We were lucky to catch up with Jona Monet recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jona, thanks for joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
The whole idea of following your heart.. now they did not always believe art was going to be fruitful for me, or that I would be able to find success through the arts, but whatever I wanted to pursue they held my hand through the process and made sure I followed through on my end. Which in turn led me to pursue painting, graphic design, and marking my mark into history.
My father was a mathematician and after undergrad at Voorhees, he studied at the FIT in NYC. however, he did not pursue Fashion as a career, and ended up joining the military which led me to being born in Germany. He did stay on the path of math working as a staff sergeant and logistician for the military. My mother wanted to be a nurse, but her mother shot that idea down at a young age, telling her she could join a particular class, and ended up taking that promise back. In my elementary years, my mother pursued dentistry working as a dental assistant on the military base, still fulfilling her need to be of service in the health industry.
The way that imprinted on me was, seeing how no matter their life experiences, the same calling that enamored them in their youth still finds ways to shine until this day. So even though at times I may have dropped a class, changed direction, took a break, I always understood that time is a part of the practice and that life would always lead me back to art, as long as I allowed it.
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?
I remember one of my first school projects being to either write a book summary, or recreate the book cover. I choose a book about Scrooge and a Silver Dollar. I remember taking that so seriously, and spending so much time creating it, I got a good grade which boosted my confidence, and from there I would compete in drawing competitions and easter egg decoration contests. I would always get recognized in some manner for my art. I was good at many things, I was an AP and honor student. I found joy in being the chairwoman for Events in our high school’s Student Government Association. I would help choose the decor for our winter formals, proms, memorials for when students passed, etc. I took art class like everyone else, and in 11th grade, I took my first art class with Ms. Reid, who at the time was the coolest teacher and she had a beautiful paisley tattoo on her foot. She taught me the basics of using a camera, contrast, and composition and suggested I take Art 1, next door with the handsome Mr. Churchill tall with red freckles, he taught me how to use charcoal, I drew my first self-portrait, and submitted a polar bear campaign about global warming. I grew much confident in their classes and when it was time to look into college. Ms. Reid was a Towson Alumni and suggested I apply there. A few months later, I was accepted into Towson as a psychology major ( to please my parents ) and I immediately switched over to graphic design. I did jump the gun with that and learning about sacred geometry scared the heck out of me. It was not as drawing-focused as i would have liked at that time Viacoms, Adult swim was the coolest channel to me, and I knew for sure I wanted to be an animator and work for Viacom. So i switched my studies to Digital Art and design, which fulfilled all my creative kinks and gave me the backing to pursue painting, design, and television, which i am heavily a part of to this day.
After college I felt defeated, I remember our graduation speech person telling the parents of our class, to be prepared to raise a starving artist. That was something I wanted to debunk but with no work experience, i was extremely unprepared for the world. In hindsight, i should of called up Ms. Reid… I started to look for internships, as someone who has endured abuse from relationships in the past, my heart called out to work in the nonprofit arena and I found Beckys Fund a nonprofit geared towards Domestic Violence. Unknowingly to me, it was led by Becky Lee who was a winner of the Survivor TV series. She had the work ethic of a survivor, through her I made my first designs for Walk This Way a fundraiser that included mental health professionals, TV stars, professional athletes and was held at the Wharf in DC. It was my first time being around status in such manner and it really elevated my mindset on how art could be used as service and as entertainment.
After that Internship ended I started picking up jobs relevant to politics. I ended up working for both sides of the coin, creating graphics for the DNC and working as a graphic designer to Secretary Elaine L.Chao at the Department of Transportation under the Trump administration during the beginning of Covid, as well as creating safety trainings for Black Lives Matter DC and assisted in designing the 2017 Lookbook for Beretta USA. I worked as a teaching student and graphic designer with Project Create in South East DC, which led me to create art for Essence Fest, Viacom, and Paramount.
