Artist Robert Jones at Calaboose Museum

The public is invited to attend a reception for San Marcos artist Robert R. (Bob) Jones at the Calaboose African American History Museum, Sunday, April 7 from 3 to 5 p.m. 

Art brought Robert Jones to San Marcos more than 40 years ago. Born and raised in Gonzales, Texas, Jones started drawing and painting at age five. In high school, he entered a statewide art contest and placed second for which he won a scholarship to attend Southwest Texas State University – now Texas State University. He graduated from SWT with a bachelor of science in commercial art and the decision to make his home in San Marcos. 

Over the years, Jones built an impressive work resume in Austin and a reputation as a man who could do just about everything. From 1984 through 2001, he held the position of graphic specialist for the city of Austin.  From 2001 through 2006, he worked as graphic specialist III at the Bob Bullock History Museum. Combining his skills as a fine artist and graphic designer, he worked as gallery curator at the Carver Museum from 2006 through 2012, and from 2013 until his retirement in 2018, as curator at the Mexican American Cultural Center.

With his artworks in collections over many states, he still claims one of his milestone successes as the creation of the 1996 logo change for the city of Austin Electric Utility, now called “Austin Energy.” 

An illustration that Jones did for local author Jo Snider's book “Claiming Sunday: The Story of a Texas Slave Community.”

Jones and his wife, Jessie, have two grown children, Jonathan and Victoria, as well as two grandkids. Now busily retired, he spends as much time as possible pursuing his life-long passion for painting. 

A former member of the Calaboose board of directors, this is Jones’ second exhibit there. With a charmingly relaxed and distinctive style, he portrays everyday people at work and at play – of their time yet timeless.  

Along with exploring new styles and subjects,  Jones accepts occasional commissions from anyone needing an illustration or graphic design. A recent such commission was the cover and illustrations for the book “Claiming Sunday: The Story of a Texas Slave Community” by local author Jo Snider. He says that the book totally took him in. 

“I felt so vividly like I was there and connected to the scene I was creating for the cover,” Jones said of the commission. 

Four of the original paintings used in the book, on loan from the Sniders, are included in the current Calaboose exhibit, on display through the end of April.

The Calaboose is located at 200 W. Martin Luther King Dr. and is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and by appointment.