Today we’d like to introduce you to Jorja Henwood.
Hi Jorja, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story begins in Eswatini, a small kingdom in Southern Africa bordering South Africa and Mozambique. I grew up loving creating, whether it was sewing, crotchet, visual arts, or music. Although I did not always have the resources to create, it felt like I would be doing myself a disservice if I ignored my passion. This often lead to me recycling materials like newspaper, folder dividers, and old notepads in order to consistently work on my art.
My parents and extended family encouraged me to pursue my passion from a very young age but being from Eswatini I had many limitations when it came to making art a career. These included lack of supplies, lack of art jobs that pay a livable salary, and a shared mindset that art is more of a hobby than a career. Overtime, although not realizing it in the moment, this mindset chipped away at my passion and I decided to aim to study veterinary medicine instead. This was driven by my love for animals rather than an interest in the area of study itself.
I continued on the path of focusing on science until something unexpected shook my world view, and the views of many others. The Covid-19 pandemic. Suddenly everything in life felt so temporary and the essence of life itself felt precious. I started to question whether or not it would be worth it to follow the “pipe dream” of being an artist, even at the possible expense of stability. As a result of the pandemic and the newfound free-time alone I started to get into digital art, drawing only on my computer with my mouse in ibis paint. Overtime my parents took notice of the amount of time that I spent drawing on my computer and decided to buy me my first iPad in 2021.
In 2022 I began the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program at a United World College in my country (Waterford Kamhlaba). This had me faced with a decision, do I continue down the path of biology although it is not my passion or do I take a gamble and do art academically for the first time? I chose art and, with no academic backing, I chose it at a higher level.
The UWC has a scholarship program in place sponsored by Shelby Davis. This allows for students to study abroad in the USA for college. Choosing art in IB was the moment that the mindset that art can not be a sustainable career started to crumble and I made a promise to myself to pursue art to the fullest of my abilities.
In 2024 I got accepted to Ringling College of Art and Design in Florida under the Shelby Davis scholarship program. This has been one of the biggest blessings of my life as it has lead to tremendous improvement, access to resources that I once saw as unattainable, amazing professors who care about their students, and a community of people with the opposite mindset than the one I grew up with. I am now surrounded by the mindset that art is in fact important in society and that I can contribute and make an impact with my work.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The biggest obstacles that I have faced so far have been mental, emotional, and financial. Having to change my mentality around being “good enough” to be at Ringling was challenging. I faced impostor syndrome from the beginning and believing that I am meant to be where I am was a challenge.
Emotionally, moving to Florida from home was a big change. It meant leaving almost everyone I know and love far away and making decisions for myself for the first time. The independence was a lot to carry but it was also very freeing, allowing me to chart my own path.
Lastly, upon gaining independence I decided to go for medical evaluations as I had not been feeling physically well for a while. This opened pandora’s box of medical bills that I had to work to pay off. Although this was a heavy financial burden, I am eternally grateful for the medical care that I was able to receive.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I mainly do digital art, aiming to use my art to convey the story of the circumstances and feelings that I have experienced such as love, grief, happiness, sadness, etc. I want to be able to tell stories through capturing an emotional essence. I am also getting into working with fabric print and pattern and I hope to get more involved in the fashion industry as a whole. I work traditionally sometimes with oil on canvas, charcoal, pastels, and watercolour. I am currently working on a children’s book that I aim to be done by the end of the year.
My unique perspective being from Eswatini and a United World College sets me apart from others in my field as well as the types of stories I tell, my use of colour, and my use of texture. I am most proud of the resilience I have had to pursue my passion.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
The main people that encouraged me to pursue my passion were my late aunty Steph and my late grandmother Mildred. Every time I went to visit aunty Steph she would bring out a big box of papers, markers, and crayons just for me. She provided me with the encouragement that I needed from a very young age to keep creating and fostered my passion for art. My grandmother always encouraged me to go to see the world and pursue my dreams no matter how far off they may sound. The two of them provided a support system in times of need and I would not be where I am today without them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jorjahenwood.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jorjaillustrates
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorja-henwood-46847a356
