We were lucky to catch up with Jason Walter recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jason, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

To answer the first part of this honestly, sometimes, yes, super stoked as an artist and creative. But also sometimes, no, especially when intrusive thoughts creep in:

“The work is never complete.”

“It’s not good enough.”

“Does what I’m creating add any value to being here?”

And regardless, I think all of that is independent of having a regular job.

There are artists who choose to work in order to feed their art. That resonates deeply for me as I have benefitted from the many jobs I’ve held as each experience in my life has helped to cultivate my growth as an artist and human+being.

Not all of us can be Takashi Murakami or other names that pop into culture. And that’s okay, that’s not the journey for all of us and there are a great deal of artists who are known to various sized audiences that make comfortable livings with their art and don’t have regular jobs along with those who have regular jobs too for the medical, socialization, etc.

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

Aloha kākou! I’m Jason, aka jmaw, founder/creative director of soul what, an ongoing creative exploration of ‘soul speak from a to z’ through various artistic mediums.

I was born on the island of O‘ahu and raised in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawai‘i. As a mixed-race human+being from a very diverse place, from early on I was curious about the who/what/why am I HERE and NOW how am I going to do my part to help make the earth a healthier space than I found it. I began writing and drawing as a child, which fed into my professional life, and ultimately, helped me to embrace a core piece of my identity as an artist.

I created soul what as a way to bring together the crafts I create as a poet, photographer, and painter. In addition to my creative life, I am a marketer and storyteller, with experience in arts administration, consulting, education, politics, and sustainability.

Something that I’m very proud of is my ability to relate to whoever I’m serving and to connect the dots on a deeper level in ways people might not have originally seen, but when they do, they can feel that depth and resonance. The key takeaway that I’d like people to know about my art is to seek a meaningful way to live. That does not have to be meta-physical, religious, or spiritual. While those can be a part of it, most important, find ways to expand self-discovery and find what is most natural for you.

I believe that the more we can hold space to breathe into the fullness of who we are in this life, the more we can find opportunities to let that fullness flourish – for ourselves, our ‘ohana and loved ones, the greater communities we traverse – and ultimately the more loving and compassionate we can be.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

As I child, I dreamed of being Indiana Jones, a Pirate, and a Pro Wrestler. While those rotated, the one thing that didn’t was that from as early as I can remember, I wanted to help people and do my part to heal the world.

As an adult, I realized the symbolism of those dreams represented a desire to have an adventure in service, which was ultimately liberating because I wasn’t limited to doing any one thing beyond really being and actualizing the fullest authentic version of me.

Since that realization, I’ve used this lens to live more intentionally and fully, feel more free, while in service to others AND enjoying this one long moment that is the human journey.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

IMO seeing, hearing, breathing, and feeling the same vibe as people with different viewpoints is essential to growing as a creative. And one of the best ways to do that is through exploring the world.

I didn’t start traveling, like really getting out and seeing the world until I reached the age of 30.

Being in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in Hawai‘i, I grew up in one of the most amazing places possible and people of many cultures came to my backyard to experience it. This allowed me to meet and have meaningful conversations, acquaintances, and friendships with people from around the world.

When I finally started to travel, I realized a deeper sense of self, connection to my home, and developed a greater understanding of what I value.

In the process, I’ve grown to see how interconnected we all are, and tbh, how special my home is, not just because of the natural beauty, but the underlying essence, the spirit of Aloha and the holistic depth with which it permeates everywhere. And in turn, travel has helped me to find that vibe along with “all the wow” and a sense of gratitude wherever I’ve gone.

I have journals full of memories of conversations and experiences that I’ve had along with signs I’ve seen in other places, which to me, are further reminders of the Aloha that courses through each moment of life. That in and of itself, has been priceless, renewing, and beautiful to take in.

Long story short, make the investment to explore your backyard (becasue there’s so take in at home too), neighboring counties, and/or the world as much as possible because the memories made will be stories you can tell, add texture to the pictures you create, and “soul much” more.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jmaw.substack.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulxwhat
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulxwhat/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/menamejmaw/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@soulxwhat3724
• Other: https://www.threads.net/@menamejmaw

Image Credits
Images courtesy of Jason Walter