We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Abreesha Jones a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Abreesha, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s go back in time a bit – can you share a story of a time when you learned an important lesson during your education?

I vividly remember when I was in college, and there were so many moments that led me to question my ability to set goals and achieve them. In my experiences before starting college, I was pretty good at giving up on things and ideas. As a mother of two, I just felt more determined than ever to graduate and continue with the goals I set for myself. However, it came with so many uncomfortable experiences of navigating adulthood, college and a family. Not only was I expected to make sure that I was meeting deadlines and expectations, but I had to be aware and present to those around me, their feelings, needs and well-being. There were so many days that I thought I would lose myself completely, since for years I struggled with my own mental health and depression after giving birth. There were times I felt incredibly frustrated and defeated. I wanted to give up and just accept that I didn’t have the life I imagined. But then, I remembered something my counselor had said at the start of my first year- that the most important part of learning is seeing how you preserve through the challenges this is how you show up in life.
So, I took a deep breath and decided to approach the problems with a fresh perspective. I knew that if I gave up at the face of challenges, I would not only be setting the stage and expectations for my children, but I would not really know my own ability to win and grow.
By the end of my first year in college I had raised my goals from an Associates to a Master’s degree, I had a belief that I was capable of figuring anything out, even the most complex circumstances, and while my life was far from perfect, I felt a sense of gratitude having the opportunity to keep learning more about my strengths and seeing how far I had come facing so many challenges in the process. When I graduated with my Master’s I set out to continue to inspire others on their journey whether it be through the use of my art or in my role as a counselor I am thankful that I can have the opportunity to use my experiences to encourage others to face their challenges with a full heart.

Abreesha, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Listed among 100 Artists Who Are Changing the Conversation by Saatchi Gallery in 2021, California-based artist Abreesha Jones sets an example of resilience and courage. A mother of two, Jones juggled family and work responsibilities, while furthering her studies and battling the effects of mental illness. Harnessing the healing properties of art, Jones creates abstract and figurative paintings using acrylic, gouache, oil pastels, and spray paint. Her vaporous and exuberant brushstrokes convey a sense of carefree elation; in the tones of fuchsia, peach, and cream, they express feminine intuitiveness and sensuality. A more masculine side, however, emerges in the use of a dark palette and resolute black markings, boldly cutting across the canvas. Yin and yang energies engage in a passionate dance of opposites; coexisting in their power as equal, yet antipodal forces. It is Jones’ way of regaining her status as a woman and earning the right to be herself. Instead of yielding to the demands of the world, she approaches her work with an open mind of acceptance, because “Life is a line of unknown that can infinitely continue on,” if only we learn to release our expectations.

Jones trained at the Otis College of Art + Design, in Los Angeles. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree from UC Riverside and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Cal State University, Northridge. She has exhibited throughout California and held art and mindfulness workshops for college students. She was featured in Saatchi Gallery’s “Best of Spring 2021” catalog and one of her paintings was selected by Tina Knowles-Lawson at the 2020 WACO Theater Art Gala, in Los Angeles, for sale at a charity auction. Represented by the Agora Gallery or New York as of 2021 Abreesha continues to be celebrated as an Artist to experience in this generation.

Artist Mission: Create art that transforms spaces by bringing new perspectives of energy, inspiration and self-love.

Artist Creative Process:
My creative process is fueled by color and emotion. Each painting is the intentional representation of an inner experience; a search for self-love, connection, and balance. Pushing the boundaries of structure and cohesiveness, I celebrate creativity in a way that is bold and risky. I find it interesting to see a change in brushstrokes and markings, as a sign of acceptance of the imperfections of life. I let the brush flow harmoniously, feeling my way into the composition; alternating neutral and densely-saturated tones to convey a sense of dynamism. My preferred medium is acrylic mixed with pastels, although I have recently been experimenting with spray paint. I want my work to speak to my audience through a language of positive energy. As an artist, I embrace my freedom in the expression of beauty and thoughtfulness

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

A story that illustrates my resilience is my decision to honor myself in all of my moments. I now embrace every season as moment of becoming more in tune with my needs, growth and desires. For many years, I have suffered in a silence not feeling equipped to do this thing called life. These years I have learned that with God I have everything that I need to do exactly what it is that I want. However, I have to choose it and see it. I now see that we get all that we can image and ask for sometimes it takes us a moment to recognize it in the form in which it is presented. So I choose to be in gratitude for my current state of being.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One lesson that I learned is that setbacks do not equate to the end of the journey. I had a moment when I was so love with my art journey I was a single young women in her twenties just free in my creativity. However, it was during that time that I became a mother that I fed myself the belief that I would have to let my childish experiences and creative mind go in order to be more responsible as a mother. I went on to put painting behind me. It wasn’t until 5 years later I decided to paint again that I learned that art was a gift bigger than I understood. That my art had the ability to create experiences and energy for others. Speaking works that could only be felt through a canvas. It was at that time that I started to really understand what art meant for me. As a child, I struggled with communication. I was afraid to speak my truths and be seen in hesitation that I would be misunderstood. However, I realized that art was my expression and there were others who understood and appreciated all that I was expressing through that creativity. Taking a break allowed me to learn new truths about myself and learning to appreciated the child within me and the healing she needed. I recently, became brave enough to write and journal this journey in the form a book, that I look forward to releasing this spring! That celebrates my courage to say and be seen and what healing was needed to do so. Which meant unlearning to belief that my words were not valuable or understandable.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.abreesha.com
• Instagram: @abreesha_artgal

Image Credits
Photo cred: @createwhatstrue