Father-son duo share journey about the beauty of art

Jerome and Jeromyah Jones have traveled together for years. The father and son, both artists, have painted dozens of pieces over the years that showcase the beauty of public figures outside of their professional lives.

Last week, the Richmond, Virginia-based pair journeyed to Cleveland during the NBA playoffs, hoping to show off their latest paintings to stars Stephen Curry and LeBron James. On one canvas, is a lifelike Curry and his father, Dell, with poetic prose written in golden paint between the two. The other canvas displays James in three painted scenarios: one on the court and another with his sons. The last shows a smiling James pictured with his kids and wife, Savannah.

“Most of those people are family men,” Jeromyah Jones said. “By Father’s Day coming up, I thought it would be a good painting because so often we focus on what they do in their profession. It’s even more important how they connect with the people around them on a day-to-day basis.

“Winning is entertaining to us, but what’s more important is how they treat their families. Their families are what really make them feel undefeated, even if they get defeated on the court. I think that special bond is a unique and interesting thing to capture on canvas.”

Though the two didn’t get a chance to meet the NBA players, they successfully networked with many people, including NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who listened as they shared their journey and collections with him.

Jerome Jones has been painting colorful masterpieces of public figures and families for 41 years, from NBA legend Michael Jordan to poet Nikki Giovanni. The 56-year-old describes his work as a “tribute to people making a difference through the gifts they’ve been given.” One of his favorite moments was meeting singer Stevie Wonder at a concert in Washington, D.C., in 1979.

“It was always a goal of mine to meet [Wonder] because of his generosity and spirit and music that always inspired me growing up,” Jerome Jones said. “Before the concert, I shared with him the painting and he asked me if I would like to bring it to the concert. I was 20 years old, and he had me present it to him and the audience gave us a standing ovation. That’s a memory I’ll never forget.”

During most of Jerome Jones’ travels, his son was always present. He never forced his son to follow in his footsteps, but Jeromyah Jones quickly picked up on his father’s habits after watching him craft beautiful works of art on the canvas. His son began dabbling in art at the age of 3, with drawing as his strong suit. Around 10th grade, he experimented with painting and hasn’t stopped since. The 26-year-old credits his father’s involvement in his life as a reason he was able to find his passion and stick with it.

“I was taught by my father to see the art in all things that we do,” Jeromyah Jones said. “There was just something special about painters, the way they saw the world. I always say a painting is special because the hand is attached to the heart.”

Though they’ve only collaborated one painting for Virginia Union University in 2010, Jeromyah Jones says the real collaboration comes while doing themed art shows. As the two continue to travel the world with their paintings, his father always keeps in mind how special the father-son artistry bond really is.

“It’s a wonderful, strong bond and I’m blessed,” Jerome Jones said. “I tell people Jeromyah is one my pieces of art and that’s a collaboration with my wife, his mother. You can’t help but appreciate life and the gift that you’ve been given to make a difference. I enjoy working with him and learning from him. I feel like the richest man in the world because of that bond and that relationship.”