Clyde Jones Natural Master of Color, Texture and Form

Clyde Jones is one of the great folk artists in the USA. His art forms have been primarily chainsaw crafted sculptures of critters, often embellished with found objects, and paintings focused on animal and flower motifs. He first came to international recognition when the world famous ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov visited his humble home with his yard filled with critters in 1990, and asked Clyde if he could buy a painting. Clyde replied 'no, he does not sell his works'. Clyde never sold his paintings or critters, but did donate some for worthy causes, such as local grade school benefit. This puts him in the rarified category of a highly accomplished artists who never benefitted financially from his works.. reminiscent of Vincent van Gough. The fact that Clyde was self-taught as a artist contributed to the uniqueness of vision. His use and mixture of colors and textures are as impressive as any of the great colorist masters, such as Mark Rothko. Clyde possessed pure natural genius. There was also a charm and joy to all of his creations, which reflected his personality. He was a man of generosity, kindness, and always playful. That he intended his work should make the viewer happy, should not be misconstrued as a lack of gravitas as an artist. Clyde rates among the top tier of artists, as the extensive collection of plates in this book amply illustrates.