Today we’d like to introduce you to Clay Jones.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Clay. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I think right off the bat it was being around art a good bit as a kid. I’ve always had a great love for comics and animation, and my mom used to draw a good bit. I think around middle school, I started to draw a bit for fun, and in high school, I started to take it much more seriously. My art teacher then sought me out to put me into advanced placement classes, and when I found that I was able to thrive in that environment, I worked toward getting my BFA in studio art (which I just got this past May).
It was the sort of thing that I realized gave me some sense of purpose, and it was something that I wanted to succeed at. I also had the good fortune of a good support network of people pushing me to be better.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Oh Lord, no. Mind you, I don’t think I’ve met much resistance from other people, but I’ve had to really fight myself to really understand that I was making something worth making. I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and general anxiety disorder, and I’ve had to learn coping methods to deal with how I feel about myself and my work. I am largely in a much, much better place regarding the whole thing, but it’s been a long road to being a bit more proud of what I’ve made, and not tearing myself down. I spent my first year or so of college avoiding art classes altogether because I wasn’t sure it was a worthwhile path for me, but after I put myself out there again, it was an incredibly affirming process.
Like I said before, I have a good support network of people who have been extremely good to me, and believed in me in spite of how I feel about my art and myself. I suppose there is some silver lining in there in that it pushed me to improve my practice. I really kicked my own ass to make something to be proud of, and I’m happy to say that I’ve managed to do it.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
So, I specialize in drawing, namely with graphite, ink, or with digital media! I’m mostly known for my very elaborate and detailed slice-of-life drawings focusing on moments of peace or community. Oh, and I like to draw folks with animal heads; I suppose that stands out a bit.
I’m currently working on a body of work that focuses on the tension between rest and work, and how we define insider and outsider culture. It’s called New Americana, and I cannot wait to show it to more people. It’s something I’ve been fleshing out for the past year or so, and even though I’ve got a long way to go, I’m extremely proud of it so far.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I think I’ve been an indecently lucky person to have so much support in my life for what I do. I suppose to some extent I’m still working towards a lucky break, but I’m a fairly patient person and I’m just getting started.
Contact Info:
- Email: seanhartartist@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanhartist/
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