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

Nae’Keisha, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

First I’ll say I had the pleasure of working on quite a few meaningful projects within the past two years and I am in awe of them every time I look back on them or see them shared on social media. The most recent has been a book assignment I am working on I get to not only illustrate the stories of the youth in a five-series books series by creating the visual concepts, but I also get the opportunity to create themed black and white spot (small) illustrations inside the book as well. The project is a long-time passion project with the Deep Center organization. They are doing so many amazing in the community. It’s really an honor to be a part of the legacy Deep has created with my work. I remember growing up reading stories that had small doodle illustrations alongside a page filled with silly poems or short stories like Where the Sidewalk Ends series or even Chicken Soup for the Soul for Kids and Young Adults. And even more recently Rupi Kaur’s literary work has renewed a spark in me to get back into writing. I am doing just that in just in several capacities. I’ve also started a new adventure of sharing the stories of my creative peers by writing for the local newspaper and celebrating their wins.

Nae’Keisha, 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?

Nae’Keisha Jones is an illustrator and writer from Colorado, based in Savannah, Ga. She graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design with a B.F.A. in Illustration with a minor in Creative Writing. Her work has been featured in the Savannah Morning News newsletter “The 912”, Starlandia Mural fence Project, The Enmarket Area, and Telfair Museum FAAA Small Works Exhibition just to name a few. Her most recent work “Essence in the Making” courtyard mural is located at The Culturist Union Coffeehouse and Artisan Marketplace.
Nae’Keisha is an advocate for creating visual stories for her community to enjoy and inspire positive change.

She provides limited edition prints of her work and as well takes on both private and commercial commissions. She hopes to create a series of children’s books as well as have her work featured on a network series or movie set

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My “why” of creating my work has always been to share the joy and to depict representations of the beauty of Black culture, create a visual legacy of stories, and inspire others to do the same for their community in a positive way, all while being authentic

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

WHEW CHILD, that definitely a loaded question! But I definitely want to touch on this just a bit for a few reasons: I feel like God is leading me too, but just a bit, it’s so fresh. (takes a deep breath) . In my career, there have been extreme highs and wonderful and beautiful opportunities while at the same time I’ve been navigating under an umbrella of grief. Over the past couple of months huge life transitional moments personally, spiritually, and career-wise that all have shaken me up quite literally. It has even affected my creativity where I have lost the desire to create specifically painting, whereas art was also such a huge healthy outlet for me to inspire others by the content and being intentional with bringing light to the viewer with using bright colors, highlighting the joys and beauty of black culture , in addition to sorting through my own feelings of several experiences and perspectives.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naekeisha.jones/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naekeisha.jones
• Other: https://www.inprnt.com/gallery/naekeisha/ https://www.patreon.com/CanvasChats

Image Credits
Noble Holt Somi Benson-Jaja