BERKELEY, Calif. — As the clock ticks closer to practice, Jayda Noble finds a moment of peace at her desk, where she applies fresh black paint to her left hand, just beneath the thumb. Along her wrist, splashes of white, red, pink, and purple reveal her artistic endeavors, which are also evident on her university-issued California women’s basketball attire.
Currently, Noble is focused on putting the finishing touches on a pair of customized shoes that she painted for Indiana guard Myles Rice. This marks the start of his journey with the Hoosiers after transferring from Washington State. “Every time I do something, I’m honing a skill,” she remarked. “Whether it’s brush work or hand techniques, I’m always in pursuit of improvement. It’s a therapeutic escape for me; it encapsulates my time for self-care. Although it can become stressful, maintaining a steady rhythm makes the process enjoyable.”
Her Berkeley apartment is lined with boxes containing various in-progress shoes, which she works on whenever she manages to steal a moment away from basketball practice and her graduate business program. After her transfer from Washington, she moved a significant amount of her artistic supplies from Seattle, including large-scale paintings. Engaging in art is more than just a hobby for Noble; it’s also a business venture, often showcased through her creative Instagram handle “Jayyycasso,” a play on Picasso.
Myles Rice, currently a redshirt sophomore at Indiana, had to sit out the 2022-23 season due to treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He completed his final chemotherapy session on March 9, 2023, and debuted Noble’s Spider-Man-themed shoes during his initial home game. He takes great care to keep them in pristine condition. “They were incredibly beautiful and vividly expressed my feelings,” Rice shared. “She crafted two pairs: one featuring Spider-Man, one of my favorite superheroes, with my cancer ribbon attached. It holds a personal connection for me.”
Rice is excited to reprise his role as a customer, intending to send more shoes to Noble throughout the season and even order some as gifts for family members. The two developed a friendship during their time in Washington. Noble also created Taylor Swift-themed shoes for another close friend, saying, “I’m not the biggest Swift fan, but it was delightful to create something fun.”
On her downtime, Noble can often be found painting late into the night. Sometimes her roommate and fellow basketball teammate, Kayla Williams, is surprised to find her awake at 2:30 a.m. working on her latest project. “She’ll pop her head out and ask what I’m up to, and I return the question,” Noble recalled with a smile.
To keep her creative process engaging, Noble rotates through about six pairs of shoes in progress. “Switching between projects keeps my creativity alive, so I can shuffle between them until inspiration hits,” she explained. “It makes the work more enjoyable and allows me to explore various ideas.” Currently, she’s close to completing 15 “PR boxes,” which include designs for some of the top athletes in the country who could help promote her work. Recently, Hailey Van Lith from TCU received a lovely pair decorated with flowers and her school mascot, the horned frog.
“They’re stunning. She’s exceptionally talented, and I’m grateful she thought of me to create such a beautiful piece,” Van Lith expressed. “What’s remarkable about Jayda is her authenticity and genuine character, which make her truly special.” Noble might also soon be creating custom shoes for Golden State Warriors players Jonathan Kuminga and Lindy Waters III, depending on their interest.
On the basketball court, Noble has made a name for herself through her dynamic energy and solid defense. She contributed a three-pointer in a recent 83-63 win over Stanford, which saw the Golden Bears setting a program record with 18 three-pointers.
Creativity runs in Noble’s blood; she fondly remembers painting alongside her mother, who had a passion for scrapbooking, while growing up in Spokane, Washington. In her final touches of a project, she meticulously reviews each shoe, ensuring everything is perfect. “I like to double-check for anything that’s amiss and clean it up with paint remover or white paint to make sure they look polished,” she confirmed.
Noble sets her pricing based on time spent and the urgency of the order, with most pairs costing around $175, plus shipping. For additional customization, painting the box incurs a $15 fee. Since Rice ordered two pairs, she offered him a discount.
“I’ve watched her journey since day one,” Rice said proudly. “Seeing how she’s elevated her craft and all she accomplishes is truly inspiring. I’m genuinely happy for her and everything she’s worked for.”