Jordan Arnell

ketball team, one year before graduation from Sandusky in 2008.

“I was crying with my mom (Hope English) all night the day I got cut,” Evans said. “I still remember that. I cried that whole day and night.”

When he graduated high school, Evans found himself wandering aimlessly in circles. With some friends, he dabbled in music, another one of his passions. He had several jobs from working in fast food to factories. And then Evans stepped out of his perceived comfort zone and has accomplished more in sports than he was ever going to as an athlete — by using his art skills. In the past year alone, he’s done artwork for NBA superstars such as LeBron James and Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers, along with several notable music artists. Three months ago, the official instagram account of the NBA posted one of his Cavaliers pieces to its 20 million followers.

“I always knew I would make the league one day,” Evans joked. “But years ago, I was so scared to just step out of the crowd and take the risk of being judged. It kept me from accepting I might visualize things differently from others.

“I’ve been called corny, lame, weird — just everything,” he added. “But once I got past that phase, I started experiencing new ideas, new ways of living, and just a whole new thought patterning.”


Graphic designer Jordan Evans shows an illustration of himself on his laptop on Jan. 18, 2017. Start from scratch

Sometimes, with so much going on in life, the obvious answer isn’t always so obvious. When Evans was in kindergarten, he came in second place in a coloring contest. He was rewarded with a trip and lunch with the Sandusky fire department.

“I used to draw on everything I could get my hands on,” Evans said. “From notebook paper, envelopes, paper towels, sidewalks, sticky notes — you name it.”

After realizing athletics weren’t in his future, Evans went to the School of Advertising and Art in Kettering — with no graphic design knowledge at all. And admittedly, he again allowed himself to get discouraged.

“We learned a few things about graphic design at Sandusky, but not as much as my classmates at their schools,” Evans said. “I used to be so embarrassed to show my work during our finals presentation, because everyone else was so good at it.”

But after one year at the two-year program, Evans came home — sidetracked from graphic design. He began dabbling in music with some of his closest friends with hopes of finding a footing in the industry. However, despite some initial success, it became apparent that the networking, recording and editing of songs with no big source of income coming in was going to be tough to handle.

“I think it was the lowest point of my life, that winter of 2010 going into 2011,” Evans said. “I was two years removed from college and at that point had completely left art and graphic design alone.”

Never an easy thing to admit, Evans was lost in what direction to go with his life.

“I just didn't know,” he said. “Many of my friends were in college, and I was just kind of out there. I knew we had something with the music stuff, but I was chasing a dream that I was caught up and overwhelmed in.

“I put a lot of passion into the music, and for it to not really happen the way I wanted was probably the lowest I've ever been,” Evans added. “I was lost. I didn't know what the next job or step in life was.”


Jordan Evans, founder of Tenraxs Clothing, poses for a photo on Jan. 18, 2017. Lost and found

If there was one person who was capable of helping Evans chase a dream, it was Renee Carson. The mother of his lifelong friend, Dashun Ferrell — a former Sandusky track standout, Carson was always someone Evans went to in Sandusky, notably after his mother moved to Toledo.

“I didn't have much money, but I did come into some money and was able to purchase him a $1,000 laptop for his artwork,” Carson said. “I had faith in him, I prayed on it — and he didn't prove me wrong.”

Carson has known Evans since the day he was born. When she moved to a different house, Evans moved, too. He often stayed there for a place to crash.

“Jordan was at our house constantly working on his art, but I really never saw it much,” Carson said. “But I mean, he'd never leave. I'd come home from work, everyone else would be gone, and Jordan would be there by himself in his own corner of the room, working on that laptop.

“I didn't know what he was doing, but that laptop was his best friend,” she added. “It wasn't until I saw his images posted on his instagram account that I saw his talents really showed and he had something going with it. I knew it was there, but when I started to see his work, it was like, 'OK, wow.'”

Evans was certainly disgruntled with his artwork at one point, but when it worked its way back around to the forefront — he became all business. Music was out of the picture by 2013, and he began to seriously brainstorm back to his graphic design passion once again.

“I dialed it in and started doing more research on YouTube, learning techniques in photoshop and illustrator,” Evans said. “My aunt (Carson), she really helped me out a lot just by giving me somewhere to crash while I chased my dreams. Her and my parents played a big role in this,’ he added. “Without the help from many of those people, none of this would be possible.”


Jordan Evans sits in front of several of his sports illustrations he has made into posters on Jan. 18, 2017. The 2008 Sandusky graduate has done consigns for several notable athletes and music artists. Rise to the top

On top of his work with Irving, James and Iman Shumpert, Evans has also done consigns for Drake, Rick Ross, Machine Gun Kelly and numerous other hip-hop artists. With the help of his good friend Ferrell, he continues to operate the clothing line, 'Tenraxs' while living in Berea. Just last week, Evans reached a deal to illustrate a series of seven children's books for Erica Dixon from VH1's Love & Hip Hop television show titled 'Bell in the Big City.'

The attention and work interests continue to come in steadily from big names — but Evans hasn't forgotten his road to get there. That's what makes another upcoming project even more special. At some point in 2017, Evans will paint images of past Sandusky sports legends as well as notable individuals from the city near Strobel Field and at various underpasses.

“It's one of my biggest dreams, and really a dream come true that I'm about to do this project for my hometown,” he said. “I never thought in a million years I'd get this type of opportunity — and never saw myself doing this on this type of scale.”

If Evans wrote a letter to his younger self — or to kids in Sandusky today — he’d stress not to be a follower.

“Follow what you believe in and keep a positive mindset — and keep positive people around you,” he said. “Because there is always going to be a point where you will get tested, and once that happens it's either go left or go right.

“And always listen to your parents, because I'd say at least 98 percent of the time, they're right,” Evans added. “Listen to your parents, trust them. Because they've already been through everything you went through or are going through.”

The Jordan Evans file

— Has done art pieces for NBA superstars Kyrie Irving and LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

— Had a Cleveland Cavaliers art piece posted on the NBA’s official instagram account, which has been liked by 55,000-plus followers.

— Has consigned art pieces for music artists such as Drake, Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa and Machine Gun Kelly.

— Will illustrate seven children’s books for Erica Evans from VH1’s Love & Hip Hop television show.

— Has over 60,000 likes and over 5,000 followers on instagram (@eztaughtme).

— Operates and owns clothing line,‘Tenraxs’ and www.jordanarnell.com.