A Rockford artist was given a small piece of advice that opened something big. WNIJ's Yvonne Boose learns how this muralist found his creative freedom.
Jesse Leach Jr. pointed out splashes of his art on the walls at the Maker Lab at the Rockford Public Library's main branch. One piece sits on a counter next to the room's glass window, visible to anyone who walks by.
The painting shows two faces: a man and a woman with blank stares. The woman is using her hands to open her eyes wider. Leach explained the inspiration behind the piece.
"People are always watching," he said.
He explained that people may look at social media pages without leaving a comment or liking a post. That idea inspired the painting.
Leach started drawing in elementary school, but he didn't think his work could compare with that of other artists.
“If you happen to see a Da Vinci or something like that and you just happen to look at the art, be like, 'Yeah, big names. I probably never be there,'" he said.
He continued drawing through high school. After graduation, he started working but said he wasn't satisfied. His factory coworkers would watch him doodle and ask why he wasn't pursuing art full time. Leach said their words encouraged him to explore that possibility.
In 2018, he took a trip to Chicago for an acting audition. While waiting, he visited the Art Institute of Chicago. When he returned to Rockford, he noticed the city had several art galleries. His first stop was the Rockford Art Museum.
"I went to, like, a few other places that just had art up there," he said. "So then I happened to walk past with all my art, and I seen the Underground Art Gallery."
The Underground is owned by painter Roni Golan.
"I remember seeing Roni on the news and stuff like that," Leach said, "but I never actually had a conversation with him."
He showed Golan his colored pencil drawings. Leach said Golan liked his work but offered him another option: painting.
"And I said, 'What?' Painting without having full control over the paint," he said. "I mean, you might get splatters and stuff here and there. Painting can be wild."
Leach listened, and that piece of advice pushed him in a different direction. Golan took him under his wing.
"I wanted an assistant, and it seems like he was into that, so I mean he helped himself," Golan said. "I needed help, and he was a good helper, and he was learning fast. So, let's go for it."
The two have worked closely for the past eight years, mostly creating live interactive paintings at weddings. Leach calls Golan his mentor.
"Teaching me the techniques, teaching me about lighting because I'm always helping him set up and break down the equipment," Leach said.
Leach said Golan was more than just a painting coach. He taught him how to be present in the moment by connecting with people during events and in the community. He also told Leach to always say "yes."
Taking that advice opened a new world for Leach.
He started working on murals. His recent mural project is at Da Catch Fish, Chicken & Grill on Rockford's north side.
The mural is called "Food for Thought." It wraps around a concrete wall facing the street so everyone driving by can see it.
"As you can see, the brain right here, then it's like the red and the blue, and then it's like popping out," he said. "You got the same ingredients, but then it's like popping out. You got the hot dog, maybe shrimp, got the hamburger over there, chicken wings, Philly cheesesteak, nachos."
Around the corner are images of chickens wearing aprons as they cook.
Leach wants to add some final touches to the piece.
He continues to paint throughout the city, whether on street corners or during cycling sessions at Souljah Wellness, an indoor cycling studio. He said people such as 13th Ward Alderman Tamir Bell, artists Nathan Taylor and Jenny Mathews support his work.
Leach worked with Mathews on a mural project at the Fairgrounds Boys & Girls Club in Rockford. Mathews said she is honored to be part of Leach's art journey.
"He's such a go-getter," Mathews said. "He just wants to … he's determined, and he knows that he's going to be successful."
She said there are projects she cannot do.
"Jesse's still like, 'yes and yes and yes,'" she said. "And then he shows up all the way."
Leach said his main motivation is his 7-year-old son, Jemih.
"I call him my boss," Leach said. "If I show him work that I've done already before what I'm working on and all that, I kind of ask him for his approval, and he'll let me know."
Leach makes a living selling his art, including digital artwork.
His business, For Jemih, offers live paintings, mural work and other commissioned pieces.
Leach encourages others to tap into their talents and use them to supplement their income.
"I know people are inspired by what I do," he said. "I just want to keep them inspired, and I never truly want nobody to give up. Because giving up just means that you just stop thinking and you just threw in the towel way too early."
Leach's recent "yes" is a 72-hour painting marathon at Souljah Wellness. "Don't Sleep on Leach" begins at 8 a.m. Friday, July 31, and runs through 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3.
Copy Edited by Eryn Lent