| Ozark Airfield Artworks is proud to present the aviation art of Willie Jones Jr. Read more about the artist below. Click on the image to read more and to order the print. |
"Cripes A Mighty 3rd"
Willie Jones Jr.'s tribute to
Ace George Preddy Jr.
Click on the image to read
more about Preddy.
Ace George Preddy Jr.
Click on the image to read
more about Preddy.
"Gruesome Twosome"
Aviation art print by Willie Jones Jr. depicting the
famous Tuskegee Airmen. Click on the image to
read more about these great pilots.
famous Tuskegee Airmen. Click on the image to
read more about these great pilots.
Aviation Artist Willie Jones Jr. Bio
Willie Jones Jr., a native of Greenwood, MS,
started drawing at a young age. He expressed
the desire to draw after observing an older
cousin sketch picture in his sketchpad. He
took to drawing naturally. Willie became a self-
taught artist. He read instructional books,
how to books, by renowned artist Walter
Foster.
Willie had a great love of military aircraft. He
joined the Air Force in June 1981 just two
months before his 21st birthday. He wanted to
become a Graphic Illustrator but the Air Force
other plans for him. He was trained to be a
Vehicle Operator and Vehicle Dispatcher.
Willie loved his new job but he still wanted to
be an artist for the Air Force. He tried on
many occasions to retain into graphic arts but
his retraining application was rejected each
time. Willie eventually gave up the pursuit to
retrain.
While stationed in Germany, Willie was
assigned many duties to including base taxi
driver. It was during this time he was given
an assignment to be the chauffer driver for
two artists who were members of the Air
Force Art Program. He met the artists and
introduced himself. After driving the artists to
several locations, he began to ask questions.
He soon learned he could still be an artist for
the Air Force but it would not be easy. The
artists told him that the artists in the Art
Program were professionals and they only
take the best work. Willie wrote down all
everything they said and began his quest to
be accepted into the Air Art Program.
After being assigned back stateside at
Malmstrom Air Force Base, MT, Willie
contacted the Art Program manager, Ms. Alice
Price, at the Pentagon and got the real scoop.
He would have to create and original piece of
artwork and submit three 35MM slides of it to
be juried by a panel of artists. Willie decides
to draw a picture of his favorite aircraft, the P-
51 Mustang. He had plenty of information on
the plane but it needed to have some historic
value. He researched some World War II
fighter groups and a fighter ace, Major
George E. Preddy Jr., stood out. After
completing the research, he was ready to get
started.
It took several weeks to complete the drawing
and Willie was satisfied with the results. He
photographed it and sent the slides and his
personal information in before the deadline in
March. Willie called Ms. Price in April to get
word on jury process. Ms. Price told him he
was one of 155 entries and they had not
gotten to me yet. She told to be patient and
call back next month. He did call back in May
and the results were the same, nothing yet.
Hope was fading and his dream of getting into
the program was starting to look like a shot in
the dark. Willie called to check once more in
June and he was in the last batch of entries
being juried. After hearing that, the candle
flickered and faded. He gave up hope and
turned his attention to improving his artwork
so maybe next time he will make it.
During the month of July 1989, Willie was
called into his supervisor’s office to take an
important call from the Pentagon. Ms. Price
told him he was accepted into the Air Force
Art Program and he was one of 11 artists
chosen out of 155. His entry Cripes A’ Mighty
3RD is one of his favorite pieces of work.
Willie has completed works honoring many Air
Force leaders and historical periods in time.
He has 14 pieces of art in the Air Force Art
Collection and that number is growing. Each
of his military assignments has brought new
inspirations and new pieces of artwork to
follow.
Willie has over 24 years active duty service
and plans to retire September 1, 2006. He has
been assigned to eight permanent duty
stations, four overseas and four stateside. He
also served in Operations Desert Storm,
Southern Watch, and Iraqi Freedom and many
peace-time deployments.
Order one of Willie Jones' art works today.
