Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Nadeau.
Hi Jeff, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
It all started when I was little. I always remember drawing little pictures at my grandmother’s house of little cars that now look like VW beetle. It always stuck with me because my grandma used to compliment how cute they were. Ha makes me laugh just thinking about it.
I have always been artistic but didn’t fully start consistently until about three years ago. When it splattered into something much more. Which I will get to.
I have worked in the restaurant business basically since I can remember, I was definitely a beast in the kitchen and was very good at it. Being a chef was an art to me. Plating the dishes and making them looking presentable to the customers.
So I was working at this place called Gators and I always wanted to put on my own Reggae Fest. The owners let me plan it out but canceled it two days before the show. I was devastated. Mainly for the fact that I had booked five reggae bands and had to tell them the show was canceled. 🙁 They were… Trees of Life, Rammer, Brothers Within, Relief and Smyrna Erb.
This is where I got back into my art… I ended up reaching out to some vendors for the Reggae Fest and one of the girls was an artist. Natasha Azari… an amazing artist. Well she invited me to live paint at these shows that she put on… that were held in Daytona Beach. She would have one or two jam bands play and 4–7 of us (artists) would live paint while the bands were playing in front of people who came out and enjoyed themselves. And ever since then, I’ve been consistently painting and making people smile and doing what I love to do.
Then covid happened and when we were in lockdown for two months, I had time to grow my Instagram page and my inventory of paintings… so I could start vending. Long story short. My art took off so I decided to quit working in the restaurant business and pursue my art career.
Paintings were booming… then I started vending at EDM shows and thats when my art name JuicyJ Art started to be known around Florida. I started making show shirts for the DJs with the shows flyer on the back and their DJ name on the front. Started to sell a lot of paintings, T-shirts then started making stickers, keychains, necklaces, tapestries and much more. I have had a lot of people get in contact with me about making them logos, flyers, t-shirt designs, SoundCloud art… Yes, I also do graphic designs.
I’m forever grateful for what I have overcome and pushed myself to do. And I’m continually making paintings for people. And making merch and doing graphic designs!!!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My first vending experience was terrible, embarrassing… my tent was half broken… it was more windy than Chicago. Lol. Paintings were flying everywhere… my booth looked terrible and looked unprofessional but instead of throwing in the towel, I stayed and was proud of myself for not leaving.
I believe life in general is never smooth. Especially starting your own business. There is a lot of things people don’t realize what or how to run a small business… it’s definitely been a rough journey but I will never stop even when I fail. There is no success without failure. It’s how you overcome failure and keep pushing and believing in yourself. There were times when I thought it was the end… but I stayed positive and people would contact me all at once sometimes… when other weeks were slow.
Art Career is a hard path but if you fight fight fight and push yourself and stay true to yourself… Things will get better.
But I’m always doing something when business isn’t steady.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I put everything I have into my work. I love and care about my work to a point where sometimes I don’t think it’s good enough… But we are our own worst critics.
I work with mostly acrylic paint but love to experiment with different things. Like resin and fluorescent paint. I love making abstract pieces, underwater themes, and caves. Acrylic pours as well.
I also paint or do a pour over a tabletop and then resin it.
I make handmade necklaces, pins, and keychains
I sell tapestries, earrings, fans, stickers.
I also have a DTG printer and an embroidery machine… I embroider mostly hats, beanies (headwear) but have also done jerseys. I print t-shirts, long sleeves, hoodies, tank tops, crop tops. I have made over 70 Djs in mostly Florida Merch and have also shipped merch across the US. I’m VLCN merch guy and also work with EDMtrain as their merch guy! and have designed some of edmtrains new merch that will be hitting the website very soon!
I also run and promote EDM shows and still vend my art and stuff wherever I can.
Also graphic designs… like logos, flyers, t-shirt designs, SoundCloud cover art.
I’m known for being involved in the EDM scene and making merch and making paintings… also known for being a down to earth nice guy. I care about what people love to do and try to push them to not give up on their passion.
What I’m mostly proud of is helping local Djs get known and helping them to play at venues they want to play at! Also proud of what I have accomplished… Started with just paintings to everything in between. Coming from me, I truly believe you can seriously do whatever you want to do in life that makes you happy. But… you have to push yourself, work hard and don’t give up when you fail… because you will fail… just have to push back.
What separates me from others is that I care a lot and respect people who are pursuing their dreams.
If someone likes a painting or anything that I vend and they can’t afford it… I will give it to them… to make them smile… I’m very giving. Most every vending gig I have, I give someone something for free… whether if it’s their birthday, anniversary… etc.
I’d rather have my art be appreciated by someone than collecting dust.
Also, I do everything… I just don’t have one particular thing I make… I make anything and everything!
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Natasha Azari for getting me back into my Art. Tasha Roth for helping me out with how to market myself.
Amara Gogia for vending with me and being the light to my darkness and for making me smile when I’m down.
For everyone in the EDM scene!
Primal Productions
Loren Hardy
Bass Fam Productions
Ian Blaze
Take a Dab Productions
Bassface Ent
Party Animals
Gilt Nightclub
Myth Nightclub
The Patio
Flo
And all the Djs I work with or have had the pleasure to meet.
And last but not least all my fans and people that have supported me through this epic journey!
Thank you all!!!
Pricing:
- Logos $160
- Paintings – Vary
- Cover Art – $60
- Merch $25-$45
- Flyers – $25-$60
Contact Info:
- Email: JuicyJArt@outlook.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juicyj.art/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeff.nadeau.77
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/juicyj.entertainment
