We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jake Romano a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jake thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

One of the most important times for my art was in high school, right before I graduated. Being a teenager was a turbulent time for me but I found a lot of clarity and comfort in my sketchbook. I’d get lost for hours working on illustrations in my room, sometimes pulling all-nighters to finish a piece. At some point I realized the role that art was playing in my life: it was an escape, an adventure, a puzzle I could keep coming back to and chipping away at. I needed something consistent in my life at that time and art was that thing for me. After I had that realization it was easy to choose a creative career.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a digital illustrator with a passion for color and (how do I put this?) LOTS of other things. My love for life really fuels my creativity and my creativity fuels my love for life. I don’t know who I’d be if I couldn’t paint!

I’ve been illustrating for as long as I can remember and I’ve always been drawn towards art that compells the viewer, which is what I strive to create. My medium has shifted over the years from surreal pen and ink drawings to vibrant digital illustrations to graphic design. I have an immense love for color right now and I think digital art is the best way to display that love but that may change someday!

I’m most proud of my recent work which reflects everything I’m passionate about in the moment: gummy bears, video games, unicorns, mushrooms. I think I fall in love with something new every day and that love fills me with so much joy. I’d like to believe my art is very personal in that way – it represents all the little pieces of my world that mean the most to me. But it’s also universal because everyone is looking for joy. Hopefully I can help my audience find that joy in the little things.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Firstly, if you enjoy an artist’s work then don’t be afraid to tell them! Most humans thrive on positive feedback – it is so needed in a world where adults are tight-fisted with compliments and emotion. If an artist creates something that is impactful to you then let them know! Leave a comment, shoot them a message, maybe even share their art with others. A little compliment can go a long way for artists who are putting pieces of themselves on display and want to be known and seen by their audience.

Secondly, you can help your favorite artist thrive by making a purchase to support their business. Buy a print! Get a commission! It’s rough out there for freelancers and we need all the help we can get. When you support an artist financially you are giving back to an ecosystem of joy – they made you feel something wonderful with their art so you can make them feel great and enable them to keep creating.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Getting to create it its own reward. Finding an art groove and sticking with it, losing track of time while I’m painting – that’s what I strive for. I realize that I may not always have the ability to paint or draw. I thank God every day for the gift of art in my life and I hope I can continue to find that art groove during the rest of my time here on earth.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.jakeromano.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeromanoart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeromanoart/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/JakeRomanoArt
• Other: https://www.inprnt.com/gallery/jakeromano/