Passion Over Paycheck

Naples Artist Jake Jones had been leading a successful career as a graphic designer in February of 2020 when he decided to take a leap of faith and pursue his passion over a paycheck.

Born in California, he grew up in Maryland and originally moved to Naples in 1989. He moved to Ohio for 20 years to raise his children, but returned to Naples full-time in 2016. With family and connections here, it had always felt like home. 

His passion for the arts started at a young age with the creation of comic books. Blossoming into editorial artistry with a local newspaper in his 20s, he continued this path for close to 20 years. “I was a graphic designer stuck in a cubicle. It paid the bills, but it wasn’t my passion…to be in front of a computer all day,” said Jones.

An awakening occurred when he created an outdoor sign for a friend’s ice cream shop. “The mascot was a honey bear. I painted it on plywood, cut it out with a jigsaw, and clear-coated it. I was like, wow! That was the most fun I have had in 20 years!” Jones was going back to his roots of creating art by hand.

So, in 2020, he quit his job with NCH at the time and decided to pursue artwork full-time. Already one of the scariest moves he had ever made, to make matters more frightening, he made this move in February of 2020.

Covid hit only weeks later. “What did I do?” said Jones. “I had a steady job, working for healthcare – which of course went crazy at the time – but 2020 ended up being my busiest year!”

Right out of the gates, Jones was busy. “People couldn’t leave their homes, so they chose decorating. Crazy enough, my little idea of cutting up surfboards into art was one of those businesses that really thrived during Covid. I was super blessed. I always looked for signs, and to be that busy starting off, it was a huge sign for me.”

His unique surfboard art stemmed from his love for the ocean and all the creatures and life that inhabit it. “Initially, I was going to paint the board but knew that had been done before,” said Jones. “I did a very crude fishbone design, and someone immediately was interested!”

He knew he was on to something. “When I realized that I could remove the fiberglass from the board and carve the foam underneath, it was my ‘ah-ha’ moment.”

“Six years later, I'm still learning, but am so blessed to work in my backyard and make art for people,” Jones said.

It also pays the bills. Jones has finished roughly 500 pieces. “I tend to stay between five and 10 commissions deep at all times.”

In addition to custom pieces with clients’ preferences, Jones enjoys creating what is in his head and transferring it into the board.

He sources the surfboards from a variety of places and scours online marketplaces for used ones that he can work with.

Jones has created a workspace in his backyard that is half studio and half gym. “I built the shop; it is actually bigger than my house! It is my happy place.”

Six years ago, taking the gamble of putting his passion over the safety of a steady paycheck has paid off big time. “I didn’t chase a paycheck; I chased happiness. I’ve learned that the paycheck will follow if you are doing what you love, and I truly am.”

Jake just completed an art show in Delray Beach, and his work will be on display through mid-September. “I honestly feel retired most days because I'm truly living my dream of making art for people. I'm blessed and humbled every day. Who gets to wake up to people saying, ‘I love your work’?” For Jones, that is a very special thing that he does not take for granted.

Interested clients can check out his gallery, available pieces, or seek information on commissions on Facebook and Instagram: @JakeJonesGallery and visit jakejonesgallery.com.