Small business: How artist Lena J. created her dream job
As a high school student, Lena Jackson, better known as Lena J., 45, got her start as an artist when her Uncle John McDonald let her draw caricatures in the lobby of McDonald’s Cafeteria on Beatties Ford Road for $3 each. Today, Lena draws caricatures at events and parties for corporate clients and individuals. She works with two agencies that contract her services throughout North and South Carolina.
Although doing caricatures is Lena’s bread and butter, she is also a muralist, painter and teaching artist. She helped Bruns Avenue sixth-grade students design and paint The Progress Mural at Great Enrichment Program, an after-school enrichment program. Another mural, “Tapestry,” is in Myers Hall at Johnson C. Smith University.
Lena received her visual arts and art education degrees in 1994 from Winston-Salem State University. After college, she landed her childhood dream job to work as a caricature artist at Carowinds. She met and worked with Kim Allman, who had made an impression on her as a child, seeing him draw caricatures at Carowinds.
Lena J. and I met at the NoDa Company Store for an interview, which turned out to be a serendipitous event for her. In 1996, Lena and graphic artist, Shani Rashid, had their office and art space in what is now the NoDa Company Store. They had half the duplex and called it, “Honey I Love.” She had no idea that the space had been transformed and was pleased with its new life.
Lena answers questions for C5’s Small Business Series:
What advice would you give other artists?
“You create your own opportunities. If you wait for someone to knock on the door, you are going to be very upset. If you want to make it as an artist here, you can make it as an artist here. But you have to be creative, you have to be innovative, you have to be persistent.”
What has kept you in business for so many years?
“I do something that is considered more entertainment than just art for art’s sake. Caricature art is novelty art, but it is also performing. People like to see you draw live. They like to see you draw something amusing of their friend or their wife. People will always want to be entertained, and there will always be kid parties, wedding receptions, bridal showers and store openings.
“Caricaturing is a skill that I’ve found not all artists can do; to accurately draw someone’s likeness, to capture their very ‘essence’ in five minutes or less while carrying on a full conversation with them — I’ve learned not to take that lightly.”
Where would you add art in Charlotte? What type? Why?
“In the ‘hood. Beatties Ford Road especially. Any place where there is low-income housing. Of all the things we know art to do, we know it inspires. It can motivate. The art needs to represent and reflect the people who live there. It can’t just be a flower. It needs to speak to their soul. But nothing bleak. I think that is a disservice.”
How do you set goals for your business?
“I use a vision board. I create pictures of what I want my life to be.”
What artists in Charlotte inspire you?
“David French, Marcus Kiser and John Hairston.”
Lena J.: 704-370-3536
Photos: Lena J., Vanessa Infanzon
Family history and my own fascination with people and their motivations prompted me to begin this series about Charlotte’s small business owners. Industry, situation and questions will vary. Have a suggestion for a small business owner or entrepreneur to interview? Email it to vanessainfanzon@gmail.com with the subject line “Small Business Series.”
This story was originally published February 21, 2017 at 10:00 PM with the headline "Small business: How artist Lena J. created her dream job."