Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamina Bone.
Hi Jamina, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
As a child of trauma, I found myself escaping into my mind a lot. I felt inadequate in every area of my life except when I was creating. It seemed to be the only thing others found me to be exceptional at. Unfortunately, trauma-informed much of my life and I gave up the idea of being an artist. I didn’t feel worthy or capable. I even changed my major in college from art to special education believing it was a much more worthy cause.
By the time I had my second child, I felt hopeless. Postpartum Depression pulled out every aspect of my life that wasn’t working and forced me to deal with it, including my need to create. It started with silly drawings hoping to capture any bits of joy I would experience. This led me to recognize aspects of our society’s expectations causing me to feel even more inadequate as a mother. The more ‘selfless’ I was, the more depressed I became. The thoughts of self-harm and feeling my kids would be better off without their sad mom became normal. I measured myself against what everyone else expected of me as well as my own expectations for the kind of mother I wanted to be. This righteous anger built up this need to express this in my illustrations.
My “Still a Good Mom” series was initially only going to be a set of three drawings, but the response was so overwhelming, it’s now being turned into a book. As a society, we hold mothers to an unattainable standard that forces them to give up their own being in the service of their children and families. Selflessness is glorified while mothers who know their worth and find ways to express themselves is seen as selfish. I am not saying being selfless or serving your family is a bad thing.
**I want mothers to know it’s okay to fill their cup.**
Going out doesn’t make you a bad mother, nor does feeding your children fast food when you are trying to get through the day. Stop focusing on how you don’t fit the ‘norm’ and look into what makes you the right mother for your kids. None of us are the same so why do we hold the same expectations for all mothers? The motherhood we are born into today has been built on a patriarchal system created to make life easier for men. Instead, why not communicate with your loved ones on what would make the most sense within YOUR family?
Postpartum Depression is the gift I never wanted. It allowed me to come face to face with my trauma, my lack of communication and intimacy with my husband and gave my art a fighting chance. I still struggle with my worth but I can SEE the lies. The fight for mental health is not my own. It is our family’s fight. We now talk about how we are doing and what we need from one another. We work together to build each other up instead of building walls leading to disconnection, resentment, and overwhelm.
I created a quiz based on my community helping mothers to define their strengths on what makes them a good mom. It’s been one of the main contributing factors for an awakening my community has had. If you are reading this and find yourself constantly in a cycle of guilt and feeling you are not a good mother based on unfulfilled expectations, this quiz is for you.
You can find it here: www.mommingwithtruth.com/goodmomquiz
If you are feeling alone in this fight for your mental health, please feel free to email or DM me. I am accessible and can help you get through this time. You are not alone. You are worthy. You are a good mom.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Childhood trauma
Undiagnosed ADHD
Postpartum Depression
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an illustrator who specializes in maternal mental health. I’ve illustrated a book for mothers and their babies with author Blake Nolan about how our babies want us to experience happiness. The book touches on the hidden feelings mothers experience, expectations they feel unable to meet, importance of having people who get it, communication with your partner, as well as therapy, rest, and fulfilling needs.
I enjoy creating family portraits as the process is unlike any other portrait process. It’s specifically for the mother as I interview and dive deep into conversations of what they had to overcome and what makes them a good mother. The process is collaborative and I put a lot of time into making a piece of art that reminds them of how far they’ve come.
My “Still a Good Mom” series is what I’m known for. All the illustrations are based on what most mothers feel guilt for which leads to feelings of inadequacy. What sets me apart from most illustrators in the motherhood genre is my ability to pinpoint hidden feelings under the surface. I believe we do families a disservice by depicting parenthood as only beautiful, heartwarming, and selfless. I create mostly using Procreate with my iPad as I fear my children “adding” to my art. The ability to undo and resize is magic. I have had my sketchbooks invaded in the past, but I now have an office studio in my home and have been playing with watercolor.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Empathy. Hands down, knowing what people are feeling is what makes my art and community authentic.
Pricing:
- Custom Family Portrait: $300
- Book Illustration: $3000-8000
- Editorial: $300-500
- Misc Watercolor: $80-250 (depending on size)
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.mommingwithtruth.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/mommingwithtruth
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/mommingwithtruth
- Other: www.mommingwithtruth.com/goodmomquiz
