Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Schwaba.
Hi Jamie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am mixed-media artist working primarily in ink, watercolor, oil pastels, soft pastels, and acrylic paint markers. The arts have always been an important part of my life, but as an adult I didn’t have a lot of time to create between family and work life until the pandemic happened. When everything shut down I was the Managing Director of a community arts school and I conveniently needed to help host a bunch of online visual art classes, so I had the opportunity to learn new skills for different art instructors and benefited from the community that was being formed. My journey to selling art began in pursuit of funding a trip to New York City to see a piece of my work hanging in the new Museum of Broadway near Times Square. ( A dream come true for a theatre nerd like myself)
My artwork is deeply inspired by my love of Broadway, music, coffee, and the Driftless Region. I love to create on top of unique surfaces such as sheet music and vintage maps and create urban sketches of my favorite places. I’ve exhibited throughout the Upper Midwest, including at the Winona Public Library, Winona Arts Center, The Forager Brewery & Gallery 24 of Rochester, Elmaro Winery, and La Crosse Regional Airport. During the metro surge and ICE raids in 2026 in MN I created a coloring page that in included in St. Paul Art Collective’s coloring book, which was shared with kids in the metro area and a piece I created of protestors was exhibited at True North Studio in Minneapolis, as well as included in a book curated by Rebel Loon Archive to help document these challenging times as well as raise mutual funds.
I have also had the opportunity to work with some incredible local entrepreneurs and community members creating commissions, including artwork that is now displayed on the side of a Coffee Camper food truck. I am currently working to fill a vintage vending machine with mini-art prints, greeting cards, and buttons that is going to journey around, but will be starting at the Winona Vistor Center. I love the unexpected adventures my art has taken me over the the last couple years and can’t wait to see what is next!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Overall, I really enjoy it, but there is always a new challenge or something to learn, whether it is in a new material and how it works on a different surface or how I am going to transport things to an art fair or send them to a customer. It is also a challenge just to fit it all in, I currently still hold a full-time job and so that limits the time I am able to create and the amount of artist activities, such as urban sketching gatherings, that I am able to join.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
One of my biggest accomplishments as an artist is having a piece I created on top of music from the musical “Show Boat” selected to deck the walls of the new Museum of Broadway in New York City. In addition to painting on sheet music, I love painting Theatre Marquees and get a little a rush each time Broadways shows have shared my work on their social media pages. (Hamilton, Six, Hadestown…). These are special as a Theatre practitioner (I hold a theatre degree, worked for a few years as a professional actress in Milwaukee, and currently am the Executive Director of a 5 year-old community theatre that my son who is now off at college majoring in theatre started when he was 15.
Locally, I am more known for my whimsical ink & watercolor paintings of local cafes, landmarks and scenery. The City of Winona commissioned me to make a piece that was gifted to our sister City of Misato, Japan.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Interesting question, I think that there is going to be a continued focus on hand-drawn art and hands-on experiences in the time of AI as people crave (hopefully) things that are made by a human.
I think that gathering and creating together for “grandma hobbies” and things like urban sketching will continue to gain popularity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/jamieschwaba
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamieschwaba/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086018207271
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamieschwaba/
- Other: https://schwabadramaart.etsy.com
