Artist Profile: Searra Jones
Welcoming Searra into the pack! She’s a thoughtful painter involved with diverse women’s groups and her lively family. I met Searra through an invitation to one of them online and became quickly enthralled by her strength and vulnerability. A game-changing, trailblazing gentle and tough spirit, meet Searra in her own words:
Introduce yourself, Searra!
Hi, my name is Searra Jones, and I am a proud new member of WolfLab. I’m a mother of three, visual artist, and feminist. I am working on going back to university to get my degree in social work, and eventually get my master’s in art therapy.
Walk us through your process of concept to realization of a work.
Since I have ADHD, and borderline personality disorder, my brain doesn’t *flow* as a neurotypical brain would. Instead of having a flow of inspiration-idea-create, mine works more so like a spider web. I usually have many things that will inspire me (a song, something I smell, a memory, anything, etc) and I will try to weave them all together to create something new. Oftentimes I will start many projects at once, and work on them all simultaneously until I (eventually) finish. It’s difficult for me to focus on one thing at a time, so it helps to have multiple projects on the go.
I try to push myself to create something every day. Lately, I have been doing a #dailydoodle challenge on my own, just to keep my creative juices flowing through these hard and uncertain times.
“NO NAME” (Abstract mixed media collage - $400)
“HEALING” ($250)
How would you describe your therapeutic relationship with your art?
Art has always been very therapeutic to me and has helped me through many difficult situations and issues I've faced.
As someone with a borderline personality disorder, my emotions are often TOO MUCH & TOO FAST, and painting has always grounded me and calmed me down.
When I was recovering from self-harm I would always paint, instead of hurt myself, whenever I got the urge.
“WE GROW FROM THE WORST” (SOLD)
Tell us how your feminist roots are woven into your practice.
Intersectional feminism is so deeply ingrained into who I am as a person, so of course, it reflects in my artwork.
I realize how privileged I am, even though my life has been far from easy, and I try to remember that when creating art. I try to make my art have a deeper meaning, even if not everyone can see it.
For example, this next painting “GENDER” is an abstract painting I made and was inspired by one of my many non-gender-conforming friends. The meaning is to show how gender is not black-and-white (or pink-and-blue, or girl-or-boy) because it is a spectrum.
“GENDER” ($100)
What’s your favourite piece of yours?
That is so hard for me to say because they all have such different meanings to me. Right now my favourite would have to be “NO ONE CARES” because it really expresses how I am feeling since being in isolation for Covid-19. To me, it means that social media is so fake, and most people will only share the best of their lives, which often leads us to compare our lives & ourselves. Social media can be so toxic and dangerous to our wellbeing, so this piece reminds me that it’s all an illusion.
“NO ONE CARES” ($100)
Who/what are your current inspirations?
On good days, I can find inspiration in everything & anything! For example people, music, current events, memories, nature, other artist’s work, etc.
Lately, I have been very inspired by all of the Black Lives Matter protests. It is so inspiring to see so many people coming together and standing up against police brutality & white supremacy. I am learning so much thanks to all of the available online resources. (I will continue to educate myself, speak out against injustice, and do my part as an ally to amplify BIPOC voices.)
I have been working on a series of paintings focusing on Covid-19, Black Lives Matter, white supremacy, and police brutality - but they aren’t quite finished yet, so you’ll have to wait to see!
“FATAL FUNGI” ($200)
Describe your creative horizon.
I am always evolving as an artist, so I plan to continue to play around with new techniques & work with new mediums.
I plan on getting prints of my paintings made available to sell for more affordable prices.
I am also hoping to have a showing of my favourite pieces, or maybe of the current series I am working on.
“PROBLEMS” (sold)