Art & Life with Lisa Jacobs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Jacobs.

Lisa, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I always wanted to be an actor, but my family’s fears about me being a “starving artist” took over, and I became a lawyer instead. I reached the level of success I had been working for so many years– I had a good job, a comfortable home, and I filled that home with lots of nice stuff. I thought this success would equal happiness, but happiness never came.

When my mom got sick and died from breast cancer, I stared death in the face through her eyes. I realized that I wasn’t living my life. I was working nonstop to pay for a lifestyle I didn’t have the time or freedom to enjoy, and suddenly I realized that I just couldn’t do it anymore. I had to live life now because this moment is all we have. The future is not guaranteed.

I quit my job and started doing several remote side gigs, including sustainable interior design and consulting. My passion for minimalism led me to an obsession with tiny houses and vintage Airstream trailers. That’s when I discovered vanlife– the nomadic lifestyle phenomenon popular with my millennial peers. Educated, entrepreneurial digital nomads were converting cargo vans into beautiful tiny homes on wheels– complete with kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms, plus the headroom to stand up inside– and I knew I had to join the movement. I start living solo in my camper van in March 2018 and haven’t looked back. I am a full-time traveler, and I share my authentic highs and lows on Instagram as Vacay Vans.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I am a travel blogger and visual storyteller. I use photography, writing, and video to tell stories about life on the road as a solo female traveler and the wonderfully weird characters I meet along the way. I also created a website that helps people who are “van-curious” find out if vanlife is right for them. I use my background as a sustainable interior designer to provide DIY camper van build tips, travel guides, and van life advice.

What would you recommend to an artist new to the city, or to art, in terms of meeting and connecting with other artists and creatives?
I love the idea of a co-working space for artists who are looking for a way to express themselves, like dancers or actors who often don’t get enough opportunities to practice their craft. I think it’s important to network with other artists and see each other as collaborators rather than competition. This fosters community and could lead to bigger and better projects for everyone. I love working with fellow artists, and I also understand it’s a balance, and sometimes I need to be alone to get deep into a creative space.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I’d love for you to follow my journey on Instagram at @vacayvans. That’s where I share personal stories and day-to-day life as a solo female vanlifer. If you’re interested in learning more about vanlife, check out my blog vacayvans.com. Instagram is the best place to follow along and see how the journey has progressed over this last year on the road.

Contact Info:

• Website: vacayvans.com
• Phone: 5125505555
• Email: lisa@vacayvans.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/vacayvans
• Facebook: facebook.com/vacayvans

Image Credit:
@vacayvans

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