Today we’d like to introduce you to Chip Jones.
Hi Chip, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m a visual artist who loves painting, drawing, mixed-media and photography and always have. My Dad enjoyed photography and I think this had a big influence on me early on. Today I’m actively involved in Mixed Media work and Photography. At times I combine both types of media into finished pieces. Today my work can be seen in offices, public spaces and private collections. I also exhibit and sell my selected work online.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The largest challenge I had as an artist early on was that common belief that you will starve as an artist. I struggled with this for about 10 years before deciding to make a significant change on my life. So, in my late 20’s I left a lucrative career in sales and marketing and returned to college to pursue a BFA in Painting and Drawing and then moved on to an MFA in Film with a concentration in experimental animation. Today I work as a commercial photographer, but spend at least 2-3 hours a day sketching, painting and writing.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Chip Jones Studio?
Chip Jones Studio is a Minnesota-based visual art studio focused on art processes, perceptions, and lived experiences. The work that I create in my studio is developed based on an iterative approach rooted in observation, discovery, and revision. This allows each piece to evolve naturally through the act of artmaking.
My completed works are then curated based on where they can be best experienced – some of my work integrates naturally into public and shared environments, other pieces resonate more strongly within a private collection. Across these various settings, the emphasis remains on restraint, balance, and art that respects the overall atmosphere in which it is placed.
I also occasionally work with clients to thoughtfully assess their spaces and recommend existing work. When a project calls for it, I develop commissioned pieces as a natural extension of this dialogue, shaped by place, context, and my studio’s process.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
One of my favorite art career related books is “The Artist’s Way – A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity” by Julia Cameron. It was first published in 1992 and I still do the “Morning Pages” suggested in that book every day. Another book that really helped me early on was by Betty Edwards titled “Drawing on the Artist Within” published on 1986. I met her briefly and ended up with a signed copy of that book. It provides some wonderful exercises to open your mind more creatively. An inspiring book I read recently was “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert. I also love reading anything about a few of my favorite artists like David Hockney, Pablo Picasso and Hans Hofmann.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chipjonesstudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chipjonesstudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChipJonesStudio
