Meet Jason Tidwell | Drawing, Animating & Creating Comics

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jason Tidwell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jason, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
When I was originally starting out as an artist I was more concerned with how to make the stories of others come to life than my own. I always had a religious love for cartoons, anime, comics and fantasy. It always helped me figure out the deeper parts of myself with an extravagant narrative, both spiritually and physically. I wanted to help other people with their own self discovery. But something was still missing, my voice. So when I finally decided to focus more on releasing my comic Jak Jaqks Jam, a story that I originally only wrote for myself as “fantasy/poetry/ journaling”. I found not only was it helpful for me, but for others as well. Jak Jaqks Jam is a story that asks us about the role we are playing in our life and if that is the character we wish to be. It also expresses how we should all face our demons to get the most out of our individual selves. I feel that the world needs that. We need to know it’s possible to get better, that we are all going through similar struggles and we can all be shining examples in this dark world. That light not only still exist, it can thrive.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve been drawing nearly my whole life. In my younger days I utilized art as an emotional escape and honestly I still do. I think the big difference between me then and me now, is that when I escape into my imagination now I return with all the gems I found to share with myself and others in reality. I’ve been working as an artist since I was 18 years old. My very first job was for a eco-friendly web comic. The gentleman who gave me that job just so happened to be on the same train as me and saw me sketching in my notebook, as I often did on my commutes to pass the time. Later I would go to school for art and struggle with staying in an art career. Jumping from jobs in animation, design, apps and eventually landing in QA for websites and apps. It would be a number of years as art and technology danced around my options for a future. Eventually I ended up at a fantastic marketing company in Boston MA. I got to do some artistic endeavors but still mainly focused on QA and coding for websites and apps. After being apart of the layoffs the company had, I finally decided to continue my dream in pursuing art and moving to Los Angeles CA. I started all over, working minimum wage while attempting to do anything I could artisticly. Being an extra on tv shows, modeling, doing commission work and eventually releasing my comic Jak Jaqks Jam. I eventually would go on to showcasing Jak Jaqks Jam at comic con and doing advertisement work for Adult swim. Along the way staying focused and enjoying life. Making sure that when I had opportunities to converse with anybody interested, I took it. Which led me to being able to work with Dawn Richards and get a leg up from Phil Boutte. Through out all of this I went through loss, hardships, family issues, severe health issues, struggling to feed myself and sometimes still working jobs I hated. But I knew what I was choosing. I think knowing that you chose this, is half the battle. There’s a sense of control to it. Like, hey you can go down this path of pins and needles, getting stuck the whole way. But at the end you might find a treasure that is only valuable to you, but it will be the most valuable thing you’ve ever found. There are even days I hit peaks of achievement and find myself slumped on the other side, with my ambitions feeling like they could go no higher and now I am only left to my inevitable downfall. But that’s apart of the game of being The Main Character. And we all choose that on a day to day. Sometimes I don’t want to be the main character, I want to be an extra in someone else’s story as I get to watch them live a happy narrative they crave. Enjoying the living stream of life they are creating and merrily pushing my own boat along it. But on the days where I know who I want to be, that me is the most powerful me and I know that they can get through anything set in front of them. And even if they can’t, the trying is worth the finding. You might find your limit, but more often you just find your mistakes. And mistakes can be fixed and improved upon so you can get closer to being your happily fantastic self.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love LA. I come from the east coast, so just being on this side and having sunshine 85% of the time is already a big win when people come to visit. There is always so much to do. From pop up shops, pop up restaurants and even the classics that people who live here are jaded by. Things like walking along Santa Monica or finding a random group of musicians starting to play on Venice is such a treat. I live in the center of Hollywood so I’m not too far from most things. Being able to hit rooftop restaurants for drinks, food and maybe a poetry slam is always a good time too. I love taking people to The Getty Museum and any other art gallery we can fit in. Getting mexican food from street vendors which makes it feel home cooked, the good fusion food spots and just walking around to enjoy mural art. Or even local hikes can be refreshing as well. Like Griffith Observatory or of course for your visiting friends, The Hollywood sign. The funny thing is, I don’t really go out that often. But that’s what’s great about there always being something going on here. I can go into a hermit mode and just work, binge shows and play video games. Then when I emerge from my wolfs den, there’s the sun and the artsy-vibey world just waiting for me. And let’s not get started on Universal and Disney being right there too.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Rich Kenyon @scribblydimples,  he is a mixed media artist who can produce anything you’re looking for and he is looking for a gallery show for his canvas paintings. Carl Harrison @carlharrisonart and his work with the Huey P Newton Foundation as well as his artwork and new projects coming up. Edward Lilley @edwardlilley_art,  he is a outstanding comic book artist and he works on storyboarding as well. Javonne Dandridge @javo_grey,  he has this cool comic called The Endeavors, it’s like if The Boondocks fused with The Mummy, really cool. Michael James Meara @mearatime, he is a great character designer and he has multiple comics that are apart of his Super New City universe, so check him out. Sean Sullivan @slopwalk,  professional animator and he has this great 80’s, wizard, scifi, “ready player one” styled comic called Obsidian, it’s so funny and unique. Ralph Sutter @thebigboss1984 ,  amazing 3D artist and cosplayer. Brandon Applegate @branapple,  he has an amazing kids app company, anything that educates and keeps our kids well entertained should be supported. I wish I could shout out more people, but that might become a book lol. – Keep Howling everyone.

Website: https://juxtahowl.wixsite.com/jasontidwell

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakjaqksjam/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-tidwell-bbb61195/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/juxtahowl

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juxtahowl

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5qUaUBrVrsIZCK7d_nXKaQ