We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jalila Jones. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jalila below.

Jalila, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

I grew up in a household that fostered the arts. My father was a stage and film actor here in the valley. I spent countless hours backstage while my mother was part of the design set. I helped with creating backdrops and such when I was old enough. While my father could draw his passion was acting and music. I grew up involved in the Intercity Culture Center in Los Angeles, where they taught acting, dance and art. I spent countless hours in the paint studio learning from a renowned artist. My home was always filled with visual art, music and exotic foods. I think I had little choice in loving the arts!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My main obsession is painting very vibrant acrylic portraits of courageous and strong women. I love the era of vintage black glamour, the Harlem renaissance, jazz and dance. I’m also aware that art can heal emotionally. When painting mostly African American women like myself, I hope to foster a feeling of telling ones story, hopes and dreams through my art. I want people to smile when they look at my pieces. I’ve always been creative, and my creativity manifested itself in different ways throughout the years. Whether paintings, woodburning or sewing rag dolls, any blank surface is a place to create. I am grateful that during times of uncertainty in this world, I have an outlet to share with you.

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

The thing that makes me swell with pride and makes my heart flutter is when my children and grandchildren take pride in my work. I have gone through having a “main studio” to working from the kitchen table. When one of them walks by and makes a sweet comment, I know I’m impacting them. I want them also to have stories of me creating and I hope that I have made a wonderful space of love and art for them to carry on. When my grandkids come to visit me, they want to paint and are not so much looking for baking cookies! They love to listen to jazz and have a space to pour their creative thoughts out. If I only have a few “fans” in life, these are the ones that matter.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I was born creative. Fostering that light within came from my parents and ancestors. People think of artist as weird, wearing strange clothes and wood and silver jewelry. I only now have come into embracing who I am. Society has actually made it mainstream cool to be a nerd. In high school, I found it easier to fit in by hiding my love of art, comic books and Star Trek. Now my friends are surprised and think it’s all new, but it’s been my entire life. I often wonder about my high school years and where I would be now if I just branched out more. I say “DO IT”, don’t minor hang ups hold you back from your full destiny.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: JalilaJArt
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/artbyjalilajones

Image Credits
Rhodes Blake Photography