Nazreen Farooq Just as the Red Sea secretly harbors many a treasure so does the city of Jeddah. We're speaking here of a talented artist and teacher Gareth Jones, a British national, who has lived in Saudi Arabia for over a decade now. Art comes effortlessly to him. Exuding a pleasant demeanor, the artist himself is affable, extremely helpful and willing to do his best for the school and wider community. “I am quite critical of my own work and always remember the advice I was given in my early days. Art is always changing and I believe I am still learning and only as good as my last drawing!” he says in his down to earth manner. Gareth Jones grew up in Bangor, North Wales. Reminiscing, he reflects on his childhood and his then budding passion for art, “As a child I was always drawing, mainly people and animals. My mother always encouraged me to draw. As she could see I loved drawing so much she kept buying me more paper so that I could continue drawing. In the early days the artists at Walt Disney were certainly a great influence and source of inspiration. My Rupert Bear books were filled with illustrations that fascinated me. Maybe even at that early age, the importance of proportion and detail made a lasting impression on me and inspired me to achieve a good likeness when I drew. Illustrated books were a great favourite of mine and still are!” The artist graduated from the Liverpool College of Art in the UK. After acquiring his degree he moved to London where he worked as a freelance illustrator for magazines and private companies. He says: “A few people have enriched my life as an artist namely a retired Head of Art from the Glasgow school of Art and two lecturers in particular from his college. These people instilled more confidence in me by encouraging me and showing me new and different techniques that I could work with.” What kind of Art does the Welshman lean towards? Well he says, “I am extremely passionate about Realism and the use of colour in Art. I have also been inspired by the art of Antonio Lopez and the Pre-Raphaelite artists.” Gareth moved to Jeddah twelve years ago and has since ‘embellished' the Jeddah Prep and Grammar school's art faculty. He heads the school's art department. Under his expert guidance, students have successfully honed their skills, produced excellent portfolios, secured high grades and eventually moved on to top universities the world over. Gareth has a unique message to convey, “Everyone can draw. Handwriting for example is a form of creative art. The key is to gently encourage students to realize that they are capable of drawing more than a straight line. Pull not push achieves great results!” Perhaps this is what endears him to students of all ages. Primary school students are perpetually seen around him, requesting a drawing on the board or paper, quite usually of themselves! A gleeful cry is often heard as they run off with a portrait executed in two minutes flat! This artist has the ability to draw a beautiful piece of fine art with a few masterful strokes. As pencil and paper concur, his adroit fingers bring to life anything ranging from handsome falcons to a towering sky line. The deftness, skill and confidence with which each piece is executed is remarkable. He excels in lending character to the faces he draws, be it caricature or a portrait. A certain element of mirth is visible in the eyes of the animated characters drawn, bringing a smile to one's face. Whatever the media, he is able to do justice to his project. Murals and School stage props have been expertly painted over by him. A few licks of paint and blank walls turn into life size objects, very 3D in quality. Inspired by local culture Gareth has produced many works of fine art. The Saudi hunting falcon and the camel featured here have both been drawn using coloured pencils. He is able to expertly moderate the pressure applied with each coloured pencil to create the variance of tones in colour. A few hours with head bent over the drawing and lo the masterpiece is complete! He also maintains a diary in which he has captured moments in time by sketching. “I draw from life wherever I am in Jeddah. Using an ink pen I have drawn mosques and whatever else attracts my attention.” he says. Each page of the diary has a story to tell; a particular scene perhaps at a coffee shop, the Corniche or a maybe a view from the car. All captured and drawn beautifully. What starts of as a doodle ends up as a fine detailed sketch worthy of being framed. Art is about exploring and extending oneself and that's exactly what he has chosen to do over recent years. A Saudi friend once suggested that he should use an I pad as a creative tool. Gareth took the suggestion seriously and went on to use technology, the I pad in particular. He has wondrously produced interesting drawings. The colours applied are vivid and kaleidoscopically enchanting, changing from retro to modern with the sweep of a finger. ‘Art is always evolving and with new technology it is important to keep one's mind open to exploring new ways to be creative,” he says. The artist loves travel and has a keen interest in new cultures. He uses photography as a tool for his reference. He gives an instance of how he was inspired by the wood carvings in India. Pictures of these have been used as a reference for a paint and collage mix project at school. Over the recent school break he had the opportunity to visit a pottery in Luxor. He is able to successfully combine modernity with tradition and heritage and put it to the best possible use in his projects. Gareth reveals that he is indeed very fortunate to be able to work in the field that he loves. He says, “Learning more each day is exciting and to be able to pass on my knowledge to students and see them improve and complete their work successfully is an added bonus for me. As an artist I see my future in Art of course. I love the fact that I can draw anywhere and at any time.” The role of Gareth Jones, both the artist and the teacher are intertwined giving it an inner significance. As Aristotle rightly put it; ‘The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.' As I look at a GJ camel drawing on the wall, a question crosses my mind. How has the spot light not chanced upon someone with this mega talent and dedication?' It is time that this treasure is highlighted I think!
