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I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Took my first art classes at the age of 8 at the Art Institute of Chicago, attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana with forays into commercial art through correspondence school, then went on to become a Boy Scout Executive in Chicago. I transferred to Sacramento, California to continue working with the Boy Scouts.
In the early 1970s, I moved to Los Angeles to attend the Art Center College of Design, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Design.
I won numerous awards for my work with Circle Industries, Vivitar, and several industrial design firms and eventually founded MJM Design and worked as an independent designer.
In the early 1980s, I began working with computers, taught myself computer programming and database creation and wrote magazine articles about using, customizing, and maintaining computers. In 1993, I joined Microsoft Corporation as a technical writer. In 2001 I retired and returned to my artistic roots.
In my studio, I create works in glass, sometimes clay and bronze, as well as draw and paint. I teach myself and learn from my friends and from admired professionals.
From Jocelyn:
McAlister is known in the Seattle and Bellevue artist communities for his artistic talent and his mirth. McAlister had the first show of his works in 2003, and his art can be found at the Fusions Artists Gallery in Ocean Shores, Washington as well as on this site. He lives and works in Bellevue, Washington with me, his life partner, Jocelyn 'Toolie' Garner.
