Jake Wolven, a senior from Kennesaw, GA, is an art major. Once he graduates, he will have his B.F.A. in Graphic Design. Wolven currently serves as the President of Kappa Pi Art Honor Society at JSU.

Why did you decide to attend JSU? 
After competing in high school marching band at JSU’s BOA competition, I decided on JSU to join the Marching Southerners.

What made you choose your major?
When I first got to JSU, I was originally a Computer Science major; calculus quickly made me realize it wasn’t for me. I’ve been drawing since I can remember thanks to my brother, who is also an artist, and I knew I wanted to pursue what I was passionate about. So, I decided to mix my love for drawing with my interest in computers and chose Graphic Design.

In your opinion, what is the coolest thing about the Art and Design Department?
The community. Everyone in the department is an artist (often in multiple ways), and we all come from different backgrounds. Every single person is creative and unique and expresses themselves in their own way through their mediums, and while that often can lead to competition at other schools, I’ve never met more supportive people. I’m in multiple group chats from previous art classes that are still active, still asking each other for critiques on projects and helping each other when needed.

What clubs/organizations are you involved in?
Marching Southerners, Phi Mu Alpha, Kappa Pi, and AIGA. I also work in marketing at the JSU Rec Center.

What is your favorite thing to eat and/or drink on/off campus?
Heirloom Taco! Many of the people who work at Heirloom are fellow students/graduates of JSU and are some of the friendliest people I know. (The food is amazing as well.)

Where is your favorite place to hang out on campus?
I spent most of my freshman year hammocking in the big oak tree in the quad, so I’d have to say that’s my favorite place to hang out.

Who is your favorite artist?
I have way too many inspirations to narrow it down to one, oh gosh. How about categories?
Photographer: Gregory Crewdson
Musician: Jacob Collier
Charcoal: Jono Dry
Ink: Peter Deligdisch
Video: Casey Neistat

What are your hobbies?
What’s fun about being an artist is that my career basically is my hobby. With visual art, I enjoy painting, drawing, and photography. Musically, I play trumpet, piano, guitar, and French horn and mix my own music digitally. Over quarantine I’ve gotten really into cooking and growing indoor plants; I also enjoy skateboarding, biking, rock climbing, and occasionally speed running videogames.

What are your post-grad plans?
I’m not sure what order yet, but the list so far goes: create an album, hike the Appalachian Trail, and create a LOT of art to apply to galleries.

What advice would you give a student who is new to JSU?
Live in the present. College can be some of the best and quickest years of your life; remember to enjoy where you’re at right now despite the pressure, and don’t be afraid to change your course if your first path doesn’t bring you joy.

What is a course you would recommend to a freshman at JSU?
Watercolor with Bryce Lafferty. Even if you’re not an art student, it’s so therapeutic to have a set time a few moments a week where you’re allowed to just paint, and Mr. Lafferty always has a way to link the current project to some enlightening life lesson to make you see the world in a slightly different way after every class.