Here is your chance to start a collection of
prints by an artist who has served his
country and is now about to do it again
with his art work.
Willie Jones Jr., a native of Greenwood, MS,
started drawing at a young age. He expressed
the desire to draw after observing an older
cousin sketch picture in his sketchpad. He
took to drawing naturally. Willie became a self-
taught artist. He read instructional books,
how to books, by renowned artist Walter
Foster.
Willie had a great love of military aircraft. He
joined the Air Force in June 1981 just two
months before his 21st birthday. He wanted to
become a Graphic Illustrator but the Air Force
other plans for him. He was trained to be a
Vehicle Operator and Vehicle Dispatcher.
Willie loved his new job but he still wanted to
be an artist for the Air Force. He tried on
many occasions to retain into graphic arts but
his retraining application was rejected each
time. Willie eventually gave up the pursuit to
retrain.
While stationed in Germany, Willie was
assigned many duties to including base taxi
driver. It was during this time he was given
an assignment to be the chauffer driver for
two artists who were members of the Air
Force Art Program. He met the artists and
introduced himself. After driving the artists to
several locations, he began to ask questions.
He soon learned he could still be an artist for
the Air Force but it would not be easy. The
artists told him that the artists in the Art
Program were professionals and they only
take the best work. Willie wrote down all
everything they said and began his quest to
be accepted into the Air Art Program.
After being assigned back stateside at
Malmstrom Air Force Base, MT, Willie
contacted the Art Program manager, Ms. Alice
Price, at the Pentagon and got the real scoop.
He would have to create and original piece of
artwork and submit three 35MM slides of it to
be juried by a panel of artists. Willie decides
to draw a picture of his favorite aircraft, the P-
51 Mustang. He had plenty of information on
the plane but it needed to have some historic
value. He researched some World War II
fighter groups and a fighter ace, Major
George E. Preddy Jr., stood out. After
completing the research, he was ready to get
started.
It took several weeks to complete the drawing
and Willie was satisfied with the results. He
photographed it and sent the slides and his
personal information in before the deadline in
March. Willie called Ms. Price in April to get
word on jury process. Ms. Price told him he
was one of 155 entries and they had not
gotten to me yet. She told to be patient and
call back next month. He did call back in May
and the results were the same, nothing yet.
Hope was fading and his dream of getting into
the program was starting to look like a shot in
the dark. Willie called to check once more in
June and he was in the last batch of entries
being juried. After hearing that, the candle
flickered and faded. He gave up hope and
turned his attention to improving his artwork
so maybe next time he will make it.
During the month of July 1989, Willie was
called into his supervisor’s office to take an
important call from the Pentagon. Ms. Price
told him he was accepted into the Air Force
Art Program and he was one of 11 artists
chosen out of 155. His entry Cripes A’ Mighty
3RD is one of his favorite pieces of work.
Willie has completed works honoring many Air
Force leaders and historical periods in time.
He has 14 pieces of art in the Air Force Art
Collection and that number is growing. Each
of his military assignments has brought new
inspirations and new pieces of artwork to
follow.
Willie has over 24 years active duty service
and plans to retire September 1, 2006. He has
been assigned to eight permanent duty
stations, four overseas and four stateside. He
also served in Operations Desert Storm,
Southern Watch, and Iraqi Freedom and many
peace-time deployments.
Order one of Willie Jones' art works today.
Here is your chance to start a collection of
prints by an artist who has served his
country and is now about to do it again
with his art work.
Here at Ozark Airfield Artworks we offer a large selection art prints. These prints
mainly depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We
also deal with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are
from all the top national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of
our prints are signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking
for a specific plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
mainly depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We
also deal with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are
from all the top national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of
our prints are signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking
for a specific plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
Copyright © Ozark Airfield Artworks 2005 All Rights
Reserved
Reserved
All images are copyrighted by the individual artist and may not be
reproduced without their consent.
reproduced without their consent.
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