Artist of the Month is a feature where we put the spotlight on the incredible work of one of our members.
Our Artist of the Month for November is Sara Elizabeth Jones, an artist based in Wrexham who works in different art forms including Fine Art and Fashion Illustration.
"My name is Sara and I live in Wrexham, I am drawn to living in Wales due to the beautiful scenery. Originally I grew up in a town called Widnes in Cheshire. I have been drawing all my life since a small child. From infant school I really enjoyed arts and crafts. I became known by teachers and pupils as an artistic child. Growing up I was often given art materials by relatives. Even in childhood I would spend hours exploring a variety of mediums. This included collage, embroidery, painting, casting, clay, jewellery making...anything I was able to explore!
Materials were limited in those days so I often used household scraps. Learning new techniques came in the form of books from my school library. I come from an artistic family and my uncle would teach me the fundamentals of drawing. He introduced me to an artist called MC Escher. My grandmother and aunt taught me sewing and needlework. My aunt was a seamstress and made me beautiful dresses. I loved looking at my aunt's drawings in her notebooks, which became an inspiration in later life.
At 12 years old I began to teach myself how to draw fashion figures which I'd cut out from magazines. At the dining room table I would practice drawing the human face and body. I later took art G.C.S.E and studied other artists. I continued to draw and paint regularly. This is where the foundation for fashion illustration began and my passion for drawing faces, as I find them fascinating.
In my late teens I began to struggle with clinical depression and anxiety, It would cause me to have creative blocks and lack confidence in myself. It has made me to shy away from showing my art in public. I have gone through periods were I would stay indoors.
I later studied an art foundation and fashion textiles in college. I've also attended workshops and courses such as life drawing to help develop my art practice. I believe we can always learn from others. I have visited exhibitions, galleries and museums since I was a teenager.
Today I still like to experiment with different art forms. But I always go back to my love of fashion illustration. I have kept all my sketchbooks throughout the years so I can see the progression in my work. Inspiration comes from the world around me which I record through images. Sketchbooks are my sanctuary, a place where I could escape from the negative thoughts that plague my mind. Using vibrant colours and focusing on creating beauty helps my mental health.
I am inspired by past eras and French fashion illustrators such as Erte. Many people have commented about the bright colours in my work. I am inspired by the Fauvism movement and Pop art. I love artists such as Henry Matisse and his use of highly saturated colour. I'm also a fan of painter Francis Bacon, his ability to paint human pain and the human condition.
My favourite media to use is watercolour and ink due to their expressive qualities. My work is a mixture of fine art and fashion illustration.
Through out my life I have won art competitions and in 2022 received a recognition award. The award gave me a sense of achievement and gave me confidence to keep going. Engaging in any form of creative activity can have a profound impact on a person's well-being. Art has proven to provide solace and healing for the mind. It allows us to channel our emotions and find a sense of purpose amidst darkness. Art has transformed my mental health, and I encourage others to explore their own creative potential.
Today I still struggle with depression and my health. But surrounding myself with colour and focusing on creativity is highly therapeutic. Its a way of transmuting negative emotions and experiences into powerful works of art. One particular piece that holds great significance is my painting of a woman crying, representing the pain I experience from Fibromyalgia. Through my art, I found a way to express the indescribable anguish that often accompanies this condition. It is through these works that people often say they can see aspects of me. I do not want depression and chronic pain to define who I am but rather be a powerful catalyst for transformation.
Future plans include exhibiting work, hopefully gaining more opportunities and artist exposure. I have also began to explore the use of spoken word as a tool for self expression."
Learn more about Sara's work on Instagram: @sara_fashion_illustration
