We were lucky to catch up with Zion Jones recently and have shared our conversation below.

Zion, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Prior to my first vending event, I was extremely nervous. I didn’t think I would make a lot of money and furthermore, I didn’t think anyone would care about my art. In a society where art is overlooked and not valued, I didn’t know what to expect. Thankfully, my mom came up with a brilliant idea to ensure I got attention and profit. The idea was to draw all of the vendors that were going to be there. This was a risk because what if no one purchased their picture? I could only hope that I hadn’t done all of that art for nothing! Plus, I was accustomed to creating my own characters, not drawing real-life people! However, to my joy and surprise, nearly every vendor purchased their portrait!

Nothing made me happier than seeing people’s faces after spotting themselves on my display. A lot of people actually carried it around to show as many people as they could. That was a huge plus because it directed so many of them to my booth. The support that poured in after this event was overwhelming and unexpected. Everyone was shocked that I, a 13 year old, created all of those pieces! My mom was incredibly proud of me and I thanked her for the great idea. There were so many memorable reactions that I still cherish today.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Zion Jones, I am turning 16 years old on June 2nd and I am a sophomore at Weaver Academy. My business is called, “Artxy Zion LLC,” and I created this business when I was 13 years old. I have always been interested in art as I went to Performing and Visual Art schools all my life. It wasn’t until around sixth grade (2020) where I started to draw more seriously. After getting my first drawing tablet for Christmas, I was unstoppable.

The pandemic hit 3 months before I finished 6th grade and being out of school and at home, gave me time to draw more often. I began posting daily on Instagram showcasing everything I created, from small sketches to full-on digital pieces. After showing my mom my art pieces, she was impressed and clearly saw the spark within me.

In February of 2021, I drew influential African Americans that were from my mom’s hometown, Williamston, NC. I received so much attention from my mom’s Facebook community and my passion for art became known throughout my family and friends. Renee Purvis, Martin County School Board Vice-Chair, suggested I enter these art pieces in an arts show at the Martin County Arts Council. Oh what a moment! This event propelled me like no other! I received so much support and motivation to keep going and I did just that!

In October of 2021, I booked my first vending event with Mrs. Jenee Judd, owner and CEO of Pink Graffiti, which kickstarted the creation of my business, Artxy Zion LLC. I created an impressive booth full of my art work. It was so much fun! I made over $300 that day. Ever since then, I have been blessed to attend over 20 more vending and networking events fostering new relationships and networking opportunities. I have my own website made by my mom, named “www.artxyzion.com”, which features my art portfolio, biography, resume, vending events, and contact information.

In November 2022, Educator and social worker, Mrs. Ayanna Brown invited me to speak to her students at Reedy Fork Elementary. I was able to talk about my art and demonstrate to students that you’re not too young to pursue anything. Another highlight was meeting Emmy award winning host and social media personality Tabitha Brown in May of 2023! I was able to tell her my story and present her with a portrait of herself! One of my most memorable events was when I was commissioned to draw a few famous authors for the first George Moses Horton Book Festival in September of 2023. Renowned writer, director, poet and producer, Shelia P. Moses, gave me this honor and I was treated like royalty at this amazing event!

I recently won the Guilford County Schools 2024 Superintendent’s Choice Art Award for Digital Artwork and my “Anyone Can Wear the Mask” piece was chosen to be included in the pop-gallery at The DPAC Rising Star Awards on May 9th.

This is only the beginning for me!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is witnessing the spark of inspiration in young children as they see my work. Their reactions to my art are always unforgettable. The most common phrase is: “You drew ALL of this?” What’s even more fulfilling is when parents encourage their children to explore their own artistic potential because of me, sparking interesting conversations with them.

I had a memorable encounter with a shy, 9 year old girl. I noticed her peeping at my table from across the venue. I could tell she wanted to come over but her nerves wouldn’t let her. Eventually, her mom noticed her curiosity and forced her to come over. Her mom told me that she is an artist as well and she adored my art pieces. I was delighted and asked her questions about what she liked to draw. She said she loved to draw people on her tablet, just like me. For the remainder of the event, she would leave and come back over to ask me questions about how I drew different things, including hair, eyes, lips, and noses. It was incredibly fulfilling to see her enthusiasm and genuine interest in learning from me. I felt sad as the event came to a close, as we had to part ways. I hope one day we meet each other again.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I think the first thing society should do is get rid of the stigma surrounding the financial instability and perceived lack of value in the arts. It angers me when I think about the countless talented individuals who may never pursue their artistic passions because they were pressured or forced to pursue a “real” profession. The introduction and increasing popularity of A.I. is not making this conversation any better, as many artistic professions have been greatly affected by it, including the film/TV industry. The problem is that A.I. is very accessible and way cheaper than employing actual artists, decreasing the value of the hard work that goes into creating. However, it’s crucial for society to recognize and preserve the value of human creativity, by providing fair compensation and creating accessible platforms for any artist to showcase their work. By advocating for the arts and providing solid support, we can foster a society where artists are valued and empowered to pursue their craft without financial barriers or societal stigma.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.artxyzion.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artxyzion?igsh=MWZsYTE3Ymw2eHh5YQ==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artxyzionn?mibextid=ZbWKwL