Today we’d like to introduce you to Rubina Jones
Rubina, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a queer artist residing in Saint Louis, Missouri, and I started my journey as an illustrator through self taught drawing and schooling- and soon found a love for drawing and comics through graphic novels I read at school. I began my research because I love the beauty of Missouri scenery, its parks, its hiking trails, and nature reserves. I love visiting the Nature Center in Kirkwood and would sketch nature I see along walks. I began researching my own work as well as learning about other artists and learn as much as I could while at Jefferson College- and the professors there were one of my main inspirations as an STL based artist. Jefferson College was also a big portion of my portfolio work- and I started my biggest project yet- my own comic. I also began working as a caricature artist at Six Flags Saint Louis, where I furthered my love for art commissions and drawing from life, and to this day will be one of my favorite jobs. Both of these places inspired me to keep pursuing my education, allowing me to do what i love, and fall in love with the creative processes. I now reside at Kansas City Art Institute as a transferred junior in Illustration and Printmaking, in pursuit of a Bachelor of Fine Arts.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been the easiest road for my creative pursuits, as I am a first generation student pursuing a higher degree, let alone in the arts. Before schooling, I was entirely self taught, and did all of my freelance work from finding people to work with, and establishing myself through Saint Louis. I also did not believe that I would be able to afford an expensive luxury such as college in the arts, either at Jefferson College nor KCAI. As a nonbinary, queer artist, I resided in Jefferson County, while although lovely in scenery, not a hometown that was not suited for my interests nor identity, and growing up in a community that does not allow you to express yourself freely was at the very least, draining. It was very difficult not being able to live to my truest self, and be put into a box I would not be able to fit in. Making music and expressing myself through multiple mediums, such as painting, drawing, animating and printmaking- kept pushing me to learn more about what it means to be an artist, and hone the skills necessary to make exactly what I set my mind to.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My main inspiration towards art is the creative process of narrative illustration. I fell deeply in love with making my own comics with subtle relations to my own experiences, and using it to build an overarching story that others can find enjoyment in. I currently am making my own graphic novel, Conifer Creek, in which I am both the illustrator and writer. I was very fortunate to sell printed copies of my first chapter at Betty’s Books in Webster Groves for their annual community Comic Book day, in which it recieved a lot of love. I hope to finish and publish it, and that readers may enjoy it just as much as I did making it.
Printmaking and painting are two of the fine arts that have repeatedly stuck out to me, as both are things that relax me while I am working. It is a very labor inducing form of art, and one of my professors Nick Nihira was a very big inspiration as his work is astounding. The Saint Louis Print Bazaar was something that was truly a life changing event to attend- seeing so many artists display and sell their works in shops and restaurants made me starry-eyed for the love of print work around cities like STL.
Painting is a very personal form of artwork for me. It allows me to put brush on canvas and express every emotion I go through in a process that is not only time consuming, but introspective. I find the most enjoyment in getting lost in details of my work- and I was very lucky to display my acrylic painting, “Dance of Devotion” at the Varsity Art exhibition at Art Saint Louis, this year. I also have entered one of my print pieces, “Scold’s Bridle” into their local show, GASP, and hope to attend this year as well.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Artist events around Saint Louis has changed the way that I view art and the city community behind it. I have met multiple astounding artists through year round events such as Art in the Park, the Saint Louis Print Bazaar, the Webster Art fair, and themed events such as the Wentzville Renaissance fair. Networking with artists around local community colleges and working with professors from STL blew me away while studying. There is a truly inspiring level of creative minds in community art spaces and small business- surrounding oneself with creative minds allows not only you, but a community to flourish and extend its reaches.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sunyvilaillustrati.wixsite.com/my-site-2
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunyvila?igsh=MTZxODRvc2NmeDFzeA==
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sunyvila
