Mary Lou Jones - Illustrator

Raised on a farm near Devil's Lake, North Dakota, Mary Lou Jones finds inspiration in her surroundings, treasures in flea markets and hobbies. “When I was a little girl my Mother would sit and draw and I would tell her that she wasn't drawing the picture the way it should be. Finally, she handed me the pencil and paper and told me to try it myself and I've been drawing ever since.”

Graduating from the University of North Dakota, Mary Lou and husband Mike moved to Texas where they have remained, raising two boys while pursuing teaching and coaching careers. As family projects, they rebuilt a number of really old, falling down, dilapidated houses. Occasionally, her boys still point out fixer-uppers, “..I still get the urge, but I get a firm "NO" from Mike.”

“My first job was drawing reproducible's for a nursery school. I think I was in the 7th grade.” Mary Lou has been fascinated by children's little faces, those with character, and old antique things that she wishes would talk to her and tell her their stories. She has produced ads and logos, storyboards and portraits for a long line of clients, but illustration is still her first love.

Mary Lou collects dolls from the 1940's, old dishes and cooking utensils although, she admits to being a reluctant chef. “I'm one of those people that people give broken things to, because I'll fix it up and use it or find another purpose for it. I would have loved to have been a carpenter.”

Traveling to most of the western states she finds that while each one has its own beauty, she prefers the mountains and trees best of all. Living north of San Antonio on a hill overlooking a panoramic valley filled with wildflowers and wildlife, she has artistic reference right in her own backyard.

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