Biography from West of Center Studio & Gifts:
|  RC (Rick) Jones is a western artist who works in oils. His
preference of foundation is stretched oil primed imported Belgium
linen. His studies span throughout the west and
southwestern cultures, so his works vary from majestic settings, scenic
vistas, historic places, depiction of the old west or that of its
heritage. He is from the old school of art, that is to say, miles on
the brush and fellowships with other leading and modern masters of art.
RC
begins each work after research and study where the composition is
developed and then applied to the canvas as a sketch. Once satisfied
the painting begins. RCs' works are created with the top quality oils and
other materials. Once the painting is complete and the oils have
sufficiently dried, the image is finished with a special UV protection
Damar varnish. Each work is then mounted in very select or custom made
frames that are produced especially for RC. He believes that in the ever growing field
of western art, it is ones' tenure, quality and talent which preserve
historic and increasing values of the art, which is focused on in every
step of the art making process!
Now living in the old mining town of Rock Springs, Wyoming, RC was born in Salt Lake City Utah in 1953, and after moving from
State to State living in most of them west of the Mississippi as a
child, he and his mother settled in Wyoming in 1969. Although growing up extremely poor, he was seldom without pencil,
crayons or paints. He spent his childhood drawing and painting cartoon
characters and making funnies. At the early age of five years old he
had mastered Pixi & Dixie, Rough & Ready, the Flintstones
characters and a slue of others in oils on tee shirts. As the years
passed he began selling them to the neighbor kids. RC says: "Mom always
took the position that if all you're dealt are lemons, sell lemonade!"
"Well drawing and cartooning was all there was back then, so I sold
allot of lemonade!" RC still enjoys his cartooning and has kept that
sense of humor to this day!
RC graduated from high school with honors as The Most Promised Art Student in 1971. Soon after graduation, at 19 years old, while taking a four year Sheet Metal Apprenticeship and being married with children, he began moon-lighting to make some extra money painting cars and motorcycles in the evenings after his real job. In 1975, he completed his craft training and became a skilled Journeyman Sheet Metal Worker by day, and Body-Man on vehicles by night!
But throughout 1971-1977, he wasn't just painting vehicles at night; he was doing graphics and custom design work with his air brush on race cars and show bikes. From 1977-1985, his commercial art and design skills grew, and he and wife, Linda, who was working as a printer and graphic layout artist at the time, started their own business in 1977.
In 1985, RC suffered an industrial accident, which left him with the loss of the use of both hands; he was told he'd never work in the trades again. So he was back to making lemonade again! But, much to the thanks of a kind surgeon who loved art, he began painting in oils on canvas! Throughout the surgeries and procedures, although most of the time his hands were pinned and or casted, he was still given the ability to hold his brushes. And throughout the three years reconstruction process he begins his 12 and 18 hour days of studies and painting.
Although it was a rough time getting started, his first "professional" works sold in the western art market in 1987 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He soon expanded to Scottsdale, Prescott and Sedona Arizona; New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado came later.
Out growing his 9' x 12' studio, RC designed and built the West of Center Studio and Gifts building in Rock Springs Wyoming. It's design represents the 1800's era which is a period and time that he loves to paint.
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