowed his creative reach to extend much further. “I’m a professional photographer who’s been published all over the world, including in Rolling Stone, Spin, USA Today, and The New York Times,” he says. “I’ve done album covers for Grammy-nominated Bowling For Soup, Rhett Miller, and countless regional and local bands. I’ve shot national ad campaigns for banking institutions and catalogs for major brands. I’ve done a lot with my camera!”

Jason has been working with Art Conspiracy and contributing work for six or more years and has only missed out on participating in one event since he first got involved. “I first found out about it, because so many of my friends were participating,” he says. “Plus, it attracts many of the area’s renowned artists, like Frank, Cabe, Turk, Sarah Jane… and listening to them talk about how wonderful the event was… well, I couldn’t resist joining!” And as with so many of his fellow Dallas artists, Jason was an instant Art Con devotee. “It was really amazing!” he remembers. “Just seeing all these great artists making such beautiful pieces, all in the same building… It was crazy! (In a good way.)”

And Art Conspiracy wasn’t Jason’s first foray into contributing his artistic talents to philanthropic endeavors. But it certainly made an entirely unique impact. “I’ve always participated in charitable art shows, but seeing the dynamic that happens at ArtCon has inspired me to do more,” he says. “I now try to push myself and think outside of the box, and I’m not worried about meeting the audience’s expectations anymore. Instead, I try to make something fun, wild, bold, and something that moves me. When I do that for Art Con, people seem to respond more positively. My second year, I tried to make a piece that I thought would match the audience, and it only went over okay. But once I started making pieces for me, they earned a much more impressive reception. It was clear that Art Con is a venue wherein artists should look inside themselves and not worry about the audience accepting the result.”

To follow this vibrant local artist on his creative journey and see some of his work, check out I Hate Jason Janik on Facebook. And don’t forget to look for him and bid on his piece at Art Con 11 this Saturday, November 14.

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Written By: Martha Belden