Russell Jones

When I was young my teachers noticed I was good at drawing despite having learning difficulties and speech problems which I overcame in later life. In 2010 I enrolled on an art course to reinvigorate my lost passion. As well as this I discovered a private tutor in a private ad in a café who taught me pastel pencils in her backyard that I then realised the potential I had for creating great art. My teacher taught me patience, layering, shade, tone and looking at an object and really seeing the colours. My pastel pictures tend to be meticulous, lifelike, detailed and formalistic thanks to my tuition. I built up my confidence quickly even selling my work which is something I never envisaged in my youth. I enrolled at college in 2018 on an Access course for Art and Design trying new mediums which include watercolours, screen printing, fabrics and different styles like abstract etc. to varying degrees of success. I was proud to say I got distinctions which has then propelled me onto University to study Fine Art; during a pandemic which has been a challenge to say the least. I have tried to be more conceptual and embrace abstract ideas and be more expressionistic in my approach to art. I want my art to tackle subjects close to my art like the duality of mankind, existentialism and to face truths we would rather bury; to quote William Burroughs “Naked lunch, a frozen moment when everyone sees what is on the end of every fork.” I find J G Ballard’s quote “I wanted to rub the human face in its own vomit, and force it to look in the mirror” inspiring and I try to incorporate that approach. I am interested in all forms of art whether it’s the romantic lyrics of Morrissey, the mundane poetry of Bukowski or the kitchen sink realism of Ken Loach. I love honesty in art and how life experience can shape your vision. My personal favourite artist is Jenny Savile with her fluid, visceral and often violent images of womanhood. She came to my attention when her artwork appeared on the sleeve of one of my favourite albums, the bleak, nihilistic The Holy Bible by the Manic Street Preachers. My audience is always myself first and foremost. If I can draw something that moves me or I am proud of then I hope that translates to the audience. Art is life.