We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jasmine Smith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Jasmine thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?
After graduating from college with a bachelor’s degree in interior design, my medium of choice was acrylic on canvas creating abstract art. I graduated in the heart of the recession and thus, spent my first couple of years after college as a barista at a café that allowed local artists to display their art throughout the store for sale. This was perfect for me being an employee and artist! Well, after having a few of my paintings up in the café for a week or so, I received an email requesting a commissioned piece of art! After having a conversation with one of my favorite customers at the café a few days later, we both discovered that he had submitted the commission request and had no clue I was the artist. What a pleasant surprise and honor that was! I was invited over to his gorgeous home to survey the space and was blown away by the beautiful art in his home. I was even more honored to have my work hanging alongside that of so many other amazing artists. I was then told to name my price and was given creative freedom to complete a 4’x5’ painting in my own artistic style for the customer. This was one of the first signs from the universe that my art, just as I create it, is perfect and valuable. Talk about an affirmation! This affirmation still holds true with my current medium of handmade and hand painted home goods and barware.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
Above all else, I consider myself an artist and creator with the freedom to change my medium whenever my creativity leads me to. Since I was a child, my passion has always been creating, making, and building whatever my imagination stirred up. Creating has always been therapeutic to me and I am never more certain that I am walking in my purpose than when I am creating. Let me take you through my journey as a creator and my path to building my brand along the way. After graduating college and working my first internship at an interior design firm in Philadelphia PA, I quickly realized my passion was in the details and not necessarily the big picture of designing the space. I prefer to focus on choosing the art for a space instead of designing the room in its entirety. I also discovered how draining it can be to use all of my creativity to fit the style of another designer. My creativity has always been mine and I want it to stay that way. My abstract paintings were exhibited in cafes and boutiques all over Philadelphia and I enjoyed completing custom commissioned art pieces. In my free time, I enjoyed refinishing furniture.
My interest in glass painting was sparked by a great discussion with a fellow artist at a maker’s market. She and her husband worked with blown glass, and they suggested I try glass painting. I began experimenting with abstract designs and taking orders from my coworkers at the time who influenced the color combinations that I still use to this day. My hand painted glasses have been on sale in a few boutiques and shops in Philadelphia including the gift shop of the historic Woodmere Museum. I relocated from Philadelphia to the DC Metropolitan area about four years ago in need of a change and a fresh start on life and that’s just what I got. About two years ago, I started experimenting with resin and I have fallen in love with the endless possibilities this material offers. This has since lead to an expansion of my inventory.
The name of my creative brand is Jay Alex Creations, and it is my assortment of one of a kind handmade and hand painted barware and home goods. This includes resin coasters and vases as well as hand painted wine glasses, champagne flutes, and shot glasses.
One thing I’m most proud of and what I want my future clients to know is that every item is one of one and made with love. Each piece is an abstract expression of my creativity and is just what their home has been missing.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
One of the biggest impacts on my entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy has been my mother. Being raised by an entrepreneur, especially a black woman entrepreneur, has been a priceless experience. I watched my mother pour her blood, sweat and tears into her non-profit organization and found the impact she had on so many lives to be nothing short of incredible. I was also able to see the ups and downs, sacrifices, and tough decisions an entrepreneur can be faced with up close and personal. So often on social media I see the “entrepreneur lifestyle” glamorized, and while there can be moments of glamour, I’ve found that it’s way more work and far less play than what people see. My mother’s guidance and wisdom in my early years as an entrepreneur were pivotal in my willingness to stay the course and trust my process. Outside of my mother, my most impactful resources have been my fellow creative entrepreneur friends and mentors who have helped me along on my journey and are never afraid to share their nuggets of wisdom right when I need them. Two books that have been impactful for me are Leap by Tess Vigeland and The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. Leap was a pivotal guide for me on my journey to quitting a toxic job and pursuing full time entrepreneurship (temporarily). The Four Agreements has been so helpful for my own personal development in putting a stop to self-limiting beliefs and taking the opinions of others too personally.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is being valued and cherished for something I literally created from my own imagination. My creations are an extension of my heart, so I absolutely love watching my customers fawn over my work the same way I do. I love to see my art bring joy to others.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jayalexcreations.etsy.com
- Instagram: @jayalexcreations
- Facebook: @jayalexcreations