Today we’d like to introduce you to Bria Bones
Hi Bria, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m Bria Bones. I’ve always been a creative. My earliest memories of making art in elementary school. I always excelled in my classes. I went to any art related class I could take up into my later years in high school. We moved around a lot, never stayed anywhere more than 3 years. So when I approached my final years of grade school in Covington High School, Covington TN, they had defunded everything to do with the arts. I was on my own and just kept pushing with my raw and heartfelt ambitions. Now I am 27 and a freelance artist. I do mostly commissions and gifts for friends and family still hoping to break through and find my audience. My work has a lot of emotional range, I find adversity and controversy to be the most beautiful and looked over parts of humanity and that’s what I prefer to share.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s not easy. I feel the biggest struggle for me breaking through here is that I don’t want to nurture a culture where we protect predators and put them on pedestals. Then in the same breathe preach that we value women, black women, and our safety. This may be a long and lonely road taking this path, but art to me is something sacred I do for myself. I had to learn the hard way that going slow and trusting my intuition, and protecting my peace is far more important than all the money in the world, all the fancy invitations and “opportunities”, or exposure. I have to keep my heart and mind healthy to create authentic work and keep my momentum.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a multimedia creative. I originally started creating traditional tattoo flash inspired works. That’s traditionally India ink and watercolor. I eventually grew to experiment with acrylics at times. Colored pencils and markers. My style stays the same but the texture and the movement is what stands out. I like to tell stories.My current favorite piece is one I call “Seeing Stars” and it portrays a notorious love triangle with Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love, and Billy Corgan. They’re surrounded by Donald Duck having a tantrum and the swallows from Cinderella nursing them . It’s supposed to represent the tension and overimposed emotional connections of parasocial relationships with celebrities, and how the audience has too much control over their well being. This is a piece where I started to experiment with portraits and tattoo flash. What sets me apart is, I don’t make stuff that I know people will like or resonate with. I’m completely shooting in the dark and enjoying the freedom of being a multifaceted, multidimensional person that’s experiencing life and feeling everything. Good, bad, and the murky, and I embrace it all fully.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Be true to yourself. Being opportunistic can be a good thing, but jumping on every opportunity could derail your destiny. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and be annoying until you attract the audience you’re looking for, or cultivate a culture you’re proud of. Slow down and think about how this could affect your life, or the rest of the world. All money isn’t good money.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/briabonesart
