My name is Melba Jones I was born in a small town in Southern Illinois and lived approximately thirty years in a suburb of Chicago.

I have been painting approximately eleven years and have been more or less self-taught although I attend workshops whenever possible.

I am a member of the Equine Art Guild (which is international) and a Platinum Member of the National Grand Art Society.  My work has been shown in various shows locally, statewide, and nationally including the "by invitation only" art show at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, CA. 

Seven years ago, I found that God had given me the gift of painting portraits.  Since that time, I have been busy painting anything from children and/or pets to family portraits.  My special love though is painting the magificent beautiful horse.

I strive for realism in my work and love it when I can get personalities of the subjects to come through in my paintings.

I am happily married and have four beautiful children, three  step-children, and seven grandchildren. 

In 1996, my southern born husband and I moved to the south into a county that has 90,000 acres of national forest and 11 people per square acre.  (Talk about a culture shock!)  We live in a home located on 20 acres at the edge of a patch of woods and enjoy seeing wild deer, coyotes, etc. from our window. 

I keep some horses here and enjoy horseback riding and showing my special horse (Cowboy) at local and state shows.  We also belong to a camping club and enjoy traveling in our motor home. The traveling and horse shows/rodeos provide me with an abundance source of pictures and subjects for my painting.  I truly hope you will enjoy my work!!

Mrs. Melba Jones