Monty “Indiana” Jones is the featured River City Art Association Artist of the Month throughout January in the Vigo County Public Library at Seventh and Poplar streets.
”One of my earliest recollections was admiring the paintings on an old Remington Arms calendar at my grandparents’ home. Especially the one of a 10-point buck bounding over a log fence,” Jones said. “I guess that’s why today I am primarily a wildlife artist.”
“Cornered Coyote,” acrylic on canvas, by Monty “Indiana” Jones of Terre Haute
Jones said he does most of his work either in acrylic painting or pyrography — a fancy word for woodburning — on wood panels with a touch of color from colored pencil or watercolor then protected from smearing by a spray of polyurethane.
”These wood-burned pieces are meant to resemble folk art from the old days and the woodburner lends itself well to doing fur texture and fish scales,” Jones said.
Jones creates his wildlife, landscapes, automotive, and racing art in a studio behind his home. A lot of his reference wildlife material comes from his oldest son, Marty, who is a professional bird and nature photographer.
“Big Mouth,” a print of the original artwork, acrylic on Masonite, by Monty “Indiana” Jones of Terre Haute
Jones lives in Terre Haute with his wife of more than 51 years, Phyllis. They have three adult children and two beautiful granddaughters. In 2008, he was one of the seven founders of River City Art Association. He recently was commissioned to create “Big Mouth,” an acrylic on Masonite, to be used by Bass Unlimited West Central Indiana as a poster for a fundraiser in early 2016.
”My life is good!!” Jones said.
Jones’ exhibit will be featured again in February in the RCAA Artist of the Month gallery in Harrison College. He also will have artwork in RCAA’s group show Feb. 5-14 in the Community Theatre of Terre Haute.
RCAA meets on the second Tuesday of each month in the VCPL. For membership information visit RiverCityArt.orgor contact Mike Bender, RCAA president, at 812-251-7724.
RIVER CITY ART ASSOCIATION 