CM “Chip” Jones

Making a Splash In Life And In Art

Text by Kay Bjork and Photography by Ali Spoon

CM “Chip” Jones does art much as he lives life – with a sense of adventure, experimentation, learning, sharing – and with an incredible amount of humility and generosity.

Jones showed an interest in art at a young age while growing up on a small ranch on Miller Creek south of Missoula. It is easy to trace some of the elements that formed him as an artist and as a man. He often sketched and did art projects for hours. He says, “When I was in the 4th grade I drew the same horse over and over again.” When he and his two brothers received wood burning kits for Christmas he wore out his and then his brothers’ when they didn’t show interest in using them. He developed his love and appreciation of the backcountry and wildlife through time spent with his dad who was a packer and the inspiration of his neighbor John Craighead, famous American conservationist and wildlife biologist. These two fundamentals merged as he began to do artwork with a focus on wildlife.

He had his first art show while attending Montana State University featuring leather art and did so well that it helped put him through college where he received a degree in art education. He continued to create art while teaching elementary and high school art.

A career as an educator in public schools and as a National Geographic consultant gives him a unique perspective as he evolves as a wildlife artist. His recent work in splash bronze is in a medium that is somewhat unexplored and undiscovered, but instead of keeping his hard-earned techniques a secret, he openly shares them. He says, “Some people get an idea and try to hide and hold on to it, but I like to try and help other artists and cheer them on.”

Splash bronze was an idea he stumbled on while working on three-dimensional sculpture. A visitor to his studio became fascinated with a splatter of bronze on the floor and offered to buy it, inspiring Jones’ revolutionary idea to add another dimension to his sculpture process.

He began experimenting with what he calls “splash bronze,” a technique throwing bronze into open-faced molds, that he says is like painting with hot paint. Jones says, “The first three years were pretty chaotic.” He works with metal heated to as much as 2500 ° F in a shop that heats up to 180° F and even though he wears a protective suit, he still had lots of minor accidents including burns on his arms and shoulders from spattering bronze. He notes with a laugh, “It’s not for the faint of heart.”

He uses up to 15 ladles during a single pour with the moisture in a wet pour creating texture while a dry pour is used to work on detail. The result is stunning. The highly textured aspect of the gleaming bronze makes wildlife such as moose or bear practically leap out of the framed bronze. He considers himself in the middle of the pack of bronze artists, but this unique technique makes him stand out.

When he wants a vacation from the more physical work of splash bronze he creates acrylic paintings and delicate paper sculpture, which is a dramatic departure from the durable bronze. He recently moved BigRock Bronze Works to a larger studio in the Stevensville area to accommodate the splash bronze process and its growing success.

In 2016, Jones received the “Most Distinguished Body of Work” award at the prestigious Out West Art Show held annually during Western Art Week in Great Falls. It was a very emotional moment for him as the childhood memory of walking through the same show with the wistful thought, “I want to be that person some day” washed over him. He says, “The thirty-plus years of hard work, sacrifice and struggle culminated in that moment for me.”

This pinnacle award finds Jones at a time in his professional life when he is especially focused on a lifetime mission of giving back. “I am very thankful for all the opportunities afforded me and feel it is my duty to lend a hand to those coming up and on either side of me.” This includes donating art to charitable organizations such as The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Bitterroot Therapeutic Riding. He also hosts an artist gathering to create a synergy that allows them to build on each other’s ideas and is a storyteller in schools where he shares lessons through Western and old-fashioned tall tales.

Giving back also includes sharing wisdom with young artists. He tells them the concept of talent is perhaps overstated. And that being tenacious at something he loves is what has earned him success. But if you ask others, they will probably tell you, this guy also has a big heart – and a whole lot of talent.

For more information visit cmjones.net