The Art of Colby Jones
Mother’s Day, 2008. It’s been nine years since I suddenly lost my beautiful wife of over 40 years. The pain is still very real. She is gone forever and always with me. The link takes you to a song I wrote for her. Hug those special to you and tell them you love them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZrLZEnwka0
I recently re-discovered this drawing from way back. I assumed I had already posted it but couldn’t find it. So, I’ll do it now.
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Colored pencil on paper, 10 ½” x 10 ½”
I was stuck in the house and needed to do something for my sanity so I came up with a quick drawing using watercolor pencils. The idea was to draw most of the girl in grayscale and meld into color toward the butterfly. I was drawing the girl when I suddenly realized I had picked up the “Olive Green” pencil instead of the “Gunmetal Gray.” It ruined the whole concept of going from no color to color. Oh well, it is what it is. Live and learn, right?
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Water soluble pencil on watercolor paper, 10″ x 12″
This painting is based on John 20:11-16, especially verse 16. It is dedicated to a high school classmate and good friend, Mike Minick, who died in 2014. He had given the canvas to me and after his death I decided to do a painting with a religious theme. I was inspired by that instant in time after Jesus says Mary Magdalene’s name but before she realizes it is Him. I feel that she represents us all because we have heard Jesus’ name but we don’t yet fully realize what that means.
I was also inspired by a sculpture by artist Bruce Wolfe of the same encounter between Mary and Jesus. I used his Mary as my ‘model.’ I originally had Jesus in the painting but I removed Him because I wanted the focus to be on Mary.
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It was unveiled December 11, 2016 during a concert at the Dallas Museum of Biblical Arts and dedicated on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017, Pastor Rich Pounds officiating, at Central Lutheran Church in Dallas, where it now hangs in the narthex.
Acrylic on canvas, 62″ x 62″
Our choir gave a Lenten concert at the Dallas Museum of Biblical Arts. The theme was “Following Jesus to the Cross.” The music also acknowledged Martin Luther and the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Christian Reformation. For the brochure I placed the Luther Rose on a wooden cross.
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Digital illustration
It’s too complicated. There are too many words. But I drew it anyway.
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Back when I was in the ER I had to sign my name a few dozen times – left handed! I pondered on the difficulties. Writing a loop for example. To write exactly the same way requires a completely opposite effort. Pulling the pen instead of pushing it. Writing in a mirror image creates a backward character. Hmmm….
I decided to attempt a drawing using only my left hand. I had to chose something that was pretty basic and a medium that was forgiving. I used chalk and charcoal. It was fun while at the same time tedious and frustrating. The first things I noticed were my light source was over the wrong shoulder and I kept wanting to draw on the wrong half of the paper. I also was amused that my left hand got tired quickly.
My source material was a sculpture by Harriet Frishmuth (1880-1980). I first noticed her work in a lovely statue “Playdays” at the Dallas Arboretum. This is not that. This is “Scherzo.”
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Chalk and charcoal on gray charcoal paper, 12″ x 8″
I went back and forth on this image. Couldn’t decide whether to paint or draw. I finally chose water soluble color pencils. I injured my hand and this was the first drawing since the injury. I had to stop occasionally to ice my hand.
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Water soluble color pencil on paper, 11″ x 17″
