WAUKESHA — A local artist captured the life of a Waukesha paperboy back in the early 1900s with an acrylic painting on canvas to possibly be used to cover a utility box in Waukesha. What is also impressive is the artist, Jaya Brees, 27, has only been painting for a little over a year. The last time he did any artwork was when he was a kid.
“I did a six-week residency at an art gallery and I had my elementary art teacher come. I haven’t talked to her since second grade. That was the last time I did any art,” Brees said.
It was a friend who awakened the beast of creativity in Brees after showing him graffiti art and the wonders of spray paint. Megan’s Custom Framing in Madison was a stepping stone for him that allowed him to create a mural on the building. The mural shows two kids one white, one black with butterflies.
“It showed community,” he said.
Another friend, who owns Next Wave Studio in Madison, was impressed by Brees’ work and offered him a chance to do a mural on his building. He painted water waves and Brees said “It turned out super sick.”
The West Allis resident loves putting all his attention on a project and putting a spin on nostalgia.
As a child of divorce, he spent time with his mom in Waukesha on weekends. Brees, a history buff, learned about Waukesha and its history. Although he wasn’t familiar with the vibrant art scene, recently he went kayaking with his dad on the Fox River and noticed the art galleries.
The next week Brees and his girlfriend grabbed some gelato and were stoked to learn there is an art crawl. He struck up a conversation with Bob Fesser of the Waukesha West End Artists who told him about the utility box wrap project.
The City of Waukesha receives community development block grants (CDBG) from the federal government used for various projects including Park & Rec services, ADA services, façade grants, landmark paint and repair grants, and public art. The Public Art Committee has $10,000 in CDBG funds to put toward the art and wrapping of four utility boxes in downtown Waukesha.
“The art will need to symbolize part of Waukesha’s history, heritage, culture, lifestyle and environment. The project will need to be started and at least 50% completed by Dec. 21,” according to city documents.
Brees was inspired by the past and the appearance of a simpler time compared to 2024.
“Things in this world are so crazy. It is hard to wrap your head around it sometimes. Not that there weren’t problems back then. I know there was. It just seemed simpler,” he said Brees’ mom told him his paintings reminded her of Norman Rockwell, who painted depictions of American culture. Brees wanted to do a painting for Waukesha that paid homage to Rockwell and added a twist of his own style.
As the deadline to submit art was impending, Brees took off work to complete the project. It took him about 20 hours to complete. He was informed his submission was accepted.
Brees’ painting shows a young boy donning a flap cap and blue overalls with one strap unclasped. He is barefoot with a pile of Freeman papers that haven’t been sold. The boy has a soft smile while holding a slightly bent paper edition. On the front page is a story on the Bethesda Spring Park, which was home of the city’s first “medicinal” spring in the 1800s. Waukesha gained regional, national and even international recognition during the Springs Era.
There is agony and ecstasy for an artist, especially a newly emerged one. Artists want to either get their name out there or want to make money. Sometimes it is a marriage of both.
Brees doesn’t produce art for a paycheck, although it is nice and needed, he does it because it feels good.
“It is definitely not about making a buck for me. It is about getting my art out there and how much art I can put out there for people to see,” he said.
That’s why Brees likes painting murals because everyone is passing by them. Also, on the plus side, a starving artist can earn decent money on the project.
Brees said another complication is time as he works full time as a machinist and wants to see his live-in girlfriend, Lewa, and his dog, a beautiful German shepherd. The couple are also trying to get a house and eventually want to start a family.
It is complicated to devote so much time to one thing and not feel burned out.
Brees has done BMX riding and other things and worries about putting his life energy into something and being overwhelmed. Yet art for him allows a much-needed escape.
“With art though, I’m trying (to) practice at it. This is the first thing that I can do where my mind just shuts down. That is part of the reason why I do it so much. When I get into that flow state, it is like a drug, man,” Brees said.
To see Brees’ work, visit him on Instagram at @jaya.paintz.
