Artwork copyright Roger Jones. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Steppe Garden, 1998

Roger Jones
(American, born 1941)

Location: Central Washington University, Ellensburg

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Artist Roger Jones created the large-scale landscape painting Steppe Garden for the science building at Central Washington University. He based the imagery on the steppe region of the Columbia Basin surrounding the Ellensburg campus. He researched the ecology and geography of the region, referencing books, atlases, and the University’s botanical slide collection. He notes, “The columnar basalt and talus slopes of sagebrush and bunchgrass covered hills combine as a suitable backdrop for the wildflowers that bring brighter colors and textures into play. It became necessary to visit the same ecological areas a number of times during the year to witness the different blooming periods of the wildflowers.”

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Central Washington University.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Northwest painter and art teacher Roger Jones creates figurative, pastoral landscapes in imaginative compositions.
Jones graduated from Kennewick High School in Southeastern Washington, studied education at Central Washington State College (now Central Washington University) in Ellensburg, and received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1972. He has taught drawing and painting classes at Edmonds Junior High School, Bellevue Community College, Spectrum at the University of Washington, Bellevue Art Museum School, and Western Washington University in Bellingham, Northwestern Washington. He has also worked as an illustrator for Boeing.