Local artist participates in Oklahoma City New Years Eve Celebration
Midwest City artist Jasmine Jones’ mural was featured as part of the Fresh Paint OKC New Years Celebration. PHOTO PROVIDED
By Anthony Thomas
Contributing Writer
Midwest City native, Jasmine Jones, was chosen to participate in the Fresh Paint OKC New Years Eve Celebration. This year five artists of color were chosen for the New to Arts Council OKC Opening Night Virtual New Years’ Eve Celebration.
This is the first year the Arts Council has had this event. All five artists’ murals were displayed in Bricktown from Dec. 31 to Jan. 4. The contestants were challenged with making an 8-foot-by-8-foot mural. All the artists were paired with two established and accomplished mural artist mentors, Ebony Iman Dallas and Dylan Bradway.
Each contestant received a prize package and the winner of the competition, Verdean Thompson Johnson, received a grand prize pack from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
As a multidisciplinary artist, Jones, 25, works in many different forms of media and mediums.
Midwest City artist Jasmine Jones works on an art piece. She recently painted a mural as part of the Fresh Paint OKC New Years Celebration. PHOTOS PROVIDED
Jones graduated from Carl Albert High School and went on to get her Associates Degree from Rose State College in Art. She completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art at the University of Oklahoma.
When she isn’t making art for competitions Jones is part of two artist collectives. One name Art group and the well known Factory Obscura. With these groups, she collaborates with other local artists for temporary and permanent art installations.
For the competition, Jasmine created a mural with two Koi-fish swimming around the phrase, “It’s okay to be soft”. The mural was made using both acrylic paint and spray paint. In the end, the project took around 35 to 40 hours to complete.
“This was my first solo mural. I have done fence painting with one of my friends but this is the first one I have done on my own,” Jones said. “It was a good experience. I was able to see how my work transfers from a smaller surface to a bigger surface and how my process has changed.”
Jasmine has been doing art since her childhood but began taking it seriously in high school. For her art is very personal and enjoys working with an audience and talking to people with her art. That is one reason she uses used commonly in her works.
“Almost all my work is inspired by healing or how we are connected, how our brains work. Mainly how people can heal through art,” said Jones.
While much of her art is paintings and multimedia she also does art in other media forms. Primarily Jones does commission work, art installations, mainly for more personal places like coffee shops.
In the past year, many people have faced trying times, especially in the past few months. It’s artists like Jones that remind us that things will get better and to just enjoy the ride.
