AV Spotlight: Abstract artist Michael Jones

LANCASTER – Self-taught abstract artist Michael Jones is making a name for himself in the local art scene. The 29-year-old Lancaster resident has been honing his craft for just a few years, but has already accumulated nearly 600 pieces of art, as well as numerous accolades.

Jones got his first taste of the art world, at age 3, from his dad – a photographer who also sketched portraits.

“I would always be underneath his arm to see what he was doing, and then I would try to emulate it,” Jones said.

The Desert High School graduate says he abandoned art for much of his youth, save for a sketch or two in a high school art class. He then stumbled back into the art world about four years ago, when a friend bought him art supplies for Christmas. After dabbling with his new supplies for a few months, Jones began to take his role as an artist more seriously. Jones finished his first piece in 2009 and didn’t look back.

Locally, Jones has displayed his art at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center (LPAC), at the Antelope Valley Fair & Alfalfa Festival, in monthly themed art shows at the Paris Café in Lancaster, and at Graphic Experience on The BLVD. He’s also showcased his art at galleries and venues around California, including Oakland, San Fernando Valley, and Venice.

Jones commutes every day to his “nine-to-five” in the logistics department at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. After work, Jones spends time with his fiancée and two children and then settles into his second passion – making positive art.

“I like to paint happy paintings that are bright, to inspire people to think positive and not think negative, because this world is pretty negative as it is,” Jones explains. “If I can translate these bright colors into happiness and make [people] go into a better place, I’m all for it.”

Jones describes the inspiration behind his work.

“Sometimes I just sit down at the canvas and I just start going away,” he says. “Sometimes I just look on TV or look at the newspaper for current events and what’s going on and then create [art] in that genre.”

“I like to do abstract art, and then I have this thing with doing stencils, and then doing mixed media,” Jones continues.  “My style is just starting to come together.”

Jones admits to getting bored easily, and says he is constantly switching up his style and finding new concepts and inspirations.

“My biggest thing is trying to do something different but rare,” he says. “Like two weeks ago, I painted on a [1941] Roanoke Times newspaper. I brought the history back to life!”

Jones says he enjoys charity events and art shows that contribute to the community. He says he would love to showcase his unique brand of art at the Lancaster Museum of Art and History (MOAH), and he is entering MOAH’s 28th Annual Juried Exhibition this year.

Jones also aspires to open his own gallery one day, so that he can inspire youth, one mind at a time.

Asked who has been a great source of support in the local art scene, Jones says, “Chris Calaba of Graphic Experience.  She helped me a lot with getting it off the ground, and she gave me the opportunity to show my art in her gallery.”

View more of Jones’ unique artwork below, and be sure to visit his facebook page for many more images and for more information on how to support Abstract Art by Michael Jones.