Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kortney Jones. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kortney, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I grew up visiting my grandparents on both sides of my parents in Cortez, Colorado. None of my family is native but we were surrounded but Native American influences through friends and family of friends. I was very influenced growing up by their ways of life and living in the light of the spiritual world which I have grown to truly appreciate. Recently I did a series called “Remember when there were peaches” This series was inspired by the old ways of the Navajo natives that had sacred peach orchards on the outskirts of Cortez Colorado.
According to legends the Navajo peaches were the sweetest in the nation. When the The natives were pushed into hiding they found refuge in caves, canyons, and crevices. The Army, during the 1849 California Gold Rush, destroyed the peach orchards and livestock to coax the natives from their homes. The U.S. Army forced Navajo relocation to Texas, resulting in the tragic “Long Walk,”
The natives have since then began rehabilitation of their sacred peaches from remnants of seeds that have been passed down through the generations.
My series “Remember when there were Peaches” was a way for me to shed light on the sacred peaches and the significance of the fruit in the Navajo tribes.

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?

Artistry has been an integral part of my entire existence. I am drawn to the desert and mountain landscapes and pair them with my creative outlook on what the old west means to me. My creative journey began with surreal acrylic artwork, an initial step that has evolved into a fusion of conventional and contemporary Southwestern oil artworks. My artistic inspiration lies in the story of my early years, it is fueled by the creation of artwork that resonates with both tradition and modernity. This artistic expression brings an immense sense of joy and contentment to my life. Painting, once taken for granted, has transformed into a cherished outlet that soothes, motivates, and fills me with profound happiness.

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

The most rewarding part of being an artist and sharing my art with the world is hearing why and how people connect with it. I ma a very distinguished realistic contemporary art style that mostly highlights big desert skies, horses, working blue collar folk, and native American practices. Being a Southern California based artist I seem to rarely come across people that have a deep connection to the southwestern world. However, when I do meet those people that understand and connect with me on a deeper basis of how and why it is truly special. It might event be why I keep going.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Continuous support. The only way for our arts community to survive and it not to go straight to AI control is for friends and family and supporters of the arts community to keep supporting! Show up to your friends art show, buy their prints, repost their new paintings, talk about your friends! Support from the people in your group is the only way we will continue to thrive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://houseofdolores.art
• Instagram: @house.of.dolores