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

Jason, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I worked on my art part-time from 2000 to 2002. Since 2002, I’ve been a full-time artist. It’s never been easy making money from my art. Financially, it has been a bit of a roller coaster ride. There’s been lots of ups and downs over the past twenty years. The trick for me has been to live simply and save during the highs and ride out the lows. As my portfolio and reputation have slowly grown, it has gotten easier, but that has taken some time. For me, there’s been lots of little wins that have gradually added up to being successful. Unless one gets lucky, I don’t think there’s a shortcut to building an art career. You just have to be patient and put in the time and effort.

Jason, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m an artist living in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I’m known both for my mural work and my altered thrift store paintings. Most of my work focuses on the interaction of nature and technology. If I had to describe my art in one word, it would be whimsical. I really want to create pieces that are fun and make people smile, especially kids. If children are inspired, I feel like I’ve done my job.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

As a creative, I’ve always known that my brain works differently than most. When I was younger, I thought I wasn’t very intelligent. Academics and language-based learning did not come easy for me. Now I know that I’m dyslexic and neurodivergent, and I understand that there are different ways of expressing intelligence. My learning disabilities and neurodivergence strengthen my creativity. Both help me see things from different angles and think outside of the box.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is the connection I’ve developed to my community. I’ve always struggled with shyness and social awkwardness. Making art has given me an identity and opened up a way for me to meet and communicate with people. Being vulnerable and putting my work out in the world has been good for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: Artistjasonjones.com
• Instagram: @artistjasonjones
• TikTok: @artistjasonjones