1078 Gallery Member

My name is Bobbie Rae Jones but I also identify with Barbara named after my paternal Grandmother.  I was born in Oakdale California, but raised primarily in Modesto where I attended high school and played water polo and drums in the marching band. At two junior colleges and two universities in NorCal, I studied architecture and then studio art (drawing and painting) during my undergrad years. I also received a certificate to practice massage, which has been my primary source of income for the last twenty years. In my mid-twenties, I took a break from college life and moved to Quincy in beautiful Plumas county (I call this my maternity leave for eight years). As a vibrant and active mountain mama, I gained a certificate in Montessori early childhood education, attended Early Childhood Education classes at the local community college.  I focused life around Waldorf Methods based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner, studying and learning a natural and sustainable lifestyle. 

I used this method as a single mother when I opened a state-licensed daycare to stay home with my two babies in their early years.  During these years I spent a lot of time practicing the development stages of a dharma lineage from Tibet, the Nyigma School of Buddhism.   I also spent a lot of time dancing, performing, teaching and choreographing dance in the local community, and accomplished the fiber arts of sewing, knitting, spinning, weaving and felting. 

Upon returning to Butte County as a single mother, I took nursing classes, began teaching Pilates, and studied acupuncture and Chinese herbs for a couple years before returning to my hearts joy, studio art at California State University-Chico attaining a BA option studio art and art education, and a Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies in Art Education: PreK - Older Adult. My thesis was titled "Community Building with Socially Engaged Art and Art Education" and my life exemplifies that title.   In 2019 I completed a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Visual Arts.

Between 2018 and the close of 2021, my time was spent journeying between my home in Chico and in and around the Camp Fire burn Scar. I taught K-8 art part time at Children's Community Charter School Paradise, lead community art projects while assisting families to rebuild homes as a disaster case manager.  I've recently became a Rebuild Specialist and successfully assisted several Camp Fire Survivors in long recovery goals to rebuild their homes. My goals are to find a niche using techniques that activate the imagination and critical thinking to engage the creative mind.  Knowing the arts solves big problems, I begin each day with Pure Motivation.  The most important thing that keeps me focused with purpose daily is my spiritual commitments and vow to live selflessly with wisdom and compassion so that I can be of benefit to every person I come in contact with and beyond.

Beginning in 2022 I was hired as Associate Faculty at both California State University Chico and Butte College.  I teach Art Education in the Art & Art History department in Humanities at CSU Chico. At Butte College, my dream came true! I teach drawing, specifically Beginning Figure Drawing.

Online art educator portfolio: 

www.bobbieraejonesarteducator.com