SONJA JONES
Nature and wildlife are my muses, and I find almost as much joy exploring outdoors for inspiration as I do creating in the studio. Most of my subjects come from the trails around my Southwest home in Arizona, though I also enjoy depicting animals from around the world—and even beloved pets. For me, forming connections with animals and nature is restorative, and I love sharing that sense of comfort through my artwork. I am proud to be a Signature status member of the International Scratchboard Society and an active member of the Fountain Hills Artists League.
I work primarily in scratchboard, which begins as a kaolin clay tablet coated in black India ink. Using tools such as craft knives, tattoo needles, and steel wool, I etch away the surface to create intricate designs. While I love the beauty and simplicity of black and white scratchboard, my watercolor background often pulls me toward color, which I add with colored inks or watercolor paints. This combination brings depth, transparency, and vivid life to my subjects.
My work has been exhibited widely across the United States in juried art festivals, gallery shows, and museum exhibitions. It has been honored with numerous awards, including Best in Show, First Place, Gold Awards, and multiple Special Merit recognitions. Highlights include exhibitions at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum’s Birds in Art, the Phippen Museum’s Western Art Show (Award of Excellence), Sedona Arts Festival (1st Place), Camelback Gallery awards, International Society of Scratchboard Artists exhibitions, and feature articles in Art & Color 365 Magazine. My artwork is also included in many private collections.
I am inspired by the people and community around me. The artists I work alongside at the Fountain Hills Artists’ Gallery challenge me, motivate me, and fill me with creative energy. Their presence inspires me to push further into my own artistic expression. Ultimately, inspiration comes from the freedom of abstract work itself—the ability to let intuition lead, to trust imagination, and to find happiness in the process of painting.
