Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Josh Jones. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Josh, thanks for joining us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

First dollar made was during my time when I was a graphic designer, I do a little less of that now but my first dollar from photography was I think was from one of my Dj’s, Disc Jockey George. It was just $50 but him and I had been working together for a few month by then, it was the last party just before winter hit then the pandemic.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Born in Detroit, Michigan….1999. As young as 5 years old, I’ve always been attracted to colors, I get that from my dad and his fashion. Also from my strong video game addiction (lol) colors, motions, design etc. It was a strong interest of mine then later growing up between ages 14-16 is when the world of art was opening up more to me. Music and fashion being the strongest at first then graffiti, after that paintings and movies. By the end of my junior year of high school I found myself in the interest of graphic design…mostly cover art for albums.

The wonder of how people got to work on art work for musicians was weird but interesting to me. By my senior year I was full blown into graphic design then starting my own business a month after graduating, along with that photography was a big thing for me too. I could always frame things in my eyes and take a mental picture….always had an eye for stuff like that.

In 2018, I jumped fully into photography starting just for fun to practice on my friends. It was easy to find my style in both, I took bits and pieces from pop culture, artists, movies and crafted it into my own. So what you see in my art is how I see it in my head before its even done.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

LORD where do I even start!?? PAY YOUR MODELS, DIRECTORS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, VIDEOGRAPHERS, DESIGNERS,ETC! This is a regular job for us just like any pencil pusher who works in an office, only differences is we have more fun. We made every athlete, brand, car, musician, influence, PRESIDENT, look good…that literally our job, without us there is no press, recaps, videos, highlights, NOTHING. Us ARTISTS are the reason things thrive in this world most of the time, but we don’t treat us like it. Pay us and treat us our worth and life would be a little easier.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

My audience mostly first started out with just my friends. I was really show off my art until after I graduated high school, by that time I already was 2K in followers. It was during my early college days is when I kind of started growing that following, I was shooting parties I would go to because I was really into concert photography and I thought it was a good practice. After some time I was known for shooting parties with a film editing style (shooting digital but making the photo look like it was shot on film), but still at that time people in the city (Detroit) didn’t really know me. Being that I was born in Detroit then leaving at 9 years old to a city 30 minutes away, this was my reconnection to my home. I was basically a fly on the wall, stayed in the shadows and moved like a ghost. To this day a lot of people know my work and not really my face (the ones who know me, know me).

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jaythevillain.com
• Instagram: @jmoneyj12
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo0DNv9QC3DhjO-2QHDff6Q