Meet Karen Jones | Artist, figurative oil painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karen Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karen, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
My favorite and life altering affirmation is, “I am a millionaire artist.”
I say it constantly. When I was younger I always wanted to be a successful artist. I was extremely bothered by the ‘starving artist’ saying. I was always trying to ‘get successful’ That rarely worked, all it did was make me work harder to get somewhere else that was never where I wanted to be.
I then understood affirmations and realized that it’s all my mindset. I realized a needed to be it all now. I realized I didn’t have to get anywhere or earn a certain amount to BE a millionaire artist. So I started being it, that day. It made me change almost everything I did. I knew as a millionaire artist I just wouldn’t be doing certain things like setting up a table in a parking lot craft fair to hawk my paintings. I would learn what I needed to learn, I would package and present myself differently and I would make different art. I love it! I am now and always will me a millionaire artist, unless of course I decide I am a billionaire artist.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My mission is to create vibrant, imaginative oil paintings that uplift the spirit and celebrate individuality.
Through my colorful, surreal narratives and faces, I aim to inspire self-empowerment and a deep connection to one’s personal journey, leaving a lasting legacy as a cheerleader for life’s unique adventures.

I’m vibrant and use to be almost toxically optimistic. I have worked through that but will always be positive and optimistic.
I am most proud of my choice to leave my 1500 square foot art studio to go on an inner and actually an outer journey to live full time in my vintage 1968 Airstream to work on my relationship with me and my art. Leaving everything I knew was hard but since making art is an ‘alone thing’, spending a lot of time by myself was sort of the easy part.
Making art, meditation and doing yoga everyday was truly what changed my life. Now I’m thriving and know nothing can ever alter that or take away the happiness I now have.

Each painting I do now is a celebration of individuality, creativity, and the unique power within people.
I Explore surreal, semi-realistic faces that uplift and inspire, hopefully connecting people to their personal journey in a bold, new way.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When I grew up here in the 70’s my parents took us on Sunday drives to every nook and cranny in Arizona and like that now.
I think some of those tried and true places are still special, like the Grand Canyon. I look at Sedona in a whole new way like going to a yoga workshop or climbing Boynton Canyon Trail with a guide instead of skipping school just to go to slide rock.
I would of course take them to an art walk in Scottsdale, but would also to the art Museums like Heard Museum and the Phoenix Art Museum. I’m old school and think that the entire state of Arizona is art so randomly driving around anywhere for inspiration is fun for me.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I grew up in Arizona and went to High School in Flagstaff. I moved away for 30 years and only moved back 3 years ago.
My whole life, I always attributed my art success to Arizona. I had phenomenal art education everywhere I lived here, but the person who most affected my life was my junior high school art teacher, Art Pundt. He influenced how I saw everything, especially nature and the world around me. I have never been able to contact him and let him know all of this. Hopefully someday he will know.

Website: http://www.KarenAnnJones.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karen_jones_art

Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/karenannjones

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jones.A.Karen

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@karenjonesart

Image Credits
Karen Ann Jones Jacque Edwards