Jamya Wells, a junior at Pine Bluff High School, is a “brilliant artist.” This is what Maryann Lee, chair of the Pine Bluff Branch NAACP ACT-SO Program Committee, recently expressed about Wells.
She shared her thoughts about Wells’ extraordinary talents during an awards program May 3 at Bethany Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Pine Bluff.
“I have her painting hanging in my coffee shop,” said Lee, who also owns Indigo Blue Coffeehouse in Pine Bluff. “Her mom says she paints on everything. She goes through paint like you wouldn’t believe. But she is brilliant.”
Wells was one of four students honored at the event that celebrated finalists who competed in the local ACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technology and Scientific Olympics) Program. ACT-SO, a youth initiative of the NAACP, is an academic Olympics program that supports and highlights student achievement.
ACT-SO has been around for nearly 50 years and is described as the largest academics program in the country for African American high school students.
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In the category of visual arts, Wells received a Gold medal in painting, a Silver medal in drawing and monetary awards. Her scores were 98 (Gold) and 90 (Silver). Pine Bluff Mayor Vivian Flowers’ office also recognized Wells with certificates of achievement.
The artist will represent Pine Bluff for the second year in a row at the national competitions slated for July 9-13 in Charlotte, N.C. She said she’s looking forward to developing new skills, feeding off of ideas gained from other student artists and stepping out of her comfort zone.
Traveling to last year’s ACT-SO competition in Las Vegas, Wells saw things that she said she’s never seen before. She explained that the competitors were all together in one room with their artwork. Each student would be called to a separate room to have their work reviewed by judges. She recalls that one young lady’s work of art featured a lamp with braids and bows hanging on it.
“It was very creative. I’ve never seen that. I would never think of that,” Wells said.
She added how impressed she was with the “very sweet” attitude of the competitors and their willingness to discuss their artwork with her.
“For them to actually want to talk to you and explain their self, I thought that was very nice too,” Wells said.
She enjoys sketching, drawing and painting. In fact, she paints on all types of surfaces including canvas, wood, paper and even on her pairs of pants. Occasionally, she wears her original pants designs to school and receives compliments from her classmates.
Wells was very transparent about the challenges that she faced and overcame while competing in this year’s local ACT-SO program.
“I was nervous. I was doubting myself a lot,” Wells said.
She admitted that she worked on her entry at the “very last minute” due to not knowing the exact deadline that her work was to be completed.
“But for it to be last minute, (the judges) actually really loved my painting and they liked my drawing,” Wells said.
Wells added that the judges told her she has a gift and that she is “very good” for her age. She has also come to the important realization that each person interprets art in their own way.
“But I have to understand it’s my art and they’re going to see it the way that they see it. Everybody looks at it differently. So, I judge myself based off what I think other people are going to think. They’re going to ask me, ‘What does it mean?’ So, I need to stop worrying about what they’re going to think … I’m a big procrastinator and an overthinker,” she said laughing.
Wells admits that she usually just sticks to what she knows but has branched off to new concepts. With the help of one of her art teachers at PBHS, she’s learning to create art in a different way by incorporating pastels using water-based paints such as acrylics as well as oil-based paints and watercolors using pencils. She’s also perfecting her ability to add unique techniques such as values, lighting and shading.
Once she finishes high school, she plans to attend college and one day become a pediatrician. Last year, Wells and her mother toured the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Department of Art and Design. Department Chair Karen DeJarnette was so impressed with Wells that she offered her a scholarship. Wells said that one of her mentors has also suggested that she attend UAPB.
Her love of art and encouragement from another teacher at PBHS has her now considering how she can pursue art as more than a hobby.
“That really spoke to me. My plan was just for art to be a hobby. Now, since (my teacher) talked to me, I plan on turning that into something more,” Wells said.
She compared this teacher to being like one of her aunts, who is also a teacher who has provided much positive motivation in her life.
“Remember you are beautiful, you are smart, you are Jamya. And there’s no one else in the world like you,” Wells said that her aunt told her. “And then she said she loved me. She’s a very uplifting person. If there’s something going on with her, you wouldn’t know because she’s always happy and smiling.”
Wells offers one critical piece of advice to anyone pursuing their passion.
“Pray. Prayer has gotten me through some hard times,” Wells said.
For anyone interested in donating to the ACT-SO program, contributions may be mailed to the Pine Bluff NAACP, P.O. Box 9064, Pine Bluff, AR 71611-9064. In the notation line on the check, write “ACT-SO Donation.” Donations may also be delivered in person to Indigo Blue Coffeehouse or by credit or debit card through GoFundMe and PayPal.