Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dierra Jones. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Dierra , appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
Keeping your creativity alive is important not only as an artist, but also as an individual. Of course you can keep your creativity alive by simply making art, but authentic creativity comes through observation and appreciating things that are in your surroundings. This can be achieved by finding inspiration in nature or gravitating towards something that has caught your attention no matter the place. Once I am inspired, my mind creates endless ideas and concepts for my jewelry, which is why it’s important to keep your eyes open so that creativity can come in. I have personally experienced times where I felt as though I lost my creativity because of lack of production, however it has never died because of my curiosity and ability to want to see more.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Dierra Jones, and I am a jewelry artist and an arts educator. I am also the owner of my business Dierra Jones Studio, which I created in 2018 while I was a graduate student at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Savannah, GA. As a jewelry artist, I specialize in different processes and techniques, such as beading and wire wrapping, enameling, metal fabrication, and alternative materials in jewelry. This is something that sets me apart because of my ability to choose from one process or technique to another. One of my favorite jewelry processes that I love incorporating in my work along with the other techniques that I do is beading and wire wrapping. I have been experimenting with beading and wire wrapping techniques since 2011. It is a craft that I taught myself while I took a break from school during my undergraduate studies at Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA. As a result of that break, I fell in love with beading and wire wrapping, and it has now become a signature style in my work, such as in my Wings Collection.
Aside from my business, I am a K-5 art teacher in Savannah, GA, where I teach my students various skills and processes along with teaching them the elements of art and principles of design. Growing up, I personally did not enjoy school. I also wouldn’t have considered myself to be smart, since I struggled in many core subjects, like reading and mathematics. Despite this, I’ve always had a love for art and making, which was the skill that I choose develop throughout my childhood. As an artist and educator, I am passionate about learning all about the arts, and I want my students to know that it is ok to want to be an artist or possibly not like a specific subject area. It’s about developing what you know and how a core subject(s) can help you in the area that you enjoy the most.
Along with my joy that I have for teaching, I am happy to announce that I will be offering jewelry workshops, where I can share my knowledge of jewelry making with other inspiring artists or anyone wanting to learn a new skill! This is something that I’ve always desired, and I can’t wait to see how it transforms the lives of many people, as it did myself. My first workshop will be offered in summer 2024, where I will share with participants how to make their own statement jewelry using beading and wire wrapping techniques and other jewelry processes. More information about this and future events can be found on my website at www.dierrajonesstudio.com and on my social media platforms. Lastly, this summer, I also have the privilege of attending a one-month BIPOC artist residency at the Baltimore Jewelry Center in Baltimore, MD, where I will experiment and create a new body of work that tells story about who I am and my journey as an artist. Through this venture, I am most excited to let my creativity flow and develop new ideas and concepts as I collaborate with other artists. I will later exhibit this new body of work so that others can experience it and receive a new understanding of jewelry as an art form.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Some qualities or skills that were most impactful in my journey was knowing my worth and knowing the value that I offer. As people, we must understand the value that we bring to the world and know that we are important no matter what we do. When we know our value and recognize our own importance, we can then make sure that we are not undervaluing anything that we do, like the products or services that we offer. In the beginning of my business journey, I struggled with pricing my jewelry because I wanted to make others happy. This way of thinking caused me to struggle for a while, until I found the encouragement to see and know my worth as a jewelry artist. Along with knowing your worth, you have to find where you belong and be okay with not fitting in everywhere you go. My advice that I would give to anyone starting out is for them to know their value and don’t be afraid to tell others no! Some opportunities aren’t always the best opportunities.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Whenever I am feeling overwhelmed, I have to first admit that I am overwhelmed, but also look at the reasons to why I may be overwhelmed. I oftentimes feel overwhelmed when I have a busy schedule of events or things that I have to do back-to-back or whenever I choose to not do what I say I was going to do and I become backed up, essentially procrastinating. When you get to a moment of feeling overwhelmed, it is ok to admit it and ask for help. People cannot read our minds and we must speak up to ultimately help ourselves. Oftentimes many people feel as though they are alone, so nothing changes, but when you use your voice, it takes a load off of your shoulders. Another way to prevent feelings of being overwhelmed is by setting realistic expectations for yourself, especially when making your schedule for the day, week, or month. After setting your schedule, it is important to make sure you do what you said you would do. This is something that I have been becoming better and more honest about with myself. Again, the goal is to set realistic expectations, so don’t settle for the bare minimum if you know you can do a little bit more.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dierrajonesstudio.com
- Instagram: @dierranj.studio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dierranj.studio
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dierra-jones-458875a8
