Meet Jason Blaauw

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Blaauw.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
May 2nd, 1978, I was born and raised in Arizona, I have lived all over the valley. I moved around a lot as a child, putting me in many different schools. You could always find me in art classes, and I always loved to draw. My Mom has always loved and supported my art, her being my biggest fan and always encouraged me to follow my passion. Thanks, Ma! My Aunt Patsy (She had all the best art supplies) and my cousin Youree are probably my biggest inspirations… Mostly, Youree, he sees stuff Creatively different and helped open my mind up to be more Unique in what I was trying to create. It wasn’t until I got to high school that I got into photography. Let’s just say my Photography teacher “Mr. U” was very patient with me. I was very unconventional and kind of a different. I would do a lot of creative double exposure shots with my old Pentax 35mm camera. This is achieved by taking a shot and rewinding the film a little and taking another shot. It’s a hit or miss process. Lining it up correctly was the biggest challenge. Sometimes I would take the negatives and stack them in the projector creating some interesting images in the darkroom, Along with putting rosary’s directly on the photo paper, it gave a neat frame around the image. (I thought so, haha) Wish I knew where those images are now, I’d love to share them. So That’s where it all started, but as I grew up, I realized how much I loved nature, camping, and hiking. Then I learned how to capture stars, and that’s when everything changed. From then on, it just became my life! Arizona Dreamin.

Please tell us about your art.
I like to think Nature does the work, I just GET OUT and find it! Its a lot of work mentally and physically. I’m constantly looking at when the moon/sun rises/sets and where. Looking up a location trying to gather which direction it is facing, You know to plan accordingly. I try to do sun/moon play occasionally usually when I have a model or friends. I remember hanging with my brother Little Dipper “Jesse” and a good friend “Chuck Brown” went hiking through some canyon at Usery Mountains Regional Park looking for snakes… there was a crescent moon that evening, and I had them climb to the top of this hill and then had them in separate shots reach out like they had a sword, they thought I was crazy. Haha. So I lined up the crescent moon in their hands, and it actually looked like they were holding the moon like a sword. Was so awesome they both loved it! Then Hiking to some of these places with all the camera gear is a not for the weak, the first time I went to Havasupai, my pack weighed 70lbs. That was such a killer trek though, to the most amazing views!

I have done so many different things with a camera in photography; these are some of my favorites things,

• Night photography
• Landscape Photography
• Light painting,
• I also Paint on Occasion

I do art because it keeps me at peace, it’s calming. It also gets me out, so I get to see some amazing Places and Views. I just want people to care about what we stand on “Earth,” it gives us life, and there is so much beauty beyond the concrete jungle. We spend a lot of time working, so why not go back to our roots and stomp around occasionally! If you pack it in, Pack it out… Please.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing artists today?
The Challenges I face as an artist are finding time, money, and good subject matter. Perhaps, I don’t know the ropes to the business, that art deals with. If only I was making a ton of cash slinging natures beauty like Peter Lik then I’m Sure I would find plenty of time. Haha. For now, its what keeps me at peace, during these hectic moments we call our lives. Money is always a big challenge, most people can’t drop 100$ to buy huge pieces from artist, and the art dealers don’t want to buy it until you die if they buy it at all… I guess that’s where the term starving artist came from… haha Gear is super expensive though. I would say that could be a huge challenge as well.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
If you are trying to View my Artwork, the main place to find it is https://www.instagram.com/arizonadreamin. I also occasionally post on Facebook but tend to lean to Instagram. “Facebook/Arizonadreamin” I am in the process of building a website, should be up and running by 2020. www.ArizonaDreamin.com.

Once my website is done prints will be available for sale until then I do it the old fashion way. I order the print when asked, and payments are made on PayPal. If you are interested in prints, portraits, you can direct message me on Instagram, or you can email me at AZJay.pics@gmail.com for pricing.

I also only do small outdoor weddings max of 20 people.
Creative Portraits

Contact Info:

• Email: azjay.pics@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arizonadreamin/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Arizonadreamer/

Image Credit:
All images are shot and edited by Jason Blaauw
In the wild west Shot The Model Is Antonio Russo.

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.