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

Harmony, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

I have always been an artist, but I do wish I had started my creative career sooner. I was always enrolled in an art class from elementary through high school. I would paint, draw, sculpt, and learn about different artists and their creative styles. It was not until my Junior year of college that I started creating art to sell. I was used to designing posters and making artwork for my room, but never posted it for others to buy. The first piece I created for purchase, which is a part of the Embellishment series, was inspired by Beyonce’s Formation video. One by one, the orders came rolling in. I then started getting custom orders from Greek organizations to create original pieces, and the ideas continued to flow. In 2019, I was selected as a featured artist in the “#ustoo: Phenomenal Woman” exhibit in Dallas, Texas. Starting my artist career sooner, would have allowed me to see how far my artwork could take me sooner. I believe that everything happens for a reason so I would not want to change my experience. However, now that I have discovered and am honing in on my craft I am continuously excited to create.

Harmony, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Michelle Thornton and I am the owner and founder of MatriART, “Mother of Art.” I create original artwork that uplifts African American culture. I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. I am most proud of being a featured artist in the “#ustoo: Phenomenal Woman” exhibit that was held in 2019 at the African American Museum of Art. I am looking forward to hosting my own exhibit one day and providing an opportunity for upcoming artists to showcase their work for the first time, similar to how I was introduced. I want my artwork to be displayed and purchased internationally. Everyday is a new day to continue learning and I like to try new mediums to expand my craft and creativity.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being creative is seeing your first sketch become the final product. Most times, my sketches or ideas will just be doodles or random thoughts on a page. Those are then transferred onto a canvas which I paint. Once painted, I think of some way to add mixed media to it, so that the piece has a touch of my unique style. Aside from seeing my finished project, once a customer purchases a piece and hangs it in their home, that is the ultimate rewarding aspect of being an artist. Seeing how people add my artwork to their decor and comment on how beautiful it is in their home, is one of the reasons why I continue to create.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Shonda Rhimes’ book, Year of Yes significantly impacted my entrepreneurial thinking to let go of doubt and say yes to new opportunities. Being creative and having a unique style means that no one will create something the exact way that you do because each person is different. There are plenty of artists in the world, but there’s only one me. Beyonce’s documentary “Life is But A Dream” is another creative visual that inspires me to take ownership of my business and run it the way that I want to. MatriART has allowed me to create and release on my own terms.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MatriARTShop?ref=seller-platform-mcnav
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thematri.art/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCctuh7vbT_lrAo9KVgsmUmg

Image Credits
Soulke Photography Harmony Jones Productions