We were lucky to catch up with Jason Jackson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jason, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made (either in terms of time or money)? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)
Investing in supplies to customize shoes. When I first heard about customizing shoes, I thought it was the dumbest idea ever, and a complete waste of time. I had never picked up an airbrush, even though I always wanted to learn. The competitive side of me won over and I dove into researching customizing shoes. i spent 5 months learning, and purchasing the supplies to customize shoes, nothing thinking it would take me anywhere, or that anyone would actually want me to paint on their shoes. That was 2019…..now I do more custom shoes than any other painting or drawing commissions. Shoe customs now make up 95% of my business, and have allowed me to give back to my community in so many charitable ways.
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 back background and context?
I have loved art and the creative process since I was in the 1st grade. Most kids try sneaking out of the house, or staying up late to play video games, or watch TV. I did my best to stay up late so I could keep drawing. Art has been a major part of my life since I could remember. I would go to the library and check out every how to draw book. I didn’t want there to be anything I couldn’t draw. Art helped me to create a competition with myself, which still fuels my drive and discipline to this day. I am all bout pushing myself to get better, improve my process, execution, and craft. I am a traditional artist. I use various types of mediums. From acrylic, watercolor, and oil paints, to pencil, pen and ink, colored pencils, charcoal, and pastels, it runs the spectrum of what I can and will create. That’s the one thing that separates me from others, regardless of the surface, if I can apply color and value to it, I will do it. I am most proud of my ability to be versatile in my art. Its important to be able to adjust with what is appealing. I love to collaborate with other artists, as iron sharpens iron. Working with other artists makes the art community stronger. My goal when working with clients and potential clients is that I will strive to give you something you have never seen before. It is all about taking the gift I’ve been given and creating positive energy. Art doesn’t imitate life…..art is life, and life is an art form.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My main goal really transcends art. Art is the vehicle I have at my disposal to help inspire people. The creative process for me comes from many different places internally. I take the happiness and the pain and funnel it all into creating something positive. My mission is to use what I have to inspire people to use what they have to create positive energy. The hope is it will be ongoing and grow exponentially. The greatest compliments I’ve ever gotten is people telling me that through my creative process, its helped them to follow their dreams and goals. There is nothing better than that.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
The best thing society could do to help the artistic community, would be to keep an open mind and foster more opportunities for creatives to express themselves in a judgement free zone. There are so many talented artists who are apprehensive about showing their work because they are “afraid to put themselves out there”, which is completely understandable. Creatives are bearing their soul with their artwork, and it makes them very vulnerable. Its a shame because many are so incredibly talented, and people need to see their work. The arts need to be made a priority so society can see what an important role it plays. It is bigger than just art. Art can be what binds so many people together. By investing in programs that allow more artists and creatives a platform to share, the possibilities are endless.
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