Clifford A. Ames, a native of the high plains, was born in Springer, New Mexico and reared in Dalhart, Texas. With the exception of having formal training in architecture, he is largely self-taught. Ames studied drawing briefly in Denver, Colorado before entering the Navy and serving two stints in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967. He was recognized at a young age for his artistic talent. Ames won prizes for his portraits and landscapes at county, state and regional fairs.

While in Vietnam, Ames served as an illustrator and draftsman. Thereafter, Ames moved to New York City where he joined the staff of the newly formed design laboratory the Fashion Institute of Technology. Ames’ style, which relied heavily on geometric perspective, appealed to collectors. The artist often employed the use of subtle colors in his small scale gouaches which are a nod to the natural landscape and color backdrop of the sunset and sunrise in the high plains. Ames’ Native American ancestry also appears to have informed his “alignment of meaningful forms within his painting experience.”

When he left Fashion Institute in 1979, Ames became a full time painter. To his credit, Ames had two one-man shows in New York City. His works are in private and public collections in Cambridge, Massachusetts, New York City, New Orleans, St. Louis, San Antonio, Los Angeles and other principal cities.

While his small gouaches bring his drafting care to the flight of fantasy, his more recent is subtlely colored.