Profile: Latvian Visual Artist & Painter Jana Brike

				Jana Brike is a 31-year old artist from Riga, Latvia. The self-described “pragmatic dreamer” has pursued painting with incredible discipline since the age of 10, painting up to five hours each day while enrolled in a prestigious children’s art school. She gave her first solo show at 15, and has since been prolific with solo and group shows internationally. The sampling of artwork below will provide a glimpse into her rather “trippy” aesthetic, which we recommend be followed by a visit to her Tumblr blog for further insight into her inspirations.
	BEING AN ARTIST IS…?			…to externalize the mind in outer form, standing outside of yourself opposed as object to subject, and thus intervening all oppositions in one presence of signified being.
	WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON?			Drawings—portraits with colour and graphite pencils. Animation film. Paintings for a book project. A sculpture. To name a few…
	WHAT INSPIRES YOUR WORK?			Just the way I perceive what reality is.
	OF WHAT PROJECT ARE YOU MOST PROUD?			I am always most proud of the project which I currently work at—thoughts, soul and passion is in it. I love all my previous work too, but I’m in detached relationship with them, as if it is made by someone other.
	WHAT IS YOUR DREAM PROJECT?			I always work at my dream job. I am a very pragmatic dreamer.
	WHICH ARTISTS DO YOU MOST ADMIRE?			Just those who are truthful in their life and work.
	IF YOU COULD LIVE/WORK ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD IT BE?			I irrationally love Mexico.
	WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?			I haven’t had non-art jobs. I did work outside plain fine art for a while, with advertisement design, printing, and publishing.
	WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT?			I work at my art at very pedestrian day job rhythm—from 9 am to 6 pm every day—beyond words magical hours. What might keep me up? Most likely, socializing, sex, or some more art-making.
				Visit Jana Brike… www.janabrike.com lovelinessclub.tumblr.com @janabrike facebook.com/jana.brike