Check out Jamie Nicole Kazebee’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Nicole Kazebee.

Jamie Nicole, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I grew up in Encinitas, CA, in a family of surfers and musicians. Drawing was always my hobby, but when I started painting, that’s when I really fell in love. I’ve always wanted my passion for painting to serve a purpose beyond my own enjoyment, but it took me a while to find that voice. It also took me a while to realize that art could be an actual career. When I took the big leap and decided to go to art school, that’s when I realized just how powerful a role art can play. I’m now pursuing a profession in illustration so that I can create work that carries a message and tells a story visually. I love the idea of making art that connects to people regardless of their age and background, and that’s why I’m currently pursuing the field of Illustration!

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
My art mostly consists of whimsical paintings and linocut illustrations portraying people and nature. I particularly love painting people and places near and dear to me. It’s so fun to create a stylized portrait of somebody that depicts their unique character traits and personality. I always find portrait commissions extremely rewarding because I feel that I am telling someone’s personal story. Nature has also been a constant driving force of inspiration for me, and a big part of my childhood as I grew up going to the beach almost every day and taking regular camping trips to Yosemite National Park. My all-time favorite mediums to work in are gouache and linocut prints! However, I like using and combining different mediums– I can paint digitally, create vector art, or work in whatever medium the particular project calls for.

The sterotype of a starving artist scares away many potentially talented artists from pursuing art – any advice or thoughts about how to deal with the financial concerns an aspiring artist might be concerned about?
I think it all comes down to determination and time management. For me, I balance my time between working a part time day job that is not art related, going to art school full time, and working on different creative projects. I try to save most of my energy for my creative work, and I view my day job more as a stepping stone to get me to where I want to be. I think it’s still important to work hard in all areas of life.

Starting an artistic career, especially if you plan to freelance, is a lot like starting your own business from scratch. In the beginning, you’re investing a lot of time and money into something that you just hope will become successful in the end! It is risky, but I believe it is worth it.

The sheer joy and satisfaction of doing what you love for a living, even when you’re up day and night working towards it, is what I see as a success. Having both the desire to make your own creative voice heard as well as a passion to make someone else’s vision a reality will go a long way!

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I try to keep a more organized portfolio on my website, and use Instagram for more current pieces I’m working on as well as a good mix of both my personal and artistic endeavors! I would love for people to follow me on both my Instagram as well as my website. I am also open to freelance commissions and always excited to receive an email about starting a new creative project.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jamienicoleillustration.com
• Phone: (760) 271-4637
• Email: jamie.kazebee@gmail.com
• Instagram: @jamienicole

Image Credit:
All photos were taken by me, or my fiancé Wes Jones

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