Artists from Oregon give the Leafly rolling trays a liveliness
Known for its lush trees and noisy kush, Oregon is an unforgettable landscape of nature and gravel. We love Oregon here at Leafly and we are excited to bring you even more tough rolling trays from the artists of this great state.
Jax Ko, Jeremy Nichols, and David Rice are three Oregon artists who live in Portland and have made an impact on the community by adding vibrancy and life to the city’s landscape. I’ve sat down with (practically) every artist to discuss creation, cannabis, and community.
JAX KO
Jax Ko is a rare ray of sunshine. I know because Ko and I met at 9 a.m. and I never expected to laugh so much this early. Ko describes her art as “maximalism, pastel neon colors, power colliding patterns, strong colors and textures”. It’s as cool as it sounds and gives you a little more to discover with every look.
The boldness that Ko herself possesses immediately made me curious about what her hardest and most rewarding lesson learned as an artist. Without hesitation, Ko said, “To really appreciate your work and to be able to stand up for yourself, how to know how to get paid, what you deserve to be paid.” This practical wisdom combined with talking to others Creatives to influence the transparency around the process of working as an artist.
However, cannabis sometimes plays a minor role in creating their art. Ko likes to use the plant for brainstorming and low pressure situations, but not so much when trying to get its job done. (Been there!) Kofelt is happy to live in a state where there is no stigma but loves how art affects the female stoner personality.
“Feminine stoner energy that I was really drawn to,” she explained.
I see this popping up in a lot of works of art these days instead of being like hypersexualized women for the male gaze. It really feels like something we create for ourselves and our colleagues. ”
Speaking of peers, Ko has found solace in the creative community of Portland, where there is an intentionality in the community and BIPOC artists are at the center. Between all of this and the abundance of lush trees, Oregon is, in her humble opinion, like no other.
JEREMY NICHOLS
Jeremy Nichols has a cool lightness. He’s so cool that he grows weed just to give it to his friends. (That’s a GOOD friend!) Nichols’ artwork has a depth and intensity that manages to understand the contrast it creates on a canvas. I needed to know where does he find his inspiration?
Growing up in Ohio, dividing his time there and in Japan, he developed a love for the city and the outdoors. “I like human design stuff mixed in with nature and the juxtaposition between the two,” he said. This in combination with the love for graffiti began his career as an artist to solidify.
Nichols isn’t a weed smoker like he was when he was younger, he’s just growing it for fun now. He compares the process of growing to the process of creating art and notes that they are “both meditative and slow”. The green garden that started out as a CBD plant has grown into two, and now he’s happy to regularly pass the ganja on to his friends.
I asked Nichols what role art plays in Oregon specifically, and that question led to more than I could know about the art scene and how it was developing. After telling an incredible tale of how Portland wall painters recaptured the city after a company tried to get in and crush it, he described the scene as “blooming pretty quickly and amazingly!”
Nichols realizes the pandemic has left the city in a difficult position, but it is now being noticed and companies are now offering opportunities that include more BIPOC artists.
DAVID REIS
David Rice’s positive vibes are infectious and make his mural titled “Community Table” even more appealing as you can imagine sitting at a table over fresh food and chatting with him about art. With such a recognizable style, I started asking when he committed to doing art.
With a degree in studio and digital arts, Rice knew that art was something he wanted to pursue and be a part of his life. He was still unsure, however, “how big, or really what aspect, I wanted it to be a part of my life; I knew it definitely had a strong impact on everything. ”
After working in digital art, he was looking for something more tangible. Rice socialized with other artists and eventually bonded with mentor Blaine Fontana. Fontana gave him what he called his “true education” and accepted his offer to help with a multi-part, 30-meter-high mural. Now, seven years later, the two share a studio in Portland.
Rice’s path to cannabis was unconventional after realizing the benefits of CBD after having a doll in need. He started using CBD tinctures for sleep and racing thoughts himself. Rice is grateful to be living in a legal state and opening up the market to develop products for those looking for a non-intoxicating effect.
When I asked Rice what it meant to be an artist from Oregon, he replied, “I think being an artist here in Oregon means that we have this great setting that can just flow into our psyche and” [be] translates to whatever our canvas is. ”
Well said!
Check out Jax Ko, Jeremy Nichols, and David Rice below! Psssst, Oregon residents have a chance to win one of these artists’ amazing rolling trays.
Jax Ko
IG: @yojaxko
Website: http://www.jaxko.com
Jeremy Nichols
IG: @plasticbirdie
Website: https://www.plasticbirdie.com
David Reis
IG: @d_j_rice
Website: http://www.xplrstudios.com
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