Meet Jacki Mayo Van Dyke
Featured Artist March 2025
March 2025
Meet Jacki Mayo Van Dyke, our March featured artist as she continues riding the creative waves.
Alright, art lovers buckle up, because this month’s featured artist is none other than the incredibly talented Jacki Mayo Van Dyke! If you’ve ever wandered around downtown Augusta and found yourself mesmerized by a mural or stumbled upon a painting that made you stop and say, “Wow”there’s a good chance Jacki’s magic hands were in the mix.
Jacki has been creating art since childhood, but her creative journey really took off when she started diving into stream of consciousness painting and experimenting with different mediums. Think of it like jazz for the visual arts letting the mind wander and trusting the brush to follow. And let me tell you, the results are nothing short of stunning.
Jacki credits a lot of her artistic growth to her mentor, Jay Jacobs, another amazing local artist who has a whole lot of skin in the game when it comes to Augusta’s art scene. Jay taught Jacki the power of symbolism and creative freedom, and that influence is clear in her work. Her pieces often incorporate bits of her everyday life kind of like seeing shapes in the clouds and letting your imagination run wild. Sometimes she starts with a clear idea, but more often than not, the piece takes on a life of its own. Magic, right?
But here’s the real kicker, Jacki embraces mistakes. Yup, you read that right. While most of us are out here sweating over a misplaced brushstroke, Jacki leans into it. Because, as she puts it, that’s when the real magic of discovery happens. And honestly, that’s a pretty solid life lesson for all of us.
Her work explores themes of consciousness, space, and the sea, all those big, boundless ideas that leave you in awe and wondering about your place in the universe. But don’t think she’s all deep and serious, Jacki knows how to have fun, too. She balances introspection with playful, lighthearted pieces because, hey, it’s all about balance!
Now, let’s talk about the not-so-glamorous side of being an artist, burnout. Jacki’s been there. After years of balancing work, school, and art (while still cranking out incredible murals and live paintings), she needed to hit pause. And you know what? That’s okay. Because now she’s back, refreshed, and ready to create, not just for commissions but for herself. Because creating art that you love? That’s the goal.
Jacki’s advice to emerging artists? Get yourself out there! Apply for every art call, show your work at local businesses (shoutout to New Moon Cafe), and don’t let rejection shake you. Trust her, she’s got a folder of rejection letters big enough to wallpaper a room. But guess what? The wins outweigh the losses every time.
And speaking of winning, Jacki knows how to switch gears when she needs to. When she’s not creating art, you can probably find her hanging out with her family or gaming on her PS5 or PC because even artists need to unwind.
Jacki Mayo Van Dyke is proof that creativity is not about perfection, it’s about exploration, balance, and showing up for yourself even when things get tough. So the next time you see her work around town, take a moment to soak it in. It’s more than just art it’s a piece of Jacki’s creative soul.
You got this, Jacki, we’re so glad to have you in the mix!
Check her out at https://www.fullmetaljacki.com/
