Meghan Jones

Biography 

Meghan Jones has a BFA from the Alberta University of the Arts. She spent 12 years designing knitting patterns for magazines like Vogue Knitting before returning to her fine art roots in 2021. 

A chance connection with Deep Sea Scientists who shared photos from the deepest of ocean habitats captured her imagination in 2023 and rekindled a childhood love of all things science. Now Meghan uses her modern impressionism painting style, and research based art to raise awareness, and promote love for the deep ocean. 

You can find more of her work on Instagram @studio_mbj, on Blusky @studio-mbj.bsky.social and online at www.studiombj.com 

Artist Statement

 I strive to enhance biological sciences with art, by depicting deep ocean organisms and habitats, in a modern impressionist style. My paintings are created to share my appreciation and love for the lesser known natural world, especially those areas that we as fragile humans cannot access easily, and may feel less emotionally attached to. 

In my process the research and art go hand in hand, learning about an organism inspires an artistic creation that needs to be scientifically accurate but also exquisitely beautiful. I look at sci-art as problem solving, what is the sweet spot between representing an organism or habitat beautifully and accurately? How can I create a finished piece that ushers the work away from a science illustration image to a fine art image that is visually impactful, surprises and enchants the viewer, while still retaining its scientific inspiration? What kind of conversation can be started by using deep sea imagery in abstracted or non-contextualized ways, presenting the viewer with a painting that impacts with color, shape and form before revealing itself as a true to this earth organism. 

Despite being a lifelong science appreciator, I do not have any formal science training, or background. However; I think this a great advantage in my process as I cannot use any previous knowledge to take information for granted. I have to take the time to research definitions and concepts, ask questions, refer to scientists and take the research for exactly what it is. This is especially important in the painting aspect of my practice as it allows me to observe precisely what I see in shape, color and line versus my perceived knowledge of an organism’s anatomy, or composition of a habitat. Being an observer and recorder of visuals in this way is a fascinating journey for me, in which I boldly chase color around my palette, and am constantly surprised at which hue, shade and shape are revealed in every section of the canvas. 

 I paint within modern Impressionism which is traditionally defined as having to do with investigating the way light impacts a space, or landscape, while using visible brush strokes, loads of movement and subjective color choices. 

Light and the impact of light on these deep-sea habitats is one of the most fascinating aspects of this environment for me. Every single deep-sea photo has to be taken with artificial, direct, and harsh lighting, since we cannot bring sunlight to the deep and the deep cannot be brought to the sun. How do the lights we use to illuminate this inky blackness impact how we see this habitat and the organisms within? How do their adaptations interact with the light to create totally unique images? For example- many of the deep-sea fish have sections of quick to grow jelly within their flesh, in photos these fish often have a glowing blue halo, and can also reflect the colors surrounding them, is it the jelly? Is it something else? How can I paint it beautifully in order to pass this curiosity on to the viewers of my work so they too can be inspired to find answers? 

I want my work to imbue the viewer with a desire for adventure and discovery, to show them something they have never seen before and /or something abstracted that is initially understood as fine art or patterning and secondly seen as biological- removing preconceived notions. Fascination begets connection which is on the road to love and protection, if we can change the public’s relationship with the deep-sea through beauty and curiosity we can promote a love for conservation of this vitally important habitat. 

About half of my work so far has been created with children’s education as the main goal. As a mother of 4, I passionately believe that children are the future; of art, of science and the world. It is our duty as adults to facilitate an unrestricted space that is endlessly open to tessellating cycles of their curiosity and creativity. In this spirit I have created a children’s non-fiction science book on the deep-sea, blending my curiosity, creative writing skills and painting abilities to facilitate a full color book depicting 7 habitats and 19 organisms from 1000m-10,000m. Titled The Unusual Ocean: Who Lives in the Deep? , this book will be published by Rowman and Littlefield releasing in June of 2026. 

Ultimately my goal in creating artwork based on the deep-sea is to help people find a lasting and impactful connection to this difficult to reach environment, to facilitate communication between science, and the public, and help rewrite our current language and relationship with the deep ocean. Through art I hope to extend a call to protect and value all organisms, even the ones who thrive in the deep dark abyss, where humans can only visit. 

Artworks

Posts about Meghan’s works on DSBSoc Arts Media channels!