Art has played a significant part in Jacob’s life. Being surrounded by a creative family and actively involved in various productive art projects has encouraged him to focus on creativity and has given him pride in his achievements. This talented artist’s work has been awarded and selected for exhibitions by VSA and the Kennedy Center for Sustaining/Creating, U.S. Department of State’s Art in Embassies (AIE) Program, Three Rivers Arts Festival and many more. We want to congratulate Jacob for his amazing and creative talent.

What role does art play in your life? Which techniques do you use to create art?J: Art plays a huge role in my life. Creating art gives me purpose, fulfillment, and connects me with other people. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t involved in creating art. Being the youngest in a creative family, I was always surrounded by the production of art and other projects. It seems natural to me to create for the sake of creating. The work I make is a direct reflection of my physical limitations caused by my spastic cerebral palsy. Although my paintings are flat objects, the subject is very much the technical narrative of creating it with a handicap. In this way, each painting becomes a totem of my own cerebral palsy.
My working process is directly affected by my having spastic cerebral palsy. Starting with found grounds, I begin drawing and building up the surface with line using oil stick and oil pastels. Drawing is at the core of my artistic process. This disconnect between my mind and physical abilities gives my drawings a unique calligraphy. I use a mix of materials including oil pastel, ink, acrylic, wood stain, shellac, and metal leaf. I often use squirt bottles to apply liquid materials such as paint, shellac, and the glue for the metal leaf. The work grows by adding to the surface until I find some sort of harmony that is more than just the sum of my movements.

Which is your own favorite creation and why?J: My favorite piece is always the newest painting I’m working on because it still is full of potential.

What do you consider to be your biggest achievement?J: In September 2012, my artwork was selected by VSA and the Kennedy Center for Sustaining/Creating, the national juried exhibition of 15 young emerging artists with disabilities. After opening at the Smithsonian Institution, this exhibition then toured throughout the U.S. Having my work selected for this national VSA exhibition opened up many opportunities to me. From the exposure I received through the VSA exhibition, I was then honored in May 2013 to have my artwork selected by the U.S. Department of State’s Art in Embassies (AIE) Program for an exhibition at the US Embassy in Muscat, Oman. In October 2013, two of my paintings were included in an exhibition sponsored by the American Embassy in St. Petersburg, Russia held at the State Russian Museum. And once again in 2015, the Art in Embassies Program selected one of my paintings for the U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

What do you like to do with your family/friends?J: My time away from painting is spent skiing, rowing, and participating in the many social activities and events with the Best Buddies Chapter at Duquesne University. I have been an adaptive skier since I was 12 years old, about 13 years ago. I joined the Adaptive Rowing Program at Three Rivers Rowing Association in Pittsburgh, PA seven years ago. And I have been an active member of Best Buddies since 2011.

Can you give some tips/advice for those in our community who pursue their creativity?J: Pursuing your creativity doesn’t always have to result in a final work of art; experimenting and exploring the process can open up new ideas on its own. Take chances, who knows where it will lead you or what you might discover. Enjoy the adventure.

Any special message for our community?J: Although it might sound cliché I think the best advice, not just for people in our community but for people in general, is to try new things and not to give up when pursuing your goals. Dream big.