A Heart for art

paint, and draw, and to make artwork. He has a strong affinity for natural scenes, though he also enjoys inserting people into his landscapes. “I love people, and they are part of our lives,” he went on. Having characters in the works adds an element of relatability to the art and “I think it puts things into perspective, too.”

As a young man of just eight years old, Jones first discovered a love for art when he started drawing cartoon characters and airplanes. “It was the one thing I could do probably better than anybody else in my grammar school class,” he said, noting that this artistic trend continued throughout his high school experience. Ultimately, he wanted to be an illustrator and artist, and had his hopes set high when he started school at the Atlanta Art Institute.

Upon graduation, however, Jones discovered that the shift to photography in advertising had a significant impact on his career prospects as an illustrator. “Times were hard,” he recalls, and therefore he made the choice to switch gears and went on to start and run two companies within the dental industry.

As an adult and with a family to consider, it was necessary to for a time to turn his emphasis to practical matters and business. He never let those real-world circumstances deter him from making art, however,

Arts Centers & Organizations

Learn a new art technique, share your talents or get inspired. Like minded artists have several places they gather in the metro Atlanta area.

and continued to study under experienced and notable artists locally. After his daughter left for college and Jones retired, he was able to focus more exclusively on his craft.

“I am really happy when I’m sitting down in front of an easel with a brush in my hand,” Jones explained. “It’s a challenge, and it gets your mind off everything else. You lose track of time and your problems just sort of disappear.” The focus of making art is important and healthy for Jones, who has also benefited from joining groups of like- minded artists nearby. Beyond the benefits of entering his artwork in themed or juried shows through art organizations, he also notes the added benefit of inspiration, support and education. “As an artist, it helps to get involved with these organizations because it’s good to be around people with the same interests you have,” he said. “It keeps you going.”

Cherokee County

The Cherokee Arts Center 94 North St., Canton, 30114 770-704-6244, cherokeearts.org

Cobb County

The Arts Place & MVAA Mountain View Arts Alliance 3330 Sandy Plains Rd., Marietta, 30066 770-509-2700, tapmarietta.com

Mable House Arts Center

5239 Floyd Rd., Mableton, 30126 Art Center: 770-819-3285

Amphitheatre phone: 770-819-2943 Box office: 770-819-7765 mablehouse.org

Marietta Cobb Museum of Art 30 Atlanta St. SE, Marietta, 30060 770-528-1444 mariettacobbartmuseum.org

South Cobb Arts Alliance (SCAA) SCAA: 770-819-3285 southcobbarts.org

DeKalb County

Dunwoody Fine Art Association dunwoodyfineart.org

Oglethorpe University Museum of Art (OUMA)

4484 Peachtree Rd., Atlanta, 30319 404-364-8555 oglethorpe.edu/museum

Spruill Gallery

4681 Ashford Dunwoody Rd., Atlanta, 30338 770-394-4019, spruillarts.org

Spruill Center for the Arts Education Center

5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd., Atlanta, 30338 770-394-3447, spruillarts.org

Southeastern Pastel Society Meets at North DeKalb Cultural Arts Center in Dunwoody southeasternpastel.org

Fulton County

Abernathy Arts Center

254 Johnson Ferry Rd., NW, Sandy Springs, 30328 404-613-6172, fultonarts.org/index. php/art-centers/abernathy-artscenter

Atlanta Artists Center 2979 Grandview Ave. NE, Atlanta, 30305 404-237-2324 atlantaartistscenter.org

Callanwolde Fine Arts Center 980 Briarcliff Rd. NE, Atlanta, 30306 404-872-5338, callanwolde.org

Chastain Arts Center

135 W Wieuca Rd. NW, Atlanta, 30342 404-252-2927 ocaatlanta.com/chastain/

Hammond House Museum

503 Peeples St. SW, Atlanta, 30310 404-612-0500 hammondshouse.org

Johns Creek Arts Center

6290 Abbotts Bridge Rd., Bldg. 700, Johns Creek, 30097 770-623-8448, johnscreekarts.org

MOCA GA (Museum of Contemporary Art)

75 Bennett St., NW, Atlanta, 30309 404-367-8700, mocaga.org

Rialto Center for the Arts

(in GA State U) 80 Forsyth St NW, Atlanta, 30303 404-413-9849, rialto.gsu.edu

Roswell Fine Arts Alliance

9100 Fouts Rd., Roswell, 30076 770-641-3705, rfaa.org/index.html

West End Arts Center

945 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd., Atlanta, 30310

404-613-6465 fultonarts.org/index.php/artcenters/west-end-arts-center

Woodruff Arts Center/High Museum of Art

1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, 30309

404-733-4200 woodruffcenter.org or high.org

Gwinnett County

Hudgens Center for the Arts

6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy., Bldg. 300, Duluth, 30097

770-623-6002 thehudgens.org