Rising Stars: Meet Lisa Jay of Downtown Raleigh

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Jay.

Hi Lisa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always loved the process of creating, whether that’s capturing memories with my camera or crafting a special gift for a friend. In 2005 I graduated from Appalachian State University with a major in photography, a minor in media studies, and no clue what I’d actually do for my career. I ended up working at a photo studio and quickly realized it wasn’t for me. While I loved working with people, I really struggled with the rushed nature of the sessions and corporate demands to push people into buying more than they could afford. After being laid off, I turned to contracting, focusing on administrative roles, which eventually led me to becoming a Payroll Manager. It was safe and I was really good at it, but I wasn’t happy. After years of moving my way up in the corporate world, doing absolutely nothing creative, I knew it was time to pursue my passions again. At this point, I was working in Order Management at an eLearning company and knew that if I were to pivot it needed to be here. The company had several creative roles and I spent the majority of time outside of work teaching myself not only how to design courses, but also how to illustrate. That was in 2018 and I’ve been happily creating full time ever since! In 2024, I started my small business, The Whimsy Jay and have maintained that while continuing to work as an instructional designer.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t always been an easy path for me to find my way. The first hurdle was finding a job post-graduation, so I did an internship at Disney and was miserable. After the internship I decide to return to the YMCA, my first ever job, that paid horribly, but at least the kids brought me joy. Shortly after that, the stock market crashed, leaving very few options for a photography major with absolutely zero experience. While I absolutely loved working at the Y, it wasn’t helping much with the bills. I had to find an alternative and that’s when I started doing contract administrative work. Once I realized that I wanted to do more with my art, new roadblocks presented themselves. I found my mind wandering at night, thinking about all the things I wanted to create, but didn’t know how. Where do I start? So, using some extra money I set aside, I bought myself an iPad and downloaded a program called Procreate. I emersed myself in YouTube videos until I figured out how to design in the tool and slowly began to make a little bit of money off commission work. There will always be struggles along the way and while it can be stressful, I’m prepared to face those challenges head on. I’m currently focused on marketing myself, SEO, 3D printing and finding time to edit videos for my future YouTube channel.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I create many things, but the main items include custom illustrations, wood burnings, jewelry, stickers and buttons. I find inspiration everywhere I go, but my favorite pieces of art involve activism, nature, and all matters of the heart. I’m known for creating vibrant illustrations, some of which contain symbolism that isn’t always noticeable at first glance. My hope is that my art moves folks to change their perception of those different from them and to encourage everyone to follow their passions, especially if it scares them! As someone who is still learning to let go of their perfectionism, I believe that growth comes from making mistakes and facing the things that frighten me most. In 2024, I started focusing primarily on creating art for the queer community. As a BIPOC, Queer creator, spreading love brings me so much joy and I want my art to let others know that they’re not alone in their journey. This year I started doing more work in the DEI space, creating digital flyers to get people active in politics and encourage those in my community to fight for our future by using their voice. I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve been able to maintain a successful career as an instructional designer, while also pursuing my passion to become a small business owner. I’m also a mom to 3 kiddos, 3 pets, I’m married to an awesome guy AND have a wonderful girlfriend! Aside from all the chaos in the real world, life is good and I’m so very grateful for how abundant it is!

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Having grown up in North Raleigh, my experience living downtown is so different from when I was a kid! I love having a front row seat to all the changes going on downtown, but it’s also bittersweet to see some of the establishments of my childhood go away. One of my dad’s favorite restaurants was 42nd Street Oyster Bar, and seeing that, along with so many others, close makes me sad. That said, it’s also been amazing to see the revitalization of this part of the city. I can’t wait to take the kids to Dix once the playground expansion opens up, I love the buzz in the air during Dreamland and the excitement of stumbling upon a random market while exploring the triangle with my family.

Pricing:

• Custom illustrations are $40/hour
• Wood burnings range from $18-$55
• Art prints range from $18-$35
• Hand-made jewelry ranges from $2-$15
• Stickers range from $3-$12

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thewhimsyjay.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhimsyjay/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-jay-2219701a/
• Other: https://bsky.app/profile/thewhimsyjay.bsky.social