EyeJelly may have hit the scene recently, but the work behind it has been building for years. In this conversation, Jason Ewing talks about returning to art, following a vision through uncertainty, and hoping to make a living from the work he loves.
A lifelong artistic journey
EyeJelly seems like it arrived recently. How long has this journey been going on?
It’s been a lifelong artistic journey. I’ve been creating and honing these images in different mediums for years. Before I launched EyeJelly, I had four years of drawings built up. I wanted a strong catalog of work before I put it on shirts.
There have been years when I didn’t create art, too. Sobriety brought me back to it. In prison, I had nothing but time to focus on myself—my behaviors, my mental health—and art became a goal I set for myself. I wanted to rediscover exactly what my style was. When I came back to creating, it was EyeJelly.
Finding the work
How would you describe your style now?
It’s just what I keep making, so I don’t know how to explain it. A lot of it depends on where I’m at in my head. Sometimes I’ll see a shape or a piece start to look like something, and I go with it. I work pretty quickly. I’d say it’s a little of both—instinct and all the years I’ve spent creating. I try to let go and let it be whatever it’s supposed to be.
When a piece is finished, it just is. I’ve been there for the whole process, start to finish, so I know what’s in it.
What brought EyeJelly from a vision into the world?
The vision was there. Then I broke my foot and was supposed to stay off it for eight weeks. I needed income, so I shot my shot. I started a website.
It’s still inspiring to see my art on shirts and boards. It’s been a long time coming.
Art, stress, and staying grounded
What does making art do for you?
It’s how I’ve learned to function. Art and writing about life help me process things and stay grounded. It depends on how overwhelmed my nervous system is. But I’ve learned to deal with high-stress situations by doing art. It keeps me grounded and focused in the moment.
Sometimes, getting through the day means waking up and being alive. I don’t always know what else to do in life. Frustration and a will to keep going move me. It’s like a shark in water—it has to keep moving.
What happens when someone connects with one of your pieces?
It’s a relief. It makes me feel like the work was worth it. Sometimes, when I’m in doubt, that connection sparks me back up. When someone brings up a piece that struck them, it inspires me even more and can lead me toward new ideas.
Every design means something or has something to say, but what it means to someone else is subjective. It stirs something in me; it can be something different for them.
A home base for every kind of creativity
What would you like your next home and studio to make possible?
Right now, I’m between living situations. I’m looking forward to finding a home base and getting back to basics: setting up my studio and returning to airbrushing and more digital work. I want to create with whatever medium my heart desires—pen, pencil, anything.
I love all kinds of creative work: welding, furniture, car restoration—anything I can think of, really.
A good day would be just breathing, observing, and touching my things again: inspirational trinkets, shiny things I’ve picked up along my life. Usually they bring back a person or a memory, or both—the time and place, who I received it from and where. It’s not a map. It’s just a journey. I’m looking forward to having my things around me again.
What EyeJelly is here to do
What do you hope EyeJelly becomes?
Authenticity. I want everyone to feel free within themselves to accomplish anything. It’s all my original work, all from my head, so it’s authentic. I want people to feel inspiration and good vibes. Pick any design—each one means something. And if it makes somebody smile, that matters.
EyeJelly has a heartbeat. It has a rhythm. I have a lot coming in the future that I’ve been working on over the last year. I believe it will hit its groove when it’s supposed to.
My dream is to fully support myself doing nothing but art. I think that’s every dreamer’s goal: to achieve what they’ve been working toward. For me, that would be nirvana.
What would you tell someone just starting their own creative journey?
No matter what, don’t give up on yourself.
Still breathing.
A few words for the journey
What has life taught you?
I’m probably a lot more thoughtful than people realize. I notice small things, and I’ve tried to help the next person accomplish their dreams.
Surround yourself with people smarter than you. Work hard to stay positive, even when it feels like bullshit. Never give up. If people are negative in your life, don’t waste your time. Take off the rose-colored glasses and look at your life objectively.