User:Kerream

Kerream Jones(born 1978)is a native of Reading, Penn., his interest in painting took hold during his first year in high school. "At first, I was [painting] as a hobby. I had these grand ideas, but I wasn't automatically talented. I wasn't always the best. I had to work hard toward [developing] my talent. There were occasions where I got my feelings hurt. But you have to get your feelings hurt sometimes. It motivated me and helped me to be focused." Having studied art and graphic design at the Art Institute of Atlanta and American InterContinental University, Jones has already enjoyed a great measure of success, appearing in national publications and campaigns and marketing his work around the country at art shows. "There isn't an alternative," he says of the prospect of life without art. "Art is my life — it's like a breath of fresh air." Intimate in scale and sensual in content, Jones has created an aesthetically captivating body of work saturated in a world of dusty browns, earthy reds and celestial blues and infused with melodic underpinnings. His pieces tell the sentimental stories of relationships — the comfort of long-term unions, the security of family, the camaraderie of sister and brotherhood and the nostalgic afterthoughts of love — moments just like he envisioned in the coffee shop. Jones' work seems to transcend artistic eras, simultaneously combining and defying the most provocative elements of realism and impressionism. Upon seeing the Kerream Jones collection, Russell Banks, a private collector who owns a Real Estate company in New Jersey immediately took notice. "My wife and I decided that we were going to start collecting original art by black artists. When we saw some of his abstract and figurative work, we were instantly drawn to his entire collection." Banks was even more impressed with Jones' nod to great painters of the past. "He has his own distinct style, and yet you can definitely see traces of Jacob Lawrence and even Picasso." The Banks intend to continue filling a large portion of their art collection with his work. "Some people just invest in art for the potential monetary value, but the reality of art is that you have to like it even if what you like never obtains lucrative value," he adds. Jones' appeal is due largely to his uncanny ability to morph into the psyche of his most influential inspiration — women. "I'm giving back to the people who deeply inspire me. The lessons we learn, women are teaching them. They are the ones that are listening and lifting you up. [Women] use their emotions and their affection to get you through hard times. It's the same thing with art. Art is about emotion and expression. Women are essentially the greatest reflection of art."Through an artist's expression we can gain new perspectives and expand our understanding of our communities and reality." www.kerreamjones.com