The Beginning
Born in Laguna Beach California in 1972, it would take Jason Schaper thirty years
to realize what he was meant to do with his life. In
“Abstract Art” he found the perfect outlet for his
creativity and independent spirit.
Life was more than a passive experience for Jason. He
was always trying to see what kind of reaction he could
get from others by testing the limits. As a teenager
living in the San Fernando Valley during the “Birth of
Hip-Hop”, Jason began exploring his creative and
rebellious side through the art of graffiti. At fifteen
his days as a “graffiti artist” were put to an abrupt
halt with an arrest for “Defacing Private Property”. He
dropped out of high school at seventeen and with his GED
pursued a wide variety of part-time jobs and small
start-up businesses, with very little passion.
At 24 and still no real direction, Jason was given the
opportunity to join the team at Monarch Interactive, a
video game design firm in the San Fernando Valley.
Self-taught as a graphic designer, it wasn’t until Jason
began his work at Monarch that he rediscovered his
passion for art. Monarch went under, but now armed with
the tools he gained from this experience, Jason was
confident that he could make a living as a freelance
graphic artist.
In 2000 he started Jason Schaper Creative Consulting,
providing websites for clients such as
The Comedy Store
on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood,
The California Endowment,
Leadership Pasadena and the
Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against
Women. While this avenue opened up his creativity, it
also became too confining and he needed a more open
medium for expression.
In 2002, Jason was given a set of oil paints and some
canvases that started him on his path as an artist. A
self-taught painter, Jason produced his first
commissioned piece of artwork just one year after taking
up what he thought would only be a hobby. With the
support of the two most important people in his life,
his mom Gail and his longtime girlfriend Jennifer, he is
now focused on getting back to his artistic roots and is
painting full-time.
Since dedicating himself full-time to painting in
January of 2005 Jason’s work has garnered critical
praise and attention. In June of ’05 he had a solo
exhibit at the
Metro Gallery in Pasadena, and in the
past two years has been commissioned by interior
designers to create original works for their clients,
built an extensive base of private collectors around the
country, participated in group shows at galleries
throughout Los Angeles and is a resident artist at
Cactus Gallery in Eagle Rock, CA and
Garden Island Art
in Kauai County, HI. He continues to challenge himself
to find new and innovative means of expression; recently
painting on recycled glass panels salvaged from Jalousie
windows found in Los Angeles area homes, designing and
building functional art pieces such as the
“Schape
Shifter” lamp and using materials ranging from rice to
rocks in his canvas pieces. He looks forward to
continuing to bring his art to new audiences both here
and abroad. Jason hopes that his unguarded approach to
painting inspires others to open their mind and view
life from a different perspective.
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UPDATE 2008
If you know
Jason, you know his love for the Hawaiian island of Kauai.
He first visited the island at age seven with his parents
Gail and Steve Schaper. From that day forward the island
has been not only inspiring Jason's artwork but calling to
his heart.
A life on
Kauai was always the goal for Jason and in November of
2007, Jason and his long time girlfriend Jennifer packed up their home in
L.A. and headed out for a new life in paradise.
Jen & Jason / Hanalei
Bay 7/4/2008
The island
immediately embraced the two, with Jason successfully
selling artwork in the
Wyland Gallery within the first few months and
Jennifer has been equally productive as the Executive
Director of the
Kauai Public Land Trust.
Jason with Artist
Wyland 12/08
With plans to
be on all four sides of the island by Summer, Jason has
been busy in his new studio finally creating from a truly
happy place.
"Turtle Tunnel",
Jason's snorkel spot
"Rock Quarry" (Kahili
Beach)
"Jurassic Park" Ranch
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