Emily Jones always knew she wanted to be an artist, but the Memphis native was nearly a decade into a career as a litigation paralegal before she pursued that dream. What began as a meditative practice became a medium for healing, giving the self-taught artist a renewed sense of purpose. Since then, Emily has been creating her playful, colorful art full-time, planning watercolor workshops in Cooper-Young, and continuing to explore her artistic voice.
What sparked your passion for art?
I loved music first, and that turned into a love for other art forms. I vividly remember sitting in my dad’s old Suburban and hearing Elton John’s “Rocket Man” on the radio … The first art piece that moved me was one of Monet’s Water Lilies. There was a print of one in my house growing up; it hung in my room. I remember staring at it, analyzing the details, layers, and colors.
When I think about encounters with art that inspired me, those stick out. They evoked an emotional response that I didn’t know could be sparked by a song or a picture … They made me think, “Wow, how wild that people out there are making things that evoke such a high level of emotion and thought … and how cool these people are sharing things so personal.” I knew I wanted to do something like that someday.
Tell us about your journey to becoming an artist.
My journey to becoming a full-time artist began in the fall of 2021 when I created my first interior mural in the hallway of my home. Although I didn’t know it at the time, it sparked something in me that I wouldn’t fully notice or be able to define until four years later.
In early 2024, I went through a mental health crisis and took a three-month leave of absence from my job. For the first time in my life, I focused 100 percent of my time and energy on taking care of my mental health. I suddenly had an abundance of free time and quickly noticed what filled my cup and what didn’t. That period changed my life and led me to discover art as part of my healing process …
My days suddenly had a purpose they’d never held before. I left the legal field shortly after. In July, a friend asked if they could hire me to do an interior mural at their home. I was floored that someone would pay me for such a thing!
What has been the biggest challenge of pursuing art full-time?
The biggest challenge has been shifting from a 9-to-5 corporate life to living as a full-time creative. I’m still adjusting to it. As a paralegal, I lived a regimented, scheduled life with defined objectives and measurable deliverables. I was confident in my skills, and there were tangible ways to measure my success, value, and productivity.
As a full-time (and new) artist, I’m redefining how I measure these things. A day spent observing nature or flipping through wallpaper books would be unproductive by corporate standards, but it is essential to my creative process. I am rewiring my brain to think creatively rather than “corporately,” and it’s a huge mental challenge as well.
Where do you find inspiration?
My practice is inspired and driven by my quest for balance. I don’t have one medium I stick to for too long. I’ve tried many things: acrylic, watercolor, hand-painted banners, interior design, interior murals, floral design, papermaking, oil pastels, stationery making, etc. I’m throwing a bunch of things at the wall, trying out different mediums and techniques, and seeing what sticks.
Each piece I’ve made shares a common element: balance. My work is a byproduct of searching for and finding balance — in my personal and work life, relationships, habits, and even more tangibly, in my art pieces themselves. That element of balance is woven throughout my work, though my inspirations may shift and evolve over time. I have recently drawn inspiration from wallpaper, textiles, fashion, patterns, and the park across the street from my home.
What are your favorite mediums to work in?
I always come back to watercolor. I love that it dries quickly, as I’m quite impatient. It’s compact and easy to transport — a mini palette, brush, and small sketchbook could fit into a sandwich bag! I also love interior paint samples. My favorites are the small sizes from Memphis Paints on Park Avenue. I love how they’re highly opaque but also have a high viscosity. They’re perfect for virtually all of my work, especially my hand-painted banners.
Any projects you are working on right now that you’re especially excited about?
I’m teaching two watercolor workshops at Slowdown Dry Goods in the Cooper-Young neighborhood this fall, so I’m working on itineraries and handouts. I’ve also been working on a new watercolor series that contains a range of sizes, including some larger-scale pieces. I’ll also be at the parking lot party at Aldo’s in Midtown during the Cooper-Young Festival and at The Hope Market in Cordova this year!
What’s your best piece of advice?
Work hard, but don’t be hard on yourself.
Name three things you can’t live without (aside from faith, family, and friends).
Therapy, Spotify and YouTube, and my sunrise alarm clock.
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