I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, USA. I 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 transfered 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. Eventually I 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 clay, glass, and bronze, as well as draw and paint. Once again I'm teaching myself and learning from my friends.

Jocelyn Says:

McAlister is known in the Seattle and Bellevue artist communities for both his artistic talent and his mirth. McAlister had the first show of his works in 2003. His art can be found at the galleries in Ocean Shores, Edmonds, and Seattle, Washington, as well as on this site. He lives and works in Bellevue, Washington with me, his life partner, Jocelyn 'Toolie' Garner.