Artist Interview Series | Jason John | American Painter

Linus Galleries, Fine Art Gallery

2014 Artist Interview Series

Jason John

Linus Galleries, a Los Angeles contemporary art gallery, presents The Artist Interview Series. Our Linus artists are from all over the world and come from a variety of different practices and backgrounds. Read on to gain insight into the creative process and personality of our featured artist. This week we feature American painter Jason John. John’s paintings were recently shown as part of our Traditions art exhibit.

1) Please tell us your name, artistic practice of choice, and location in the world.

My name is Jason John.  I am a representational painter that lives in Jacksonville, Florida.

2) Are you self taught or did you formally study art?

I received my BFA from Kutztown University and I received my MFA from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  During my time earning my BFA degree I studied privately at The Waichulis Studio, now called Ani Academy.

3) This is a hard choice for many visual artists, but what is the first answer that comes to mind when you think of your favorite color?

I really love the color blue.  Although colors always need environmental colors to make them sing, I feel blue can be quite hypnotic.

4) What is difficult for you about your chosen medium?

I think one of the most difficult aspects of being a painter is the historical weight of the medium. Sometimes it feels like you really have to use your long history to give a new message any credence. The medium can also take a long time to begin to master because of the aspects of drawing, color, space, and physicality of any good painting.

5) Which artist living or dead would you want to have a drink with? What type of beverage?

I would love to share a drink with Peter Paul Rubens.  I hope Rubens likes beer.

6) How do you unwind?

I enjoy running, making beer, and reading.

7) Describe your “aha” moment when working with your medium that made you make that leap into another level.

Every summer I teach in Italy.  I think the first time I taught in Italy, I came back from my trip with a new appreciation of the painters of the past.  I think this experience of looking at painters of the Renaissance and Baroque period helped my own work.   I noticed how each of these painters really used the medium of paint in such a fresh and new way for their own time.  I feel it gives painters today hope that painting can always be fresh and innovative in our present time.

8) Where do you create art?

I do create art alone in my studio at home, but in the fall I will be starting a residency at a local museum accompanying an exhibition.

9) What trends in art bother you?

Personally, I don’t dislike any trends but I do dislike selfish art.  I think selfish art is art made for sole gain of the artist alone