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Lowbrow Highbrow
Written By: Donna Rhodes | Issue: May 2024
For Cover Artist Evan Jones, the process, the technique, the work is ever-evolving.
When you view Evan Jones’s paintings, you’ll come away with an everlasting imprint. His style exudes an inexplicable familiarity.
Some say it’s his historic symbols, or his Southern icons. Others will cite his compelling compositions, or his quirkiness, or his design techniques. Many credit the mountain images he incorporates. Maybe it’s just all that – and more.
Evan can’t recall a day in his life when colors weren’t racing through his ARTeries. He cut his artistic teeth in Cashiers where his family’s maternal side leaned toward the performing arts … his paternal side, visual arts. His Aunt Mary Jones, an oil painter, imbued his formative years with wildlife, wildflowers, majestic trees, and all things Cashiers-esque.
After high school, SCAD’s Atlanta campus called his name. Coincidentally, another called his name – his wife-to-be, Katie.
Upon graduating in 2016, he was filled with creative Bam. He blended that with his background, interests, passions, knowledge, and skills into a unique style that continues to stand alone.
Evan paints most days.
Evan Jones
(photo by Maddy Michelle)
He says, “I often wake up with ideas in the morning. When those fresh inspirations dawn, I get to work, spending a lot of time developing an idea. Frequently the planning of a composition requires more effort than its completion. I often hang a canvas on the wall and work it a while, draw on it, erase, sketch, paint, paint over, re-do, on-and-on until the final touches kick in.”
Sometimes a painting happens instantly. Other times, it’s a marathon. But Evan works it until the piece satisfies his eye and soul, until his brush squeezes out its last flourish.
“For a long time I worked with acrylic,” says Evan. “But now, I am exploring oils again. My subject and the way I painted was a tight fit with acrylics, but the creamy, tactile sensation of oils is pulling me back for more exploration. It feels like taking my art up a level.”
He jokes and says, “Some things are lowbrow, and that’s fun. But with oils, I’m raising my brow.”
Over time, who knows what kind of brow-ness Evan will invent?
He says, “Don’t hold me to any of this interview. As much as I like to talk about my work, it changes every day. You can only be where you are at a certain time. It’s all part of the journey.”
Places you can see where Evan’s journey is currently bounding: evanjonesartist.com; Instagram @townhouseonmars; Whiteside Gallery, 1057 US-64, Cashiers; Re/Max Summit Properties, 45 Slab Town Road, Suite 8, Cashiers.
