Ott Jones – 2020 Brinton 101
Montana artist, Ott Jones, a professional sculptor for 33 years, has created a diverse collection of wildlife and sporting sculpture. His pieces are recognized for their pleasing compositions and subtly colored patinas. A member of Allied Artists Of America, he has participated in hundreds of exhibitions and events across the country including National Sculpture Society, Society of Animal Artists, SEWE and Waterfowl Festival. He was honored to have recently received the Gilbert and Marian Roller Sculpture Award at the 107th Allied Artists of America Exhibition for his blue heron monument, Queen of the Waterway.
His work is widely collected and is in many prominent corporate and private collections across the globe. He was honored in having Queen Elizabeth acquire his sculpture, Birth of the Labrador. Over his career, Ott has placed 47 life-size and monumental sculptures throughout the nation.
Growing up in Spokane, WA, Ott’s fascination for wildlife was kindled at a young age by his parents through outdoor adventure. Attending Washington State University on a tennis scholarship, he graduated with a degree in education. After college, he worked as a fishing guide in Alaska for three summers and a welder’s helper on the North Slope before starting his full-time sculpting career.
Ott, his wife Joan of 33 years, and their four children make their home in Bozeman, Montana.
“Montana is such a great place to raise a family and provides me with invaluable inspiration for my work. I am so fortunate and grateful to live here and to be doing what I do for a living.” Ott Jones
“I have spent a lifetime in the outdoors. Because of experiences such as hunting, fishing, camping and guiding in Alaska, it has provided me with firsthand knowledge and fascination of living creatures in their natural habitat. This has been so vital for me in being able to portray my subjects effectively and accurately in sculpture.
I lean towards an impressionistic approach in my sculpture. Of course, anatomy is crucial but it goes much beyond this. Instead of getting caught up in unnecessary detail, I strive to capture the beauty of my subject’s form and true essence of their personality while incorporating this into a pleasing composition.” Ott Jones