Al’s professional career as an artist spans more than 39 years, beginning as a technical illustrator, in 1968, with NASA’s George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama. In later years, after tenures with other government and corporate concerns, Al formed and operated a marketing and advertising agency, for 15 years, in Greenville, South Carolina and Augusta, Georgia. His agency’s impressive client list includes leading national and international corporations such as Phillips Fibers; Flour Daniel International; Sud Chemie; Dana Corporation; Rieter Corporation; Robert Bosch; Litchfield, Inc.; Bosh & Lomb; The Cliffs at Glassy Golf Resort; Public Broadcasting; University of South Carolina; Duke Power Company; Symtech Systems and Technology, Inc.; DeMint Marketing, Inc.; among many others. Since 2001, Al has served as a civil service visual information specialist.
Beginning 1968, Al served several years as a visual artist for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), where he earned the position of staff artist for the executive staff of world renowned Dr. Werner von Braun. In this position, along with handpicked artists, such as NASA’s lead artists Renato Moncini (http://www.mcdunnstudio.com/renato_moncini.htm) and Albert Lane (http://huntsville.about.com/od/arts/ss/bicentennialart_6.htm), he assisted in the illustration of proposed space hardware for such farsighted programs as “The Mars Landing Mission.” The “Mars Mission Report,” with accompanying artistic works, was submitted to congress by vice-president Agnew in 1969. Works of art from the project appeared worldwide in various books, magazines, and newspapers. The group also prepared paintings to be used by network television during NASA’s Lunar Lander program (Man on the Moon Mission), 1969. Al was one of three artists selected to implement the first 3D displays and other visuals in NASA’s original Space Science Museum--constructed to display the “Lunar Landing Craft,” “Moon Rock,“ and a variety of space gear from the program.
In 1984 Al was commissioned to design and implement three large biblical dioramas and assist with displays and photographic visuals (depicting the history of Judaism beginning 1,500 B.C. -- “The Land, The People, and The Book,” and the “Holocaust” of W.W. II) for the Messianic Center Museum, Chattanooga, Tennessee. One of his many painting commissions over the years includes four large landscapes (4 1/2 ft. x 6 1/2 ft.) for the then (1996) newly constructed Duke Power facility in Greenville, South Carolina,
Albert Lee is past president of the Greenville Artists Guild, Greenville, SC; a former member, board of directors, Greenville County Museum of Art, Greenville, SC; Greater Greenville and Greater Spartanburg Chambers of Commerce in South Carolina; Better Business Bureau of the Foothills. SC; Greater United Way Community Awareness Committee, Greenville, SC; Metropolitan Arts Council (MAC PAC), Greenville, SC; Sertoma International; Executive Association of Greenville, SC; Round Towner’s Volunteer Group, Greenville, SC; Civic Arts League, Chattanooga, TN; Tennessee Artists Association; Board of Directors, Augusta Care Pregnancy Center, Augusta, GA; “Who’s Who Registry of Global Business Leaders” (1993-97); Kiwanis Club, Augusta, GA; The Greater Augusta Advertising Club, Augusta, GA; Augusta State University Faculty Club; International Who’s Who of Entrepreneurs; Huntsville Art League and Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL; St. Louis, MO, Symphony Volunteer Association; Midwest Air Force Artists Society of Illustrators (http://www.midwestairforceartists.com/artists/ajones/ajones.html); and U.S. Air Force Artists’ Program, managed by the Secretary of the Air Force (http://www.afapo.hq.af.mil/Presentation/Common/artcollection.cfm?IMAGE_ID=9316).
.As a teacher, over the years, Al has taught both fine and graphic arts, as an adjunct professor, at university and college levels, as well as privately, beginning in 1976.
Born in central Alabama, he received his master of art’s degree in fine art and advertising design from Bob Jones University, Greenville, South Carolina in 1985—under the teaching of well-know South Carolina artists, Emery Bopp (symbolist—www.hamptoniiigallery.com/index.php?id=400) and Carl Blair (intuitive painter—www.hamptoniiigallery.com/index.php?id=401). Al also studied creative photography under international photographer, Tom Kilpatrick (http://tomkilpatrickphoto.com/) at Tennessee Temple University, Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he received his undergraduate degree in general art and secondary education.
Artist's Comment:
As an eclectic experimentalist, the body of my work reflects various forms of artistic expression (including realism, abstraction and impressionism) and medias (painting, drawing, construction, three dimension, pottery, graphics, photography, multimedia, and video). Basic design principles (balance, rhythm, harmony, repetition, contrast, etc.) and formalism are fundamental in the exploratory stage of the creative process. Regardless of the challenge, I use a formalistic approach in the design and depiction of phenomena. Therefore, a large degree of time is given to studying the outstanding qualities of the subject matter’s formal values and how they will best express themselves within the intended composition.
Conceptualizing the structural form of a visual experience (both subjectively and objectively) and then interpreting that experience with appropriate design principles are essential to any successful work of art. When this approach is taken, possibilities for the development of creative processes are endless. Experimentation with design serves as a vehicle of change and growth for the artist, a vehicle that prevents creativity from becoming stale and provides cohesiveness for the visual experience. It matters not what statement the artist is attempting to make–structured or unstructured–if the work is to be successfully executed, it must employ good design. All lasting art forms (whether visual, performing, or musical) will contain one or more principles of design (found in nature). It is my belief that God’s creation is the source from which the artist draws (directly or indirectly) in the execution of his or her artistic expression. As one of my most respected mentors, Emory Bopp, has said: “…art is a means of fashioning forms from dreams and imaginations, of learning more of the infinite beauty with which God has surrounded us in His creation.” Nature not only provides a vast and endless reservoir of infinite beauty that can send the artistic imagination soaring, but it can serve as an endless source for creative stimuli.
To produce an "enduring" work (apart from historical, political, or social implications) the artist must employ one or more principles of design and a degree of formality. Design principles and design elements (value, color, texture, shape, space, etc.) provide endless possibilities for subjective and objective interpretation of subject matter, as well as creative energy for the artist.
Email: ajones1130@aol.com
