In an area known for drab landscape paintings, wildlife and Southwest-themed art — the electric rainbow illustrations of Jason Boblitt stand out.

Boblitt’s illustrations use eye-popping colors to catch the eye of the viewer and lure them into his mind-bending world of twisted trees, ferocious fish and warped landscapes.

The 24-year-old Osprey Packs employee can be found at Spruce Tree Coffeehouse in his spare time, plucking colors from a pile of markers. He said he likes to draw the world as he would like it to be.

“Somebody told me a T-rex couldn’t climb a tree, so I told them I would draw it,” he said. And he did.

This year, Boblitt is focusing on plants and creatures, mostly fish. In one three-week period, he said he drew 16 full-color fish.

But Boblitt’s world wasn’t always so colorful. He used to draw in black and white.

“I was always a left-brained person,” he said. “And then one day, it just flipped. And then I became a right brain. And I was just doing color constantly.”

Boblitt’s other passions are travelling and backpacking. He said he took a trip to Scotland, where he drew with other artists at a hostel and visited a queen’s garden, where he was inspired to draw flowers.

Although he says he produces 48 illustrations a year, Boblitt does not consider himself a professional — often giving away more work than he sells. Several works disappeared from a recent display of his at the coffee shop.

“It gives the illusion that they were sold,” he said. “I might have sold one to my mother, if that really counts as being a professional artist.”

Further, Boblitt said he didn’t take art classes seriously.

“I took independent art one time, and I failed it,” he said. “I didn’t really do anything. I just kind of sat there and played Jaws on my cell phone and drank Diet Pepsi. That’s not an exaggeration. That’s exactly what I did.”

What’s next for the aspiring psychedelic artist? He want’s to create a children’s coloring book.

“If you steal this idea, Raymond, I will punch you in the throat,” he said, adding, “I don’t really know anyone named Raymond.”

Boblitt can be reached for more information at bigfootmonty@gmail.com.



Reach Reid Wright at reidw@cortezjournal.com.