The Creation of Jesusjoints

Community Center of the Arts - Charlotte, North Carolina

The Creation of Jesusjoints: Where my oil painting journey began

In this photo (below), I was just 15 or 16 years old, deep in the process of painting one of my earliest portraits in oils on a rough, unfinished smooth wood board. This moment took place in Steven Lee Ray’s Community Center of the Arts Studio in North Carolina, a place that became my creative refuge. But before I found this haven, my path was rocky. My middle school and early high school art teachers- They despised me—literally told me I’d never make it as a professional artist. At that age, hearing those words felt devastating. I felt like my love for art wasn’t enough, like I would always be on the outside looking in. But my mom believing in my talent more than I even could at that point, found Steven—a local artist with a gift not just for creating but for teaching.

Steven became my mentor, and this relationship changed everything. I remember walking into his studio for the first time, feeling both excited and nervous, overwhelmed by the smell of linseed oil, the sight of unfinished canvases, and the clutter of well-loved brushes. It felt like home immediately, like this was where I belonged. I began taking oil painting lessons with Steven, absorbing everything he could teach me about the medium. He didn’t just instruct; he encouraged my creativity to soar, always pushing me to think beyond the canvas. I was young and frustrated, aching for a way to truly stand out.

At 14, I sold my very first painting under his guidance—for $150. That number felt huge back then. I couldn’t believe someone would actually pay for something I made, and that sale sparked a fire in me. From that point on, I worked tirelessly. Steven saw my hunger and let me experiment while refining my techniques, teaching me the intricacies of oil painting: from mixing colors to understanding light, shadows, and textures.

We had countless conversations that I still remember to this day. One, in particular, stands out—me venting about how I was too young to have a niche. I was obsessed with the idea of being noticed, of having my work recognized. I wanted to be a full-time artist so badly that it consumed me, but at that age, I hadn’t yet found my distinct voice in art. I felt like I was swimming in this vast ocean of creativity, reaching for something to grab hold of.

And then it happened—painting on glass was born.

That’s when I found it—my niche, my voice. The idea of working with glass, rather than traditional canvas, was something that just clicked in my brain. I wanted my art to be different, to be seen in a new light—literally. Glass gave me the ability to play with translucency, depth, and texture in ways that I hadn’t imagined before. It allowed me to create work that felt ethereal, while still maintaining that raw, emotional intensity that I craved in my works with Steven.

The Creation of Jesusjoints didn’t happen overnight—it was forged in the fires of rejection, mentorship, and relentless self-discovery. This is the beginning of a journey that would lead to where I am today, as an artist who paints not just to create but to transcend, to challenge, and to evoke emotion in those who experience my work. This photo is more than a memory—it’s a snapshot of the moment I began to find myself as an artist, thanks to the support of my mentor and the lessons learned in that vast North Carolina studio.

The story of Jesusjoints is rooted here.