Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Jones
Hi Dana, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started painting in earnest about 10 years ago, after a life-long interest in the visual arts that began with a camera. I used my camera as a note- or sketchbook. After a time, I realized that what I was trying to do with the camera was paint. So, I started.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s never a smooth road. I never know where I’m going, and rarely understand what I’m doing. And that’s a good thing. If it is a necessity for me to paint, well, it is also a privilege. And I have been really lucky, considering how many artists lost studios and work in Helene, or in the LA fires this winter. Those are trials on a scale I haven’t had to face.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a painter. My work falls under the umbrella of Geometric Abstraction. For the past year, I have been collaborating on a project with Asheville-based artist Ralston Fox Smith. We’ve been exploring themes of pattern, weather, and the outdoors. We’ve always felt that our work would look good on the wall together. And frankly, it does. You can see the results of that collaboration now, through April 25 at Upstairs Artspace in Tryon, NC. (upstairsartspace.org)
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Lesson learned? To follow the paint. Pay less mind to the idea that I want to capture. I’ve learned that if I set out to paint exactly what I see in my head, it is invariably a stale piece. The ones that work are the ones where I’ve missed my ostensible target by a few degrees.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://danajonesstudio.com
- Instagram: @danajonesstudio
- Other: @danajonesstudio.bsky.social
