We were lucky to catch up with Cassie Jones recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cassie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

It took me until long into my career to feel comfortable self identifying as an artist. I have been self sustaining my life, pets, hobbies, and interests comfortably for over 10 years. It wasn’t until this year that I felt comfortable calling myself an artist. The turning point came with being awarded my very first creative grant. I’ve heard of other people receiving grant funding to create works of art but I never felt that I was someone who should be striving for that same grant funding. I lost all my gig professions during the pandemic, and had to start from scratch to gain an income when the world began opening up again. But for the first time I wasn’t searching indeed, retail job listings, or craigslist. I was only searching ‘real’ jobs that included W2 tax forms and salaried pay structures. For the first time I realized that I am a career artist and have valuable skills that people need in order to support their creative businesses. The thought of accepting a retail, corporate or desk job was revolting and beneath me, and I knew that I would never settle for less.

Cassie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Theres quite a lot to know about Cassie Jones. At the most basic level, I am a teacher. I teach by sharing knowledge, experience and information from the only perspective I can offer. Being raised between the white world of my mother and the black world of my father I have a perspective that allows a lot of room for gray areas, interpretations, and empathy.

My education background has always lied in the creative arts. I went to Pennridge High School in the suburbs of Philadelphia where we had a large creative budget. There I had access to 2 ceramic studios, a photography lab, full Macintosh computer suite complete with all the Adobe programs you could dream of. Aside from that- we had access to screen printing equipment, a set of prismacolor pencils for each student, a rainbow of windsor newton inks, a closet (the size of my bedroom) full of fabric scraps and ribbons, and all the space in the world to create. It was the flourishing creative environment that I needed to start my artistic journey.

After high school I went directly to college at The Savannah College of Art and Design where I double majored in Fiber Arts and Accessory Design. I was very money focused still after college and felt that accessory design was a more profitable direction than non-functional arts, so I started a job designing for Victoria Leather Handbags. The company was very focused on popular styles from the 80’s and did not seem interested in updating to the modern design world so I didn’t stay there long. After leaving the leather studio I began picking up gig and odd jobs in anything creative I could including- artist’s assistant, gallery installations, custom bag designs, creating mock ups and patterns for other designers, murals, painting classes and many many more over the years. Through all those jobs I now have a slew of skillsets that apply to many different creative directions and I’m happy to pass those skills on to anyone interested in learning.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

‘You can’t draw’

I was told that in a foundations drawing class as a freshman in college. I took that as fact and followed every direction that professor told me in hopes that someday I would learn how to draw. Everything I drew looked forced, uncomfortable and never cohesive from one piece to the next. It wasn’t until over 10 years later that I began from the start but on my own where I realized that I really liked my drawings, and I didn’t want them to change. I just wanted to refine my style and push it in the direction I was already moving. Since then I have started illustrating things that I want to see, and other people are appreciating and purchasing them as well.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

CONTROL. I love it. I want it in all areas of my life. Being an artist I am the last say about when my work is finished, refined enough, and ready to be shown. I am able to trust my gut and it always proves to be a the correct choice for me and my goals. No one else knows what I want with my works so it stands to reason that no one else should be guiding my creative choices.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cuspbycassie.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cuspbycassie/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CuspByCassie/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassie-jones-8a55a238/
• Other: Grant Project Website: SupplyLibrary.Org