Drayton Jones at The Gallery of CNY
Drayton Jones, paints with unconventional strong bold color and line using watercolor and ink. He prepares with many sketches and composition studies so his final painting is quick and spontaneous. His subject matter is often local and recognizable, yet abstracted or stylized.
Jones became a signature member of Watercolor West and continues to be a favorite among artists and new collectors.
Most of Jones’ watercolors are painted on 1/4 and 1/2 sheet watercolor paper. 1/4 sheets are approximately 14”x11”; 1/2 sheets are approximately 21”x14”.
Read more about the artist below.
Plein-air Watercolors by artist Drayton Jones at The Gallery of CNY in Cazenovia NY.
Artist’s Statement: I have always enjoyed drawing so I draw everyday, carry my sketchbook everywhere I go. I zero in on something that I find interesting; then I try to express it so that it creates the same enthusiasm for others. I love the spontaneity, immediacy and boldness that you can achieve with watercolor. And I prefer to paint "all in one go" which helps to prevent the paint from being overworked. I strive to keep the transparency that is fundamental to watercolor. My aim right now is to abstract nature into simplified shapes and value patterns, expressing the essense of the scene. My historic and current art influences include John Marin, Raul Dufy, Henry Fukuhara, John Seargent and Winslow Homer.
Artist Biography: Drayton Jones, a Fayetteville NY resident, is an active member of the Cazenovia Watercolor Society, participates in local shows including Saint Davids and The Dark Isle at Lorenzo and teaches various workshops. Recently he became a Signature Member of Watercolor West, a nationally recognized Watercolor Society. He has studied under Nicora Gangi, a full-time nationally award-winning pastel artist. Gangi says "Drayton Jones' sensitive style of expression, through the medium of watercolor , poetically captures the drama of natural light on his subject matter, whether it be the soft rolling hills of central New York or the tranquil beauty of our surrounding lakes." Jones also received acclaim by Syracuse Post writer, Katherine Rushworth, in her article, Sunday, June 10th 2007 declaring "One of the highlights in the show was discovering the work of Drayton Jones. His style is reminicent of the great American watercolorist John Marin, but Jones is crisper and less abstract in his approach." Ms. Rushworth called his work "fluid, bold " and " daring ".
