Any trip to Dwell with Dignity’s Thrift Studio is a guaranteed feast for the eyes. With detailed vignettes created by so many talented designers and artists, you know something is truly special when it stands out amongst all the greatness. Such was the case with a particular painting in the Ellie Visconti + Pettigrew vignette. The mixed media piece was wonderfully complex, with expressive layers and rich textures that completely captivated me. I loved it. Everyone I was with loved it. But we were all mystified as to how someone could create such a piece. Luckily, the artist, LaToya Jones, was standing right behind me, and she was lovely enough to tell me more about her pieces, the unique process she uses to make them (there’s fire involved), and what inspired her to begin creating.
You were a mother of three and a private school teacher before you started pursuing art as your career. What inspired you to make that change?
In a very short answer to your question, my answer would be passion. I absolutely love what I do, I have enjoyed this since childhood. My decision to follow my passion as a business is due in large part to the encouragement of close friends, but particularly my husband of 20 years, Michael, who has always encouraged me to do the things that I love and has been a support mentally, spiritually and financially while my business as it were came into its own. I don’t see a time when I would completely say that I’m no longer a teacher as this is of equal value in my heart and I really enjoy inspiring others to see and reach their full potential. From time to time I still tutor and teach.
Your pieces are so striking in person. There’s so much rich texture and depth. What is your favorite material (or materials!) to work with?
Without sounding cliché my favorite material varies and is typically the last material that connected with a customer or collector. For me, that emotional connection is the end game, it is what I strive and long for, that smile, that joy that I get when I’m delivering a piece of artwork and the customer is overwhelmed. For some customers that material is gold, for others sterling silver, others diamonds or onyx.
I understand you use fire to create a lot of the depth in the layers. How did you develop your process for creating the pieces?
Trial and error, I believe it is important as an artist to be unique; fire is one of the things that I’ve used as a staple in setting my work apart from others. It is important to not simply follow the status quo. Now I must say that the use of fire in my artwork is not necessarily meant to only be artistic or unique. It is also symbolic, as is my work. The fire represents life and more specifically the trials and tribulations of life. The ups, the downs, the tough lessons that have shaped us and molded us over the years. Fire in itself is very unique, on the one hand it has the ability to destroy and tear down; while on the other, it has the unique ability to purify, mend and provide peace and warmth.
Do you have a favorite painting?
I do not have a favorite. J Believe me when I tell you that my consideration of this question was A LOT LONGER than my answer. (A lot!)
What advice do you have for others who want to pursue their art as a career?
My advice for someone who wants to pursue art as a career would be… be bold. I would urge them to have the courage to be different. The courage to believe that anything is possible. Art is not an easy business, it is not one that lends itself to procrastination, doubt, and unbelief. As important as creativity, inspiration and style are these cannot and should not take the place or serve as substitutions for professionalism, friendliness and sure ambition. Forever Royalty has been afforded a great deal of success because I have not been afraid to fail and I refuse to settle.
For more on Jones, her works and her studio, Forever Royalty, head to her website.
