We interviewed the multitalented artist, Jason Naylor, and learned about his journey, his upcoming projects and also his 7 best NYC secret spots! Check it all out below!
Today we bring you a fantastic interview with Jason Naylor! We’re sure many of you are already huge fans – as we are – and, have seen his work throughout New York City.
But, did you know that Jason is a multitalented artist? He is not only the Creative Director at his design company, but also a brand consultant, an artist, a designer and also, an illustrator. Phiuf!
He told us a bit about his journey:
“Well, I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. My mother is an artist, and so I spent my youth making art and entering art contests.
I always did well in art class and that evolved into going to Design School and studying Communication & Graphic Design. This sort of led to the designs I now use in my art, which are very typographic and design heavy.
My work ranges from graphic designs and paintings as well as illustration, to video and digital graphics. I currently am in a very colorful kick and love holographic colors and rich blacks.
I just finished a collaboration with COACH, where I used their logo to create a massive, colorful LOVE mural. The bright colors and blacks came together nicely to shape that piece, and the colors really fortify the message of love.
What better to explain love in a piece of art than bright colors, right?
In addition, I have a pretty cool series of projects coming up this spring, where I’ll work with schools to develop messages of empowerment and then paint the messages as murals on the walls of the playgrounds.
This will start to come together hopefully in the next few weeks, so I’m pretty stoked on that!”
Check out his breathtaking work on his website: http://jasonnaylorcreative.com
Now, take a look at his 7 best NYC secret spots:
Best unexpected date spot – LGA Airport
“Watching the planes land at LGA. Ok, if you don’t know about this, its SPECTACULAR.
Across the street from the Enterprise car rental at LGA, there’s a small park that overlooks both the freeway and the runway… and it’s the closest place you can get to the planes landing.
It’s literally like 100ft from where they land, and you can sit on the bench and watch / listen to the planes come in. It’s riveting. Great date spot too!”
Best hotdog – Anchored Inn
“The Anchored Inn is in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Little “divey” metal bar with a great kitchen. Amazing hotdog – a must try. Get the cheese fries too, you won’t be bummed.”
Their menu serves Mexican-American food, the décor is pretty cool, they have a few pool tables (FYI, we LOVE playing pool) and pinball machines.
As they say, it’s “a place to get fed and drunk”.
Who’s in!?
Hours:
Monday – Friday: 12pm – 4am
Saturday & Sunday: 11 am – 4 am
Location: 54 Waterbury Street
Best inspiring lunch – Carthage Must Be Destroyed
“I am not even going to say anything about Carthage Must Be Destroyed. You just have to go with at most one other person, or maybe just by yourself, and have lunch. It will change your perspective on the word beautiful.
This place doesn’t have a street sign, so pay attention when you’re looking for it. It’s really something! From the outside you’d never expect to see what’s inside.
As Jason said, we’ll let you go and experience it yourself!
Hours: Open 7 days a week and holidays: 9am – 4pm
Location: 222 Bogart Street
http://carthagemustbedestroyed.com
Best place to people watch – SoHo Park
“This is an obvious one, but this a place I like to go to sit and get fashion inspiration. Good place to sit and hang and soak in the beautiful people of SoHo.”
We have to agree! SoHo is one of the best neighborhood in New York City to people watch. You’ll be able to experience every style in only one place.
So, grab your coffee, sit back and enjoy!
Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 12pm – 10:30pm
Friday & Saturday: 12pm – 11pm
Sunday: 12pm – 9:30pm
Location: 62 Prince Street
Best dinner – Beco Bar
“I always order the Brazilian Steak at Beco Bar, in Greenpoint. Bring cash, for it’s cash-only. Put plenty of salt on your meat and be sure to order their famous Pão de Queijo too!”
We’ve written about Beco before and posted about them countless times, and our Founder, Fê Paronetto, is also literally always there.
They have been chosen by locals as one of the neighborhood’s favorite to-go spots and it can get quite busy! Besides the fantastic food and specialty Brazilian cocktail drinks – like the Caipirinha and the Batida de Coco, they still have awesome live music performances.
One of our favorites bands is Regional de Nova York that plays the traditional Brazilian “Chorinho” music. This happens every other Sunday afternoon!
