Rising Stars: Meet Jacob Olds

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob Olds.

Hi Jacob, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I used to draw as a kid and loved it. I took about a 26-year hiatus while I toured as a musician for Family Force 5.

We stopped touring in 2019, and during the pandemic lockdown in 2020, I started drawing again. By 2021, people were starting to ask me for commissions, just from posting my artwork on Instagram.

By August of that year, my current art started to take form, inspired by iconic fashion and musicians, in a mixed media art form, using pen and ink and watercolor. It has now become what I am doing full time.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Surprisingly enough, the doors have been opening pretty organically for my visual art.

At times it seems very slow, but when I step back and look at the past year I’m really thankful for where I’m at. Music wasn’t always so smooth, so I definitely appreciate it when things are going well.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The two collections I have created are Animals and Eye-cons. Both are iconic musicians.

The Animals I carefully consider, deciding which one goes with a particular artist’s personality and the era of the artist’s fashion. The Eye-cons are pen and ink portraits of musicians with only one eye drawn in.

Being a musician myself, I know well that musicians have to sleep with one eye open to make it in the music industry. Both of the collections are meant to start a conversation, both with the artist and among those who see them.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Be optimistic and thankful.

To be honest, without the pandemic I probably wouldn’t have ever made this shift in my career. Out of it, I got to be at home with my family, and I got to stay there. I might not have ever realized that was an option before.

Contact Info:

• Website: jacoboldsart.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/jacoboldsart

Image Credits
Solomon Olds and Bethany Olds