UV: What inspired this painting...or, how did you arrive at this particular scene?
JS: I've been doing a series of paintings with the angry star tormenting animals trying to go about their regular lives. I'm sure there is some deep psychological origin for this, but I mostly think it's funny.

UV: Are you the frog? Are you an existentialist?
JS: I think that I'm probably a little bit frog and a little bit star, actually. The part of me that's the frog, though, would definitely invest in some curtains.

UV: Why is the little star so angry?
JS: The frog has disappointed the star so many times. But, to be fair, the star has very high standards.

UV: Describe your body of work, your style, and your goals as an artist. What are you working on at the moment?
JS: Mostly I draw, paint, and sculpt and nearly everything I do has a kind of fun cartoony feel to it. I tend to create characters who are uncomfortable, disturbed or just unaware, and then put them in humorous situations. Right now with the help of the local copy store I'm working on a series of self-published little books of drawings.

UV: Do you believe in UFO's?
JS: Yes, but I don't believe in helicopters.