NYC-Based Jdel Is A Jehovah’s Witness Turned Cannabis Culture Artist

From being a Jehovah’s Witness to celebrating cannabis culture, cartoons, and art, this New York City artist made his dreams come true by utilizing the passions he was allowed to explore as a child. The household Jdel grew up in kept him from exploring most of the outside world, leaving him with a lack of options for what he could do, see, and experience. 

Jdel spent most of his time watching cartoons and drawing as a child. After years of focussing on his art and creating unique pieces, he landed himself at art school and began taking his craft one step further. He took influence from legendary graffiti artists like Rhyme, MSK, and Jersey Joe, who used brilliant and bold colors, which is thoroughly translated through his unique pieces today. 

As time went on and Jdel got a little older and wiser, he began infusing cannabis culture into his cartoon and graffiti-inspired artworks. He said the blood from cartoons like Ren and Stimpy, Itchy and Scratchy, and MTV’s Liquid Television truly caught his eye and attention through visuals he’s never seen before. 

In an interview with AMNY, Jdel said his creations today could be described as a “better version of an NFT,” one that uses his three passions and the only things he was allowed to do as a teenager. He added that while his friends were hanging out in the New York streets, Jdel was only allowed to do the following three activities, which AMNY notes as “smoke, watch cartoons, and draw.”

Not only was Jdel’s artwork a needed escape from reality, but he dedicates a lot of his creativity to cannabis, which also helped him escape, focus on his craft, and make him feel like he “was going something that was cool.”

And now, he’s doing something even cooler. Under Jdel’s company called “MindBodyPockets,” a celebration of art, cartoons, music, and cannabis, he hopes to give others the opportunity to express themselves freely and without limits, something he didn’t have growing up.

The dedicated artist hosted his very first show on January 15. The “Grown Children Smoke” show was designed to further allow others to feel connected to a community find ways to positively channel their emotions. In addition, the event also enlightened guests on how cannabis could enhance one’s creative process. 

This is only the beginning for Jdel, who plans to host more weed-friendly art shows to continue showcasing how the plant can do wonders for one’s health and the creative process.