About the Artist
A Little About Me...
I have dedicated my life to the arts. Since childhood I always knew what I wanted to do with my life. Now that I am an adult, I realize what a blessing that was. It gave me a direction to always walk in as a young girl trying to figure out life. Art was my outlet for figuring out difficult situations and exploring concepts I couldn't grasp. My work has evolved over the years but all of my ideas float under the same umbrella: That is trying to understand lived experience. My work is often an act of reflection, of meditation, of memory, of relationships with others and with my own body. As human beings we spend an amazing amount of time trying to figure things out. Often confused! Often questioning our decisions! procrastinating when we shouldn't! Sad, or happy or worried! My work and process give me a place to celebrate all that I have experienced in this life and find the common ground in human experience that ties us all together.
Some History:
Hi, It's me! Jess Stone. I'm a mixed media artist who loves the lake life. I spend most of my days in one of four roles: mother, artist, teacher, wife. My two obsessions with my work are layers and texture! I became a teacher of art by accident! Starting young in High School as an art teacher at local art camps. I then went on the receive my BFA from Clemson University and my MFA from Memphis College of Art in Memphis, TN. During this time I continued to teach at local art centers and was accepted to the Artist in Education Roster for the South Carolina Arts Commission. This allowed me to travel the state teaching Printmaking, papermaking and bookbinding to K5-12th grade in various school districts. After graduating with my Master's I completed a 3 year program for teacher certification, and taught Elementary Art in Spartanburg County for three years. I have taught at both Converse College and Anderson University teaching Design Basics, Painting I and Drawing I to fresh art students. For the last 5 years I worked part time in Anderson District 5 teaching art. Currently I work full time as an Artist and Mother. I still do my Visiting Artist Residencies around the Upstate and work closely with the Smart Arts Program in Greenville County. This program pairs artists and teachers to bring arts based teaching into the Science, Math, English and History.
EDUCATION
Memphis College of Art
Master of Fine Arts
May 2010
Clemson University
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Drawing
December 2006
Lorenzo De Medici Art Institute, Florence, Italy
Fall Semester 2005
I have dedicated my life to the arts. Since childhood I always knew what I wanted to do with my life. Now that I am an adult, I realize what a blessing that was. It gave me a direction to always walk in as a young girl trying to figure out life. Art was my outlet for figuring out difficult situations and exploring concepts I couldn't grasp. My work has evolved over the years but all of my ideas float under the same umbrella: That is trying to understand lived experience. My work is often an act of reflection, of meditation, of memory, of relationships with others and with my own body. As human beings we spend an amazing amount of time trying to figure things out. Often confused! Often questioning our decisions! procrastinating when we shouldn't! Sad, or happy or worried! My work and process give me a place to celebrate all that I have experienced in this life and find the common ground in human experience that ties us all together.
Some History:
Hi, It's me! Jess Stone. I'm a mixed media artist who loves the lake life. I spend most of my days in one of four roles: mother, artist, teacher, wife. My two obsessions with my work are layers and texture! I became a teacher of art by accident! Starting young in High School as an art teacher at local art camps. I then went on the receive my BFA from Clemson University and my MFA from Memphis College of Art in Memphis, TN. During this time I continued to teach at local art centers and was accepted to the Artist in Education Roster for the South Carolina Arts Commission. This allowed me to travel the state teaching Printmaking, papermaking and bookbinding to K5-12th grade in various school districts. After graduating with my Master's I completed a 3 year program for teacher certification, and taught Elementary Art in Spartanburg County for three years. I have taught at both Converse College and Anderson University teaching Design Basics, Painting I and Drawing I to fresh art students. For the last 5 years I worked part time in Anderson District 5 teaching art. Currently I work full time as an Artist and Mother. I still do my Visiting Artist Residencies around the Upstate and work closely with the Smart Arts Program in Greenville County. This program pairs artists and teachers to bring arts based teaching into the Science, Math, English and History.
EDUCATION
Memphis College of Art
Master of Fine Arts
May 2010
Clemson University
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Drawing
December 2006
Lorenzo De Medici Art Institute, Florence, Italy
Fall Semester 2005