Conversation Pieces – With Artist Bobby Jones – Reflecting the Soul of Our City
In the heart of Columbus, there exists an artist who possesses the ability to reveal the hidden beauty within our landscape. With an undeniable talent for capturing the essence of our city, Bobby Jones is a visionary artist who unveils a parallel world which often goes unnoticed by the hurried eye. Each piece is a testament to the deep connection and soul that powers our community, reminding us of why we love where we live.
A recent winner at the Columbus Artists’ Guild Members Exhibition, where Bobby won first place in photography with his entry “Pinkie First,” the artist is an iconic presence in town who continues to chase our city’s magic spaces.
Each of Bobby Jones’ creations is influenced by his surroundings – and the people who have influenced him through his life.
Home planted the seeds of his creative nature. He loved learning from his family, and wanted to know how to do everything they did. There was sewing, cooking, gardening and “fixing everything that needed fixing from the house to cars.” As time passed on, he left home and began a journey that would eventually lead him back to become the local favorite he is now.
He was a military man, a Chinook helicopter mechanic and crew chief, but what he recalls most from the places he was stationed is their influence in his art endeavors. Fort Dix, New Jersey was where he took his first trip to New York City and fell in love with architecture. Through his tours at other forts, in Virginia, Kentucky, and even Alaska, he experimented with new mediums and taught people how to create art of their own. He found joy in seeing the joy in others when they created things. However, it was after his military career and some time at Pepsi and Duracell, that things really started to change. He was “tired of dirty fingernails and banging up my fingers and arms”. He enrolled at the Art Institute of Atlanta. Jones was determined to be a “healthy artist” not a starving artist. He wanted his love of art to support him and his art habit.
Atlanta served Bobby well. School was hard, but he never wanted to leave. “In two full years I missed one and a half days of class. The first desk in front of the teacher of any of my classes was mine,” he recalled.
He became a computer lab assistant. “I learned all about servers, PCs and Macs. I showed students all the things the teachers didn’t have time for in the labs,” he remembered – a hint at his interest in the computer-enhanced photographic art he would work on later. He worked as a designer and creative director, working directly with other artists and commissioning designs. After a while though, he knew it was time to head back home to Columbus.
Home was filled with even more opportunities. Jones became an integral part of many projects at the companies and organizations that make up the economic lifeblood of the region. He has designed, created, taught, and played every possible role one could imagine in his fantastic career. “Fort Benning Visual Communications was great since I love history and the Army is all about it,” he tells me. “When you have a woodshop, photography department, and a team of builders and graphic designers, every day is both heaven and hell but so rewarding. Learning from all my coworkers was just as important as teaching them what I know. Working with a large team is so valuable and there is nothing like it.” He was constantly sharpening his skills and his career was ever evolving. All these responsibilities created a need for an outlet in his own work.
For Bobby, painting is freeing. He is a constant creator. “I have tried almost every medium and one thing is for sure – I hate to clean up. I absolutely hate to clean brushes. As a mechanic I’ve used a lot of tools. Those same tools are now used for art. Any tool I use, I can find a way to use in my painting. Painting on wood panels I have found works best for me since I love to beat it up, scrape it, sand it, glue it, pour it and anything else I feel it needs.”
Even though he paints for himself, his art – including photography and digital art, as well as physical media – reflects local landmarks, hangouts, and culture. They are color filled, fantastic renditions that he has made uniquely his own, and that is why they truly connect with the viewer. “I have noticed for years how people just love Columbus and how we want people to visit and enjoy it with us. When I was in the Army or just traveling, I would always pick up something that would remind me of where I had been. Columbus didn’t have that. Plus, I needed something to support my art habit, a steady money flow.” Straightlinez was born.
“I don’t sell it, it sells itself,” he says. “The work is so easy to talk about and that’s all I do, talk about it. I hear so many great stories… I lived there, we met there, we were married there, that’s where we had our first date, Oh I’ve always loved that building, where is this building, has that always been here. It is just as much about the art as the place and their experiences. I just love the stories. Columbus sells itself, I just clean it up and make you notice all the things you missed.”
Every piece captured by Bobby tells a unique story, whispering secrets of our city’s past, present, and future. They seek out the overlooked corners, the forgotten spaces, and the popular vistas too – and they transform them into captivating works of art which demand our attention anew. Monotonous alleyways become avenues of mystery and wonder. A cracked façade worn by time suddenly emerges as a symbol of resilience and the enduring spirit of a community which thrives against all odds.
In a world propelled by constant motion and digital distractions, Bobby’s work serves as a powerful reminder to slow down, appreciate, and celebrate the diverse and intricate tapestry of life that exists in our very midst.
Find more of Bobby Jones work at The Columbus Museum Gift Shop, Gallery 143, The Gallery on Tenth and Benning Awards. You can also check him out online at bjones.art, straightlinez.com, columbusgaart.com, IG: @straightlinez, bjones.art, Facebook: Bobby Jones, straightlinez or email him bjones@bjones.art or bjones@straightlinez.com.
By Karen Renee