Virginia artist Tamika Jones explores color and culture

Jones: The technique that I use for the mask is what I call funnel painting. Yes, a regular funnel and different color paint.

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Virginia artist Tamika Jones explores the imagination with the use of paint, clay, and synthetics. Her love of art stems from her elementary years with projects, art classes, and random drawing. Jones is a cosmetologist, enjoys painting indoor spaces, gardening, is the mother of four, a grandmother, and a motorcyclist. 

My inspiration comes from my urge to want to see how things would look after I see it in my head. My urge to create more happened during covid because staying in the house more was the reality and norm for 2019 through 2021. 

Jones does most of her networking by word of mouth and shares on social media. I first saw her art on the Facebook page of a mutual friend. She has also shown pieces at a women’s conference at her church.  

Jones: The puzzle pieces represent the different shades of African Americans.

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I was always attending church with my mother; having a great family, including church and ministry, is the foundation that keeps me grounded. As an adult, I learned what it truly means to have my own personality; the bigger picture of being comfortable in my skin. I have always been amazed at the different skin tones and hair textures that people have, how they would style their hair, and how hair can change your whole vibe. 

Jones also gives homage to her experience as a cosmetologist – “When someone gets their hair done in whatever style they choose, it helps their self-esteem.” 

She uses canvas, acrylic paint, spray paint, craft rhinestones, wood accents, clay, and synthetic hair. 

Tamika Jones can be found on Instagram as Rvamelaninmom. 

Tim Shoemaker, Metal Sculpturist

I found Tim Shoemaker through a mutual friend – she knew I liked dragons and she shared a picture of Tim’s dragon sculptures with me. I am now the proud owner of two metal dragon sculptures.

Tim Shoemaker grew up in Sterling Heights, Michigan, the fourth of five boys. He is now married with two grown children, a married daughter who lives nearby and a boy who works and goes to college.

Welding is his business, and Tim’s foray into creating metal sculptures “seemed to make sense.” Tim is especially proud of his Bald Eagle, Rooster, Lionfish, and the Horse.

Originally working out of a rented commercial space, Tim now has a shop at his home. He hand forms, cuts, shapes, grinds, and MIG welds his pieces. He is inspired by nature.

(MIG welding is a process in which an electric arc forms between a consumable wire electrode and the metal work piece that heats the pieces causing them to melt and adhere.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Tim Shoemaker was born in Detroit. He began drawing at an early age –   always “doodling” – and dreamed of one day becoming an artist. Throughout his childhood, art class was his favorite subject in school. As he got into his teenage years, his interest turned in the direction of shopwork, metal, and welding. After high school, Tim served a three-year term in the U. S. Army. Since then he has worked in many areas of construction and maintenance. In 1999, he decided to go into business on his own, and started running a portable welding service. Now Tim has a shop where he combines his natural artistic talent with his welding and metalsmithing skills. He creates unique pieces of ornamental ironwork and welded metal sculptures.

Find more of Tim’s fabulous metal sculptures on his Facebook page.

You can contact Tim at tim@eclipseweld.com.