Contemporary Nostalgia

Technology has had a profound influence on the art world in the past two decades but, for Auckland artist Ross Jones, tech is now largely redundant.

It’s an interesting stance for an artist who once specialised in digital illustration, designing bespoke digital artworks and marketing materials for big American clients such as The Wall Street Journal, Grey Goose and Penguin Books New York in the 90s. But as the world got smaller and more connected with the internet – and in flowed the international commissions – Ross discovered that his heart favoured a more traditional, old-school kind of artistic expression: with a paintbrush.

That was in 2008. Today, his exquisite oil paintings feature in many private art collections in New Zealand, England, Ireland, North America, Singapore and Australia. The paintings offer a unique interpretation of everyday life, often with nostalgic nods to Kiwi culture and glimpses of a carefree childhood in Ōtaki, where Ross grew up.

“I was the kid in class who often doodled and stared out the window. The teacher usually called me out for not paying attention, but I assumed everyone daydreamed like I did,” he says.

“I remember a sixth-form biology class on a hot spring afternoon. I looked out to the market garden next door; the earth had just been turned over, waiting for the spring crop to be planted. For the first time, I noticed a tree in full blossom. It was an amazing pop of colour from a landscape dominated by greens and browns. For me, it was a visual revelation.”

Ross paints full-time from his studio north of Auckland, a quiet and quaint sanctuary that overlooks the Hauraki Gulf. Although he’s still partial to creating a digital render of his plans before he paints, his artistic process is beautifully simplistic.

Influenced by artists such as Rita Angus and the American Wyeth family, Ross’ paintings aim to connect with people through shared experiences, both past and present. He draws inspiration from personal photographs, vintage toys he has collected from all over the world, and cherished memories, such as building balsa wood aeroplanes as a child. His treasured labradoodle, Alice, also features in many of his works.

“My paintings are short stories from my childhood – old forts, fast cars, slow boats, robots, rockets and epic adventures, lawns that seemed to take forever to mow and summers that would never end,” he says.

Ross has piqued the curiosity of international art investors with his careful blending of realism with a touch of playful surrealism. It’s impossible to view one of his paintings without delving into deep thought.

“I love the phrase, ‘Don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story,’ so as you view my paintings, don’t let your imagination stop you from seeing the bigger picture. How far the journey takes you is entirely up to you,” he says. “Every person has a slightly different take on what’s happening. Sometimes the story is simpler than we think. Other times a simple scene may hide a complex situation. It’s up to the viewer to fill in the gaps and create their own story.”