Artist Spotlight: Asia Jewell
Artist Spotlight: Asia Jewell
For Asia Jewell, it’s all or nothing. “If you’re going to do something, do it good or don’t do it at all. My mom was like, ‘If you’re going to put your name on it, you need to make sure it’s the best thing you’ve done.’” There’s no half-hearted or partial commitment; she gives it 100% or it’s not worth doing.
As a kid, Asia learned to sew from her grandmother and made clothes for her Barbie dolls. Although she enjoyed art, she viewed it as a game: a fun activity, not a serious pursuit. The notion of art as a career didn’t occur to Asia until late in middle school. At that point, she had attended a magnet school and participated in their communications/journalism program. When her cohort was switched with another and began taking an art class, the teacher saw Asia’s talent and encouraged her to study art.
Going into Wagner High School, Asia pursued art from the beginning of her freshman year. While there, she had two art teachers, one focusing on 2D art and the other on 3D. While her teachers’ personalities were as different as their preferred media, they both helped Asia and her classmates discover and develop their own styles. She learned much from both teachers and saw how what they had to teach could work together. After high school, Asia went to EKU for a year followed by the International Academy of Design and Technology in Nashville, studying fashion and design at both. It was while at IADT that Asia made a significant self-discovery: fashion and design weren’t enough, she needed to immerse herself in art as well.
Today, working from her studio here at Mellwood, Asia largely works on mixed media 2D/3D pieces. Using textiles, resin, charcoal, markers, oil pastels, watercolors, clay, and more, Asia’s art literal pops off the canvas, working in her interest in fashion into her art. Not having a preferred medium, Asia likes to work with her hands and explore a wide variety of materials and media. Art isn’t just a passion for Asia, it’s also therapeutic. It allows her the opportunity to work out her anxiety and OCD in a constructive way. It’s also important to Asia to pursue her art to be a role model for her two daughters, to show them that they can do anything so long as they give it their all. If you would like to see more of Asia’s work, check out her Instagram at @asiabjewell.
For Asia Jewell, it’s all or nothing. “If you’re going to do something, do it good or don’t do it at all. My mom was like, ‘If you’re going to put your name on it, you need to make sure it’s the best thing you’ve done.’” There’s no half-hearted or partial commitment; she gives it 100% or it’s not worth doing.
As a kid, Asia learned to sew from her grandmother and made clothes for her Barbie dolls. Although she enjoyed art, she viewed it as a game: a fun activity, not a serious pursuit. The notion of art as a career didn’t occur to Asia until late in middle school. At that point, she had attended a magnet school and participated in their communications/journalism program. When her cohort was switched with another and began taking an art class, the teacher saw Asia’s talent and encouraged her to study art.
Going into Wagner High School, Asia pursued art from the beginning of her freshman year. While there, she had two art teachers, one focusing on 2D art and the other on 3D. While her teachers’ personalities were as different as their preferred media, they both helped Asia and her classmates discover and develop their own styles. She learned much from both teachers and saw how what they had to teach could work together. After high school, Asia went to EKU for a year followed by the International Academy of Design and Technology in Nashville, studying fashion and design at both. It was while at IADT that Asia made a significant self-discovery: fashion and design weren’t enough, she needed to immerse herself in art as well.
Today, working from her studio here at Mellwood, Asia largely works on mixed media 2D/3D pieces. Using textiles, resin, charcoal, markers, oil pastels, watercolors, clay, and more, Asia’s art literal pops off the canvas, working in her interest in fashion into her art. Not having a preferred medium, Asia likes to work with her hands and explore a wide variety of materials and media. Art isn’t just a passion for Asia, it’s also therapeutic. It allows her the opportunity to work out her anxiety and OCD in a constructive way. It’s also important to Asia to pursue her art to be a role model for her two daughters, to show them that they can do anything so long as they give it their all. If you would like to see more of Asia’s work, check out her Instagram at @asiabjewell.