Since early childhood, immersed in the world of cartoons and comic books, Jerry Salinas knew art was his calling. Encouraged by his father, he pursued formal training at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, later refining his skills at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Over the years, Jerry’s artistic journey has evolved, shaped by his travels, surroundings, and a deep appreciation for the stories embedded in his subjects. His life journey has taken him from the urban landscapes of Chicago and Florence to the sun-soaked expanses of the American West––each location influencing the subject of his work and his color palette.

Now in Arizona, Jerry finds endless inspiration in the colors, cultures, and histories around him. He has developed a distinctive style that captures the vibrancy and spirit of his surroundings. And while much of his work depicts the Old West, Jerry uses color and technique to put a modern twist on traditional Western art.

In this interview, Jerry shares how his artistic style evolved, the challenges and joys of the creative process and how he keeps himself challenged.

Q&A with Jerry:

When did you know art was your calling?

I was young. I was always into cartoons, comic books and drawing. And one day my dad said, ‘If you want to go to art school, you can.’ So, I went to art school.

I went to the American Academy of Art in Chicago. I spent some time at the Art Institute of Chicago, but I wanted a bit more of an illustration background, working realistically where you can tell what a subject is. So, I went to the academy.

How has your creative journey evolved?

I’m from Chicago and I’ve taught in Florence, Italy and in urban areas, painting old cities. But I’ve lived [in Arizona] for 20 years, surrounded by ranches, Native Americans, ranchers, cowboys, and vaqueros, and I realized I have to paint what’s around me. So, I decided no more urban scenes. I’ll start depicting the rancher life, the Native life. And it’s fun to do. It’s beautiful and it’s colorful.

How did you develop your unique style?

I go for the colors. I see color everywhere here. Even in the desert, which is mostly brown and green, I see a lot of different colors. So, I told myself I’ve got to put that in my paintings. I just like to saturate a little bit more than usual.

I also read about certain subjects and individuals that I paint, like some of my paintings of the ladies who are Crow Natives––I met them at the Crow Fair in Montana. They tell you stories about their culture, like their regalia, how they made it, and how they might’ve taken something from a grandparent or a great grandparent and added it to their modern piece just to carry the history on. Those are the stories I like.

What do you love most about the creative process?

Taking a blank canvas, and as you’re building layers, you’ll see washes and a drawing, and you’ll see how I’m thinking about it. Then all of a sudden as the layers go on and time goes on, you see a finished painting. I think that’s the one thing I love––is how it goes from a blank canvas to your final painting.

What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do?

Of course when I sell a painting, but even if a person likes my painting, that brings a lot of warmth to my heart. I get people here, who maybe they can’t afford a painting, but they love the painting. And to me, that’s just as good as buying it.

How do you keep yourself challenged?

The size of paintings. Working bigger. A lot of painters work small, but for me, I’ve got to work big. My galleries want that, but that’s been the challenge: getting comfortable.

Every artist experiences a struggle with their painting. It’s never the same struggle though. It’s always something different, and you’re not growing if it’s the same. But once you improve, there’s a new struggle. There’s something else you got to work with. For me, it could be the design of one painting or it could be the color choices. Sometimes I’ll change a background three or four different times just to get it right so it harmonizes with the figure. It takes time. It’s just time: the struggle to get it right.

What brought you to the Celebration of Fine Art?

I had a certain idea about why I wanted to do it, but after being here, just the camaraderie with the artists, the resources that they’ve turned me onto, and the staff is great. And the way I get to meet the collectors. I get to talk to them, and really get to know them, and they get to know me. I love that I get to go to their house and install the painting and get to see the rest of their collection.