Hours:
Monday – Friday 8am – 12am
Saturday 10am – 12am
Sunday 10am – 11pm
Location: 45 Richardson Street
Best secret place to watch NYC fireworks – Parking lot at Western Beef
“At the edge of Ridgewood there’s a grocery wholesaler called Western Beef. The parking lot sits on a hill and has a view of the entire city.
You can see ALL the fireworks that happen just by parking in the parking lot and hanging by the fence. It’s not the closest view, but you can see them all, as well as the NYC skyline, and it’s pretty quiet.”
Location: 47-05 Metropolitan Avenue
Best Bar – Boobie Trap
“My friend owns this bar called Boobie Trap, and I designed a lot of the stuff in the place including the logo, which has boobs!!! You can also sit in my chair which is covered in art!!!”
Yes, this place is quite something!
Be sure to observe the details around the bar…you’ll certainly have a great time uncovering each one of them!
Have fun!
Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 12pm – 4am
Sunday: 12pm – 12am
Location: 308 Bleecker Street
We also uncovered a few other curiosities about Jason:
Read below to get deeper into Jason’s journey. He shared more about his murals, his inspirations, what he enjoys working on the most, where we can find his murals around New York, which are his favorite artists and still, his passion with tattoos!
How did you start working with painting murals and what was the first one you did?
“The first mural I did was in 2013 – a producer friend called me in panic with an event for Microsoft at SXSW and their graphics for the event fell through.
She asked if I could get graphics up on the wall for the space as I had done that a lot before for brands – you know, design graphics to be printed on vinyl and wrapped on to walls.
But there was no time to have them printed so I offered to paint a mural on the wall during the event. I assumed it couldn’t be that hard? Get the right supplies and get to work?
So, I did, and it was a huge success, and they brought be back the next year to do it again! Meanwhile, I was hooked on large scale. Never looked back.”
What are your inspirations to create these fantastic art works? Does your hometown of Salt Lake City have a part in it?
“Well, I’m inspired by anything uplifting. I like a ‘feel good’ vibe, and I like to brighten things with color and positivity. So quotes, motivational speaking, self help… these things inspire me, as well as anything colorful.
My upbringing I’m sure plays a big part, but that is a very long story, LOL. Suffice it say that I am happy about where I came from and happy about where I am now, and I feel inspired by anything that is optimistic or positive.”
You are gifted with so many expertise, from doodles, logos, typography, design, etc…what do you most enjoy doing?
“First of all, thank you! I honestly enjoy the range of things I do. The variety enables me to put all my love into each project, as it keeps things fresh and never feeling tiresome or old.
I think diversity in mediums and tools and projects keeps me on my toes, as well.”
Where can people find your murals around New York?
“On 16th Street with 6th Avenue, 60th Street with 2nd Avenue, Houston with 1st – 2nd Avenues (in the park), Orchard & Houston (the ice cream shop gate), Bowery & Hester, Suffolk & Delancey, (collaboration with HekTad).
Also, in Queens, on Queens Blvd with 46th Street and in Brooklyn, across from Kings Plaza.”
This is tough, but what are some of your favorites works?
“Ohhh. Well. I love Tristan Eaton murals. Insanely cool and well planned. I love the photography of Nick Knight. I love Kaws, so smart and James Jean, his magical illustrations make me swoon.”
How about your tattoos? Are they all your drawings? If not, how do you choose the tattoo artist to be part how these drawing come to life?
“The only tattoo that I drew is the first one. I drew and re drew it 100 times before getting it tattooed.
Now, I’ve learned that you have to enable the tattoo artist some creative liberty, if you want a good tattoo. So, I try to selects artists based on their portfolio, style etc…and talk it through with them.
They know how your ideas will come out on the 3D surface of your body. Sometimes flat art doesn’t translate, and it’s best to let the artist do his/her thing!”
Jason, we had a great time interviewing you and learning more about your journey, your work, your 7 best NYC secret spots and all the upcoming exciting news!
Keep up this fantastic work and continue leaving your mark throughout our beloved New York City!
If you want to know who else is talking about Jason Naylor, read this interview with the Foodie Influencer, Cheryl Wat. And still, if you’re into street art, check out this Bushwick graffiti tour and last, for the curious ones out there, take a look at a few more city secrets.
Video Credits: @FreshNewYorkers and Test Truck by NotBeAfraid2Fail
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Jason Naylor, Nicole Dissier for Bedford + Bowery, @HeyDavina, @SheraStClair and all venues
*Last Update on April/2020.*
