Today we’d like to introduce you to Jean Schapowal

Hi Jean, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

1987 Graduate of School of Visual Arts with a BFA in Fine Arts. Majored in cartooning and illustration. Freelanced for a few years , then started a family. As my family was growing I started to make cakes just for my family but it quickly grew from there. cakes became another medium for me. I started my own business which quickly grew to cover everything from weddings to birthdays and everything in between. As I became more proficient in my skills I began competing at local cake competitions and then branching out to national ones . I then began getting called for magazine work, and TV appearances. That lead to recognition in the form of more magazine features, awards and sponsorships. And then last year I was able to represent the United States in Milan Italy at the World Cake Designers Championship! The work is still going strong with so many other wonderful opportunities on the horizon!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

it hasn’t always been a smooth road but one thing I Weill say is to never turn down an opportunity! The worst youll get is a no, right? But what if this opens up the door for things you didnt expect. Ive been very lucky to have so many opportunities come my way. And it all began by stopping being afraid of the what ifs and just going for it!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

Im a cartoonist by heart but I started my own cake business and I am the cake artist and owner of Cakes with Character! Im known for all types of specialized cake creations from simple sheet cakes to spectacular sculpted pieces! Im known in the industry for my “cartoony and Pop” style of work. Bold bright colors and all things geek! Ive worked incredibly hard to get where I am and am so honored that Ive been recognized over the years with awards and honors for my work. Im incredibly proud to have been named Top 10 US Cake artist in 2019, 2023 Peoples Choice Award Winner at the American Cake Awards and to be a part of Team USA at the World Cake Olympics this past fall!

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?

I swear by networking! Networking has gotten me in with some amazing artists and local vendors. This in turn has created a network where we can all recommend each other for work, opportunities, etc. During the pandemic this helped to still bring in work for me and vise versa! Creating a network of other like minded individuals and businesses will only help you in the long run.

Pricing:

• Dont sell yourself short. Keep up on trends, educate your customers and tabulate all expenses and time when pricing yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cakeswithcharacterbyjean.com
• Instagram: @momschap
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momschap
• Twitter: @jeanarettmerschapowal