Jay Howell

It all started with a question. “Don’t you ever think your artwork should move?” Then came another. “Have you ever thought of making a TV show?” Before Jay Howell made it big for his original character designs for the emmy-award winning show “Bob’s Burgers,” he was a barista with dreams of one day showing his artwork at the MoMA. While he jokes getting his art into a museum may only happen once he’s dead, he acknowledges that seemingly simple questions and leaps of faith can change your perspective and take you on an entirely different trajectory — and a new journey. “Art essentially is just communication. It’s us just trying to talk to each other in drawing form.” This talk was held at Friendly Waves in Koloa, Kauai as part of Spectra Fest, which brought together muralists and other creatives to transform Koloa Elementary School and Library and Koloa Village with works of art. It even featured a mural from Jay himself, who hopes this artwork will bring new life and a new perspective to the community and the next generation.