Today we’d like to introduce you to Dezzy Jones.
Hi, Dezzy. I am so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story? How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always been an artist. As a kid, I’d repeatedly draw lilies and roses, then quickly realized that I loved drawing faces. I distinctly remember one day in Pre-K when all the teachers gathered around to watch me attempt to draw some other kids. Then, high school art class drained my love of art. I hated the systematized and empty process – it felt like it was about producing outputs with technical efficiency and time constraints. Not the kind of art that made me want to participate. I went to college and didn’t really practice for about 5 years. Then, at the beginning of this year, I decided to take my art seriously. My older sister reminded me in December 2022, “You are an artist.” It’s weird because it’s like I’d forgotten. Fast forward 11 months later, it’s all I’m known for in this city. Since making the decision earlier this year, I’ve created 3 commercial murals, showcased work in several exhibitions, and got waist-deep in the Jacksonville art community.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Everything’s been happening exactly as it should. I’ve had quite a few strokes of luck this year and have met many people who make me a better artist just by knowing them. Smooth or rough, I am sure that I’m on the road that’s for me. And I’ve been happy to engage with it. I can’t complain!
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a portrait artist and content producer. In short, and from an outside perspective, I draw faces. I sit at my desk or stand at my easel and start sketching until someone forms on the canvas. Most of my subjects appear genderless and have defined Afrocentric features. I make art as a form of creative transmutation. Every time I render a piece, I exercise a little bit of what I call “creator magic.” I am getting my reps in and reminding myself that I am here to create things, build things, and communicate with those around me. Some of the best notes/comments I get regarding my work are akin to “Your work has a soul.”
I love comments like this because I know it has a soul. I’m just happy that /you/ know and can feel it has a soul! That means that I’ve successfully conveyed the message to onlookers. I’m also a full-time digital marketing strategist. It’s been interesting because I’ve seen how these two worlds (marketing and visual art) overlap. 2023 has pretty much been me applying art principles to marketing and marketing principles to art. It seems to work because I’ve gained over ten thousand followers over the past six months. I will keep you posted! As for what sets me apart, aside from being a visual artist, I’m also obsessed with leveraging creative energy through optimization, mindset, and the establishment of routines. Because of this obsession, I’ve been interviewing other creatives on my video podcast, The Art Realm, which is set to launch in 2024.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the COVID-19 crisis?
We need to take our time, check in with ourselves, and avoid getting so caught up in the day-to-day that we lose sight of what we /actually/ care about. I made a ton of art during quarantine, more than I’d made 5 years prior. It reminded me that, hey, you’re not just a digital marketing student — you’re a creative that needs to be creating /frequently/.
Contact Info:
- Website: dezzyjonesart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dezzyjones_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dezzyjonesart/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dezzyjones/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dezzyjones
Image Credits
Beige Cap Media
