We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jay Echevarria. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jay below.

Hi Jay, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The majority of my work is paint on canvas – but I have always loved expressing myself through multiple mediums. One day, I was messing around in Procreate. I began to draw a font, and then a character, added some detail and I realized I had just created the cover for a comic (STINK). As I created each page, I realized they felt like a diary entry of sorts. Dealing with mental health and sobriety, STINK was created out of thin air, but for a greater purpose. I shared STINK with the world and the feedback was so much greater than I had anticipated. I had received many messages from sober friends, and those who struggle with mental health issues. They told me how much it helped them to read it and relate. It was at this point I knew that every chapter of STINK would be commentary on mental health and sobriety. This project will always be very special to me, and I believe for others.

Jay, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Jay Echevarria and I’m a visual artist living and working in Allentown, PA. I started painting full time in 2009 and haven’t stopped since. I exhibited in my first group show a few months into painting, and sold my first piece in that show. It was in that moment I knew that if I kept at it, I could potentially make a living off of it. At 19 years old, I had this huge aspiration to ‘make it’ as an artist. I’m happy to say that after 14 years of relentlessly painting and exhibiting my work, that I make a living off of it.

Most of my work comes from a place within me that I aim to heal. When I’m creating and doing the act of painting, it is for me; when the piece is finished, that is when it becomes for everyone. It is vulnerable to share so much of myself, but I find the more vulnerable I am, the more others relate. This is something that I am proud of. When you have a piece of my work, you have a piece of me.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Vending is something that is not for the faint of heart. It is something that has the potential to have you do a lot of work for very little outcome at times and be okay with it. Vending can be incredibly rewarding, and a great way to make a lot of money. Before you make money from vending, you have to account for the money it costs to create a proper vending set up. From tables, and displays, to a tent and supplies. If you’re vending art, you have to make sure you don’t scuff your work and that all of it is packed up accordingly. You need money for prints, stickers. the cost of supplies to make the work to begin with, the gas money to drive sometimes hours away. I must mention having to combat with rain, or wind when you least expect it. You more often than not have to pay to vend so once you’ve paid all the money for your set up AND inventory to sell, and the cost to vend – you’re trying to make that money back first and then you can begin to make money!

With all of this said, I have to explain the good side. When you have a successful vending event, you can go home with a lot more than what you arrived with. The community that you feel when you vend is special. You’re all out there together trying to make your money and sell your wares. Casual check ins of ‘how are your sales’ are so kind and creates a bond of were in this together. A great vending event can be so fulfilling and a really great way to make extra income.

How did you build your audience on social media?

For me it has been slow and steady wins the race. I’ve accumulated a following slowly but surely and its all organic. I’ve put my work out there, and left it up to the person to want to follow me, instead of endless promoting.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jayechevarria.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/artbyjayechevarria
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/artbyjayechevarria