Ophelia Jones (right) with her husband Ryder and son Emanuel. Captured by Sam Stewart.
Becoming a professional artist seemed like an inevitably for this week’s Friday Muse, Ophelia Jones. Having grown up in a big creative family with both parents practising art in various forms, Jones “didn’t know anything else.” As she recalls early memories during her childhood of picking rocks, moss and flowers and her mother’s penchant for photography, her affinity for creating art of people and nature seems only natural. “Growing up, my mother had a Mji II [camera] and would always take photos of our family. I picked it up as a teenager and have loved documenting people and nature ever since.
Now a full-time photographer and artist, Jones and her husband Ryder are both creative forces to be reckoned with. The pair met while studying at AUT in Auckland whilst studying different artistic disciplines. “He was 19, studying sculpture. I was 21, studying painting. I changed my major to sculpture just so I could have a studio next to him – which probably wasn’t great for my grades, but excellent for my heart,” recalls Jones.
The Jones’ are currently residing and creating at Sherwood Queenstown for the Hotel’s first Artist Residency. The family will stay a total of 10 days at Sherwood, creating a body of work inspired by the Sherwood and its surroundings, culminating in an exhibition. Image: Sam Stewart.
The couple have since become collaborators both in life and career, finding unity in their approach to creating and finding beauty in things. For Jones, a monumental moment in her career was the decision to move with her husband out of the city. “Together, we moved out of the city to the beach, which meant we had the time and space to make work without the overheads and rush of the city. In terms of my ‘career’ I think this move shaped it in a way that was important to what I consider a life-long practice of making and consistent desire to take photographs.”
The couple travel together for work, with their most recent project being an artistic residency at Queenstown’s Sherwood hotel. “We were so honoured and excited to be asked to spend ten days at the Sherwood for their first artist in residence. We stayed in one of their incredible apartments and worked in another. At the end of the stay, we put on an exhibition of work. It was really special to have a concentrated time of activity. Working while our baby was sleeping, tag teaming in the day and in the evenings. We felt so welcomed there and inspired by the surroundings,” explains Jones.
Images by Sam Stewart.
Over the course of their residency, Jones and her husband produced a series of cyanotypes, sets of bedsheets, t-shirts and drawings, with Jones’ favourite being a photograph she took of Queenstown’s picturesque Sunshine Bay. “I wasn’t sure about including [the photo] in the exhibition, it almost seemed too obvious. But at the exhibition it was the photograph people were most interested in. I said to a woman who I was talking to that I wasn’t sure about including it and she said ‘these mountains are why every person in this room lives here. We will never tire of looking at them or seeing other people capture them’,” says Jones.
(Above, right) ‘Sunshine Bay’. Images from the artists’ catalogue. Captured by Sam Stewart.
On a more personal note, the creative also shared some insight about how her career pursuits have changed since becoming a mother. “I think I have become more decisive. I focus on the things that I really feel something about. I think because I have smaller allotments of time for concentrated work, I have to follow my instincts and heart (on projects) in a new way,” she explains. As for advice to fellow new mums, Jones says “sleep when the baby sleeps; everything else can wait (dishes, laundry, emails).”
While we wait to see what comes next from the creative, another working holiday is on the horizon for Jones and her family – this time in Fiji. As the couple continues to collaborate together on various artistic projects, Jones would also like to continue working with other fellow creatives and friends. “I love working with friends and collaborating with like-minded people. Sharing energy and ideas always excites me for what is to come!”
Quick-Fire Questions
The best book I’ve read recently… These precious days by Ann Patchett
The most cherished item in my home is… My dear friend and artist Emma McIntyre gifted our son a painting for his arrival. I
can’t stop looking at it.
Where you’ll find me holidaying next… Fiji (working holiday for Poet Pictures)
My favourite place to visit in Queenstown is… The Sherwood for a cheese scone.
My guilty pleasure is… Chippies.
The item at the top of my wish list… A dishwasher.
Best coffee spot… Bennett’s in Mangawhai but for hot chocolate!
