Not Real Art

It’s no revelation that success is the sum of preparation and opportunity, yet it’s always inspiring to witness the philosophy in action. On today’s podcast episode, San Diego-based painter Ezra Brown joins host and NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power to chat about the power of perseverance in an oversaturated industry. “I’m a late bloomer,” says Ezra, who dropped his day job during the pandemic to focus on a career in fine art. “I’ve been [painting] for such a long time, and I had been waiting for my opportunity to hit,” he tells Scott, adding, “In this day and age, you’ve got to do what makes you happy.”Ironically, Ezra’s signature character, a vintage-style cartoon called Happy the Clown, is anything but. Starring as the protagonist in Ezra’s recent show at LA’s ThinkSpace Projects, Trying to Keep It Together, Happy drinks, smokes, and cries as his house burns, his soul leaves his body, and his girlfriend leaves him. Like many artists before him, Ezra encourages viewers to access and cope wit