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Jaya King: The Mural Queen

Jaya King:

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The Mural Queen

Painter, Muralists, Instructor. www.jayasart.com IG: @artchickjaya Sacramento,CA.

Jaya King working hard and playing harder.

Jaya King is the genuine article of an artist—Jaya got her start in the art industry nearly 30 years ago, these days her roots run deep throughout the art community, providing her with prolific opportunities to create and collaborate on projects of all scopes.

Over the years, Jaya has flourished the roles of instructor, mentor, painter, and muralists. Prior to covid, Jaya taught color mixing, encaustic, and acrylic courses. Since the return to normalcy, Jaya has been focused on completing more community based murals.

One mural in particular that will always be dear to Jaya’s heart is the Wellspring Mural. This emotionally epic mural is in the Oak Park neighborhood in Sacramento, CA-located at the Wellspring Women’s Center. Throughout the process of this mural, Jaya’s overall mission evolved— day after day Jaya’s external progress on the mural, was also reflected internally within her. Jaya was able to mentally and emotionally unpack by making special connections during the project. Read Jaya’s interview to learn more about who she is, and just how big of an impact the Wellspring mural truly had on her.

Interview with Jaya King

Hey jaya Tell the readers about yourself:

I’m Jaya and when I’m not painting I’m usually sitting in front of my computer researching a project or working on a composite design while my bird keeps me company. Tending my plants helps me decompress, though I don’t really have a green thumb. Going to the gym also helps to keep my head clear.

Out of all the things you tried as a youth, what was it about art that turned you on?

I’ve always loved art, from preschool. I could create my own characters and worlds and disappear in them. I remember in school other kids would come up to me and ask me to show them how to draw. Art was something that set me apart. I can’t remember a time in my life when art wasn’t present. whatever was going on inside me or around me if I got it out on paper I wouldn’t feel so bad.

Was or is there anything other than art that motivates you?

As a child I know middle school and high school were trying times for you, can you explain what art did for you during those trying times?

Art was a total escape. I remember when things were pretty dark I would draw or paint what I was feeling just to get it out of me. I didn’t realize it at the time but it was therapy. All I knew was that Huge breakthroughs. From a teaching aspect I pivoted to an online teaching platform and created my own color mixing e-course. It was incredibly challenging from a technical standpoint however I learned so much and I’m very proud of it. Quarantine gave me time to work on personal projects

and build up new painting inventory. I dove further into my portrait project (a series of large scale black and white portraits of people in my life.)

What is your favorite type of projects/pieces to work on?

My favorite is always changing. Right now I’m obsessed with murals, however in studio I enjoy working on my semi-abstract paintings. I do love working big though, no matter the subject. Big portrait, big wall, big abstract, no matter what it is I have more fun working big.

How do you come up with concepts for your newest upcoming projects/pieces?

With murals it is usually a collaborative effort so the concept is planted in those initial conversations. Sometimes the direction can be broad such as “colorful” or “nature” which will give me a lot of creative leeway. With murals I think of the intended audience or community and that will help me focus in on the subject matter. With my own art I am very texture and color-driven. A color mix or tool can dictate an entire painting process. As an artist, why do you create, what’s your inspiration?

For me, inspiration changes daily, project to project, painting to painting. I’m easily driven to create just from a color mix, or texture. I can be driving in my car and watch the colors change in the landscape and I’ll immediately want to recreate those colors in my own abstracted rendition of that landscape. It’s very rare for me to need to search for inspiration. If it’s forced the painting will never be as strong as if it comes naturally.

You recently completed an epic mural for Wellspring Womens Centers, what motivated you to take on that mural?

When I read the prospectus I knew this would be one of those “life changing” projects. When these types of murals pop up I think it’s very important to participate. I knew this project would go beyond just the painting process. This would be an opportunity to make an impact in the community and with the women at Wellspring. Art that makes a difference is a huge motivation for me. For a large mural of that scale how did go about executing this mural?

Because the wall was so rough it was obvious that I would be spraying instead of using a brush. Spray paint is an infinitely faster process than brushwork. I used a projector to get the image up which also cut down on production time. Once community paint day had the base layer down I was able to block out the background with my paint sprayer and house paint, then jump into aerosol. My process is working biggest to smallest in terms of surface area on the wall.

If you could of chosen a word during the popcorn sesh for the well spring mural, what would you have chosen? Or what word resonated with you?

The word “family” went pretty deep. A lot of the women describe their friends at the center as their family. They see each other almost daily. Family went deeper than that for me though. Families grow up at Wellspring.

Women who came to Wellspring as kids now bring their own children. Wellspring has a presence in a family’s generation, from grandmothers to grandchildren. This resonated with me in multiple ways.

What was the biggest eye opener of working on the wellspring project?

The intergenerational aspect of Wellspring. I thought about the cycle of women entering, but not necessarily exiting, Wellspring and it really hit me hard. It made me consider the different opportunities one is born into or out of. It made me consider how our society takes care of itself (or lack thereof.) We have so far to go in terms of macro human kindness. There is a lot of love at Wellspring. It helps make up for our societal shortcomings in the interim. This was a huge eye-opener.

What has been your biggest accomplishment in your art career?

I’d say it would be my mural in Hollywood Park. It was such a huge undertaking and it also opened the door or a lot of subsequent opportunities for both my team and I. Even though I had done murals before this took it to the next level. It was really a massive launch into this next phase of my career.

Do you have any advice for new artists looking to begin their new path?

If you want to show your work then submit to as many opportunities that you can afford. Go to all sorts of art shows. Make connections and do research at shows. Present your art as professionally as you can. Consider where you’re showing, how your work is hanging, how it’s lit, who you’re showing with, how (and if) it’s framed. If any of these are below standard it can diminish how your work appears. Want to get on walls? Reach out to local muralists and ask if you can assist and learn.

Anything you would like to add? (ie. Words of wisdom? More about your work? Future plans? How people can support you?)

Good energy attracts good energy. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and want to see you succeed. Anything or anybody who brings negativity to your game is a waste of time. Mindset is so important and it alone has the power to make or break you. No one else holds that control. Own it, do your superpower, learn, adapt, evolve with every project, failure, success. In my experience, the universe gives back what you put out there.

Lastly, where can people find you?

@artchickjaya jayasart.com or jaya@jayasart.com. Best way to follow/DM me is Instagram. My website is more extensive & showcases portfolios of my work.

PART 2

OVERLAPPING ART AND SCIENCE IN THE REAL WORLD.

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