We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jade Cole. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jade below.
Jade, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
About 3 years ago,2019, I decided to take the risk of depending solely on my art as my main source of income. Having a job has never really been an issue, but when I wanted to focus more on my craft I realized I needed more time . A few years prior,I used to do small portrait commissions for people that were local so I’ve built a nice size clientele by the time 2019 came around. I was working a warehouse job in 2019 but the pay and hours were very slim,which put a little stress on me because I have to provide for my daughter as well. I knew the kind of money I could be making if I were doing atleast 5 portraits a month vs 1 portrait and a small paycheck,but I needed more time that I didn’t have to do that. One morning I woke up and decided that I would bet on myself and solely depend on my gift to take care of me and my daughter. I was tired of not making ends meet,so I set a plan on how to get more clientele and just literally quit my job! I knew with the skills I acquired at Middle Tennessee State University plus the self-taught sessions,there wasn’t a way I would let myself down. I’ve been working for myself for 10 years,but in business for 7 years. I’m grateful for being in God’s favor,and will forever be proud of myself for making this decision! I get to spend more time with my daughter and create all day!!
Jade, 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?
I’ve been creating since I was about 4,but it wasn’t until I got into writing my own books at age 6 that I got better with drawing. I knew each page needed an illustration like the books I always used to read,so I started to get more creative with the pictures. The more I got creative with my illustrations,the more I challenged myself to write more vividly the so the illustrations could have more detail. In high-school, I only took 2 art classes my senior yr because I just considered it a hobby. We had a senior assignment for the end of the year that we needed to make a presentation for, and I chose to do mine on tattooing. I got my first tattoo as a junior and during the process I was very intrigued on how someone could draw on people and the art stays forever! I taught myself almost everything I needed to know about the craft,and by the time I got to college I ordered a tattoo kit and started practicing on oranges,lemons,and rubber practice skins.
I built a small clientele on campus, but I had 4 3-hour art classes and I stopped having time to tattoo. When I got home from college,I had time for a large clientele for tattoos,but I knew I could do better as far craftsmanship and creativity for designs.
I gave myself a break after 5 years of tatting,and disciplined myself to learn more about the actual craft of drawing/painting. I started to focus on drawing people with the skills I acquired from taking a drawing 1 class at MTSU,and begin to build a small clientele for small portraits. The more I taught myself from watching artists from overseas, the more I started to find my style.
I started challenging myself with multiple portrait commissions a month and eventually I got to a consistent rhythm. Now,my focus is to create legendary pieces of art and continue to be inspired by life and other artists! I found a love for charcoal and oil pastel portraits, so I try to get creative with each masterpiece.
I think what sets me apart from others in my area is that I have the natural skill to create faces,and I have the time and patience to create details that are spot on from the photos. I’m extremely proud of myself for betting on myself and turning my craft and hobby into a small business that supports me and my daughter!
My brand is called Art of Spades,and I came up with the name from learning how to play Spades and learning the Ace card could basically top anything. I feel like the more I teach myself about the business and the craft,I could basically top anything I’m involved in!
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to unlearn that people will still pay without me asking for a deposit. I believed that if someone,family or friend, wanted my art, I could trust them to just pay me for it after I’ve created their request. I was definitely wrong! When I was tattooing full time I used to let people set their own appointment time without a deposit, then I would arrange my day to be available at that time. People started to waste my time and never contact me to let me know they weren’t coming or would be late, and that started to become an issue for my personal schedule.
With creating art for people, I used to be so quick to hop on a project for someone because of the excitement from them actually wanting my art. Once I was finished, I either never heard from them again or I would see them copy the finished result I sent in a photo and post or print it out without paying like they agreed. I would even contact them afterwards and they wouldn’t respond.
To avoid all of those incidents that happened over the years, I started to require a deposit or paid in full before I start anything. It has helped tremendously to keep the people, who aren’t serious,away from inquiring.
Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?
Digital art is cool,but I’m not too big on it. However,it’s what’s in and it’s the future. When I learned of NFTs and how to create them,I realized I didn’t need it unless I was strictly focused on the money. I can create everything on paper and canvas,and it comes out the same or better. I guess I’m just old school and prefer the natural way! I create graphics and logos, but most times I draw them first. Then, I take a photo of it and digitize it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtofSpadesbyJCole
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jcole_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jade.cole.16?mibextid=ZbWKwL
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JROSAyy