by Arlene Wright-Correll

This weekís Kentucky artist is C. David Jones

C. David Jones decided he wanted to paint 100 of the same subject. He did not know what the subject would be, he just knew he wanted to be 100 paintings of the same subject and that subject turned out to be avocados! You can go to the Capital Arts Alliance Inc. at 416 East Main St. in Bowling Green KY and be awed, amazed and dumbfounded at the sight of 100 paintings of a half of an avocado.

David is a native of Glasgow, KY and is a partner in LOT 916 Gallery. His murals have been commissioned in Chicago and across western Kentucky in private homes and public spaces. Most recently, he completed a large mural for Western Kentucky University and will be working on a second there soon. Mariah’s Restaurant, a historic location in downtown Bowling Green has several of David’s murals. His work has been purchased by Mammoth Cave National Park’s permanent collection.

This artist earned his undergraduate degree from Centre College in Danville, KY., and Masters of Fine Arts degree from Savannah College in Georgia. He was awarded one of the prestigious Kentucky Arts Council’s Individual Artist’s Fellowships.

David is an adjunct professor at Western, teaching drawing and art education. His paintings include work derived from the typical family album with a regional flare. David will gladly discuss doing a special commission for you!

When I asked him at what point did he get tired of painting 100 avocados he said never. He looked forward to going into his studio every day and working and he says he felt quite sad when he finished the last painting.

When I asked him if he had carte blanch to do anything in the whole world he quickly said, “To work in my studio daily”. As a prolific artist, David creates a lot of art besides the 100 avocados and he says his favorite piece was done about 5 years ago and was a painting of a woman with a suitcase standing in front of a Waffle House.

He works in all mediums and his favorite type of art is doing public murals.

Their first studio, Lot 916, originated in downtown Bowling Green Kentucky’s Fountain Square and was owned and operated by Kim and David Jones along with jewelry designer Mitsy Clendenin from 1998 to 2006. In April of 2006, the couple moved the location to their renovated Italianate on State Street which they call Jonesí for Art. Kim and David continue to show the best in regional, original artists through special event openings. Mitsy’s jewelry design, aka MC Design Group, can be found at better shops throughout the mid-South and by special order. Both Kim and David, along with daughter Marlee, make their works available on a regular basis through LOT 916 Home Studio.

Davidís words of wisdom to all artists are simply this. “Be prolific.”

You can view his work, along with his wife Kim and their 12 year old daughter Marlee at the both galleries. His phone number is 270 783 9080 and their website is www.lot916.com .

(Contact Arlene Wright-Correll at 270 524 9567 or email her at askarlene@scrtc.com  if you want to be next weekís column of Whoís Who in KY Artís and Crafts©)