I found that art for advocacy, art for education, and art as healing were my main focuses and where I found the most joy. There is nothing like teaching someone how to create when they don’t believe they can. I currently work as a Senior Graphic Designer with BET+ designing for streaming platforms such as Apple, Amazon, Roku, Dish, Pluto etc. I also live paint as a service to Anacostia SE, and recently have had my art showcased during the renaming of Good Hope Ave, to Marion Berry Ave, which brings things full circle for me. I am most proud of my resilience to continue working in my craft and helping others even at my lowest times dealing with mental health and feeling so alone. In hindsight, my art has inspired others when I thought I could not inspire myself. It feels so good that my art precedes me in so many ways.
Moving forward I have created Origins Of LLC. My focus is to use art to memorialize the beginning, the end and all in between. It started with creating obituaries for my loved ones and friends, i then moved into doing genealogy work, and ultimately want to have a bookstore, digital library. As a child with working parents, I spent alot of time at youth centers such as YMCA’s. I was raised as an only child so during the summers, those types of centers were everything for me. I spent so much time there. I want to create safe spaces in cities across the world that emphasize the importance of knowing yourself, strengthening your skillsets, while cooperating with others. There is no way I could of gotten to where I am alone. It was the help of other people to speak great on my behalf in and out of rooms.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Staying true to oneself is crucial, a lesson I learned through my own inconsistency. I constantly altered my online persona, inadvertently severing connections and eroding the trust of my followers. This frequent change stemmed from a lack of confidence in my mission, mistakenly thinking I had to conform to external expectations. In reality, people were waiting for me to stand firm in my beliefs.
True growth lies in embracing evolution while maintaining a consistent core. Deleting pages and altering my display name hindered rather than fostered my development. Authenticity is key—stay true to your mission, engage in projects, and explore new avenues, but keep the essence unchanged. While external validation may bring uncertainty, trusting your instincts guides you in the right direction. In the end, it’s about being genuine, allowing your unique voice to resonate and connect with those drawn to your authentic journey.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
“Outwitting the Devil” and “Think & Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill have been instrumental in my journey. “Outwitting the Devil” introduced the concept of the adversary, providing profound insights into overcoming challenges.
The book emphasizes having a definite purpose, and for painters or visual artists, that translates to defining a clear artistic vision and goals. It guides decisions, inspires meaningful work, and helps avoid the pitfalls of drifting without direction. Another key takeaway is overcoming self-doubt, a common challenge for artists. Hill’s insights on defeating fear can empower artists to confront creative insecurities and boost confidence in their work. Hill warns against drifting and being too influenced by external factors. For artists, this means staying true to their unique vision and not succumbing to trends or pressures that might lead them away from their authentic creative path.
Meanwhile, “Think & Grow Rich” not only shared daily practices but also delved into the thought patterns of highly successful individuals, offering valuable perspectives on achievement. It teaches practices of visualization and imagination. Holding onto a Positive Mental Attitude, appointing a definite Chief Aim, Persistence, Resilience, Transmutation of Energy and continuous Learning and Adaptability.
“The 12 Universal Laws” has grounded my approach to management and entrepreneurship. This resource has instilled in me a sense of connectedness and interconnectivity, emphasizing the importance of aligning actions with universal principles. These works collectively shape my philosophy, fostering a holistic understanding of both the internal and external factors that contribute to success in the entrepreneurial realm.
These laws, emphasizing principles like the Law of Correspondence, the Law of Vibration, and the Law of Cause and Effect, can guide artists in understanding the interconnectedness of their artistic expressions with the broader universe. For new artists, recognizing and aligning with these universal principles can bring a sense of grounding and connectedness to their work. The Law of Attraction, in particular, underscores the power of intention and positive energy, suggesting that artists can manifest their creative desires through focused thought and intention. Understanding these laws fosters a deeper appreciation for the impact of their art on both personal and collective levels.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.byjonamonet.com / www.originsof.xyz
- Instagram: @jonamonet / @moneythemonet