Rebecca J. Jones - Statement & Bio
Statement
As someone who has spent most of her life in animation, I have always loved the spirit of exaggeration to tell a good story. I gravitate towards simple moments that are impactful and I am a sucker for the happy ones... the stories that make me smile.
Did you know smiling and laughing can activate and relieve our stress response and soothe tension? It can even improve our immune system. Smiling is also contagious. Give it a try! Smile at the next person you see!
Also, storytelling has been proven to activate our right brain and imagination which allows us to see a different point of view, and that increases our empathy for others. Empathy is important to humanity as a whole. It allows us to be individuals offering different perspectives, all while collaborating in a peaceful environment and achieving remarkable goals together.
So in essence, I'm simply a girl who tells visual stories that offer a different perspective - you know... for the greater good of humanity! I am inspired by the uniqueness of the world. And one might say, my art is actually healthy for you! Just sayin'.
Bio
Rebecca J. Jones (born in New York) was raised in the arts. Her father was a graphic designer working for Fortune 500 companies and her mother is a photographer. At a young age, she discovered she inherited talent in the arts and wanted to pursue a career in that field. Rebecca graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2000 and immediately joined Out Of Our Minds Animation Studios (OOOMAS), where she helps produce animations for TV, websites, VR/AR, and film and where she eventually became President. OOOMAS's films have been in hundreds of film festivals around the world winning numerous awards including a BAFTA Nomination in 2004. Rebecca says, "Animation has helped me understand how to convey emotion and stories in my fine art and that truly allows each piece to have a voice."
When Covid hit in 2020, animation was booming with the absence of actors in studios. A bittersweet for a mother of 2 kids who needed to be home-schooled. 18-hour work days and a commitment to family, she continued the quality of work. 2020 was an adjustment for all. For Rebecca, it meant finding time for fine art again and a way to express her thoughts and feelings.
In 2021 she began "#FridaySketchies" on her social media just to have some fun and brighten the days of others who were overwhelmed with the world at hand. "Just a second of laughter or a break from reality."
In 2022, she entered her first fine art piece in over 22 years into a competition and won. In the past year, she has produced over 30 pieces of art that have been in exhibitions and won awards in addition to running an animation company.