From pop-culture references that include Johnny 5 (Short Circuit) and Barf (Spaceballs) in a western, to surrealist interpretations of goats smoking something out of an apple while pontificating in a classroom, the artwork of Colorado’s Joshua Finley evokes feelings of both the familiar and the other worldly.

Given the fact he’s been creating art professionally for a quarter of a century with clientele from across North America, his deft ability to walk this line comes as no surprise. During our discussion, Finley covered both of these topics along with many others; including his rise from humble beginnings in Kansas to being featured in numerous businesses statewide and beyond. Here is his story…   

First off, how did your art journey begin? Did you go to college/art school?

I didn’t go to art school; it’s just what I’ve always wanted to do. I grew up in a very rural farm town in Kansas, on a farm, miles from anything else. And thankfully, my family was supportive of that, even when I should’ve gone into construction or farming—useful things. By the time I graduated high school, I jumped right into trying to find jobs as a custom illustrator, from screen print shops to doing commissions like pet portraits, stuff like that. I’m also a professional musician and it was in Kansas where I formed some of my first bands that did a lot of national touring, and that’s what really beefed up my career. Because, as I’m drawing full time, I’m also on the road, and all these other production companies, [record] labels, bands, they all want me to draw for them too. It just spread like wildfire doing album covers, concert posters, and band merch for people all over.

How many years have you been drawing professionally, then?

About 25.

Who are the biggest influences on your art?

I’ve said this a lot in interviews: I think my friends. They influence me more than anything. I think that comes back to being more self-taught. I don’t have art history; as I say that, I’m looking at my art studio looking at all these art books that I have. I would [also] say Norman Rockwell is way up there for me—as far as like ‘famous’ artists [are concerned]. But, it’s more like Colorado artist Spuxo. Being surrounded by great artists I know personally, that I get a look at their work and get so amazed with. One more would be Shvlfce from New York City, and he changed my life.

Before you begin a piece, do you have a clear idea of what you’re going to do?

It depends. In some cases, yes. So, in my fine art world, I have several series that I do. I have what I call a ‘Cartoon Western’ series, which is all pen and ink; so I very much know what I’m going for there. It’s very deliberate draftsmanship, and drawing with a pen, there’s no room for error. If it’s a pen drawing that takes place in the rain, you’ve got to account for that. If you’ve got a mountain man riding his horse through this rain, you’ve got to account for where those rain drops are going. Same with my pen and ink ‘Jungle Tech’ series that I started when I lived in New York. But then there’s some pretty free-form stuff. This is actually the 10-year anniversary of my ‘Re-arted Thrift Store’ series and it’s been really popular. I started it as a joke—go into thrift stores, buy a painting, and make it macabre, make it gross. Is the kid’s skin falling off? Whatever. I’ve done over 300 paintings and over 300 thrift store toys too. That’s a little more free-form; I’ll just buy a painting, not knowing what I’m going to do with it.

You’ve worked with a multitude of businesses statewide; from record shops to restaurants, your art can be seen in almost every city. What do you think about when putting together a commercial piece?

You’re representing them, so, you don’t want to put something up there that’s going to get them bad press or any of that stuff. But in my fine art, I can kind of do whatever I want, and that’s the payoff: do a bunch of commercial work to fund my fine art, my visions.

What does the future look like? What can people expect from the mind of Finley art?

I’ve got a string of gallery shows I’ll be doing, as well as commercial mural painting all around the country—in three or four different states. And getting back into music with my band Granny Tweed. I’m the drummer in that and we’re going to start recording our ‘Tweedence’ album, which is all CCR songs that we take some pretty crazy liberties with.