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Characters of Kentuckiana: The Artist

Downtown comes with distractions. It makes for many a missed moment, but you'll see something spectacular if you slow down.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) - Taking his talents from the Kentucky Classic to outside the Kentucky International Convention Center, a local artist is making a name for himself. Kacy Jackson, 26, is using the newly reopened spot to entertain and inspire.

Downtown comes with distractions. It makes for many a missed moment, but you’ll see something spectacular if you slow down.

It’s a Woodford bottle with a glass of bourbon of course and a cigar with some bourbon barrels in the back,” Jackson said. "I feel like art has always been my escape. Growing up in the West End, there's always tragic stuff going on, but when I come back to this, none of that matters.”

Any spot can be his studio

"I'm not even thinking. I'm just allowing myself to just flow. I try not to think as much. When you think, you start making mistakes,” Jackson said.

Any place can be his palette.

"I started drawing in school on my math work and stuff, and it all worked out for me, though,” Jackson said.

Stroke by stroke, his vision comes to life

"Maybe 18 hours, for sure, yeah 18 hours,” Jackson said. "Most definitely- blood, sweat, and tears."

It's a labor of love to bring more life to the place he loves

"Most definitely- I want to be inside those walls and those walls and those walls. I just want my stuff to be all over the city I grew up in,” Jackson said.

Plenty of passerby’s want that, too.

"Wow, it's amazing- beautiful, Wow, it's amazing-beautiful, I love it- just that on replay,” Jackson said.

It's a broken record Jackson is happy to play time and time again.

"I feel like it brings the best out of people and makes people just realize life for what it is. It's short, and just appreciate everything,” Jackson said.

He's hopeful his sidewalk story sparks a flame in others.

"I hope they see the passion and dedication of someone who is trying to elevate his lifestyle and continue to inspire other people to do what I'm doing if they've got it in them or do whatever they love,” Jackson said.

You can check out more of Jackson’s work next month at the Louisville Visitor's Center. He's also working on murals under the overpass at 13th in the Russell neighborhood.

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