MEET THE MAKER ///

Her JCaplan Art paint-by-number shore scenes are immensely connective because they are like a mirror looking back at youth for so many.

“I think the sets are so popular because everyone, locals and visitors alike, has such a strong connection to the local places that I highlight in my paint by number kits,” Jordan said. “The 9th Street Bridge going into Ocean City often signifies the start of a fun-filled family vacation. Lucy the Elephant is a well-known landmark and Margate staple to many. Kohr Bros ice cream is an integral part of any vacation, and Congress Hall in Cape May is a hot spot destination during the summer and holiday season.”

Jordan grew up in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and vacationed in Ocean City her whole life and was “a proud shoobie for many years before I became a resident.”

Each summer, her extended and immediate family rented a house for what she called the best week of the year. Naturally, these vacations are now cherished memories in her favorite place.

“These designs of familiar places get people excited to paint and to display them in their homes,” Jordan said. “I also believe the kits are so popular because they’re a hands-on activity that kids and adults can both enjoy. I’ve had people buy these kits for all different purposes, such as an activity at a kids birthday party, paint and sip nights, a rainy day activity while on vacation, an enriching activity for an elderly parent with dementia, a birthday present, and so much more.”

The idea for these DIY paint sets spawned from another project early during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I started creating Ocean City-themed face masks in the summer of 2020 with my artwork on them, and they became a huge hit,” Jordan said. “I have a very illustrative style, and I had many people asking me to create a coloring book or coloring pages based on my designs. I looked into the process, but I was pretty overwhelmed and did not have the funds to embark on that endeavor yet.

“The idea of paint by number kits popped into my head randomly one day since those were my favorite crafts as a kid. I explored different canvas papers and sought out craft paint with a variety of colors. Through a lot of experimentation, I found what worked and debuted the product at the 2022 Ocean City Spring Block Party. They were immediately a huge hit and continued to grow in popularity throughout the summer at the OC Farmers Market.

“They ultimately were much easier to produce than a coloring book since I do most everything myself.”

Jordan attended Stockton University and earned undergraduate degrees in psychology and education. She moved to Ocean City during her senior year of college and earned a post-baccalaureate degree in art education and taught elementary art outside of Cape May.

She now resides in Linwood and teaches art at Atlantic City High School.

Though Jordan paints from various views along the South Jersey shore, she is still pulled mostly by Ocean City to put memories into colors.

“I have really enjoyed expanding my horizons with other shore towns, such as Margate, Cape May, Wildwood and Sea Isle,” Jordan said. “However, my favorite places reside in Ocean City. Playland’s Castaway Cove and Gillian’s Wonderland Pier are among my favorite paintings I have ever made – most likely due to the connection and wonderful memories I have as a kid at both places. Painting the rides is fun because there is so much detail and working with vibrant colors is my forte.”

Jordan takes painting commissions, too.

“As of now, a lot of my commissions have been Ocean City themed since that’s the primary subject of my watercolor/gouache paintings,” Jordan said. “I’ve painted family beach houses, beach chairs tied to specific memories, collages of a variety of favorite places, and more.”

Not surprisingly with her deep connection to the shore, she painted one commission that she wanted to keep.

“In the summer of 2021, I painted a six-foot wooden surfboard for a customer, and that has been my favorite piece to date,” Jordan said. “He wanted it to capture his years spent in Ocean City, past and present. It was a collage of Ocean City landmarks, such as the Strand, Castaway Cove, Johnson’s Popcorn, Surf Mall, the Music Pier, and many others. We both loved how it turned out.”

Jordan has many popular paint-by-number sets.

“The Ocean City Fishing Pier, Lucy the Elephant, and the Wildwoods Sign are the most popular 8.5” by 11” designs at the moment,” Jordan said. “However, the smaller designs (5” by 7”) always sell out the fastest at the farmers markets and events. The Kohr Bros ice cream cone, Sunny the Seagull, and the OC lifeguard stands are extremely popular among the smaller designs.”

Of course, Jordan has her personal favorite set, too.

“My favorite paint-by-number set is the OC Bay 9th Street Bridge design,” Jordan said. “That drive has always signified happiness and relaxation to me, and it still does now even with being a local.

“I also have a lot more designs that will soon be unveiled for the summertime, and there might be a new favorite among them.”

FOR 16 YEARS, the Welcome to Ocean City guidebook has been, well, guiding cool folks like you around the island of Ocean City and its surrounding communities. Dive in for the best places to eat, shop, stay, and play in and around America’s Greatest Family Resort. If you’d like to purchase a copy, please visit www.ocnjmagazine.com/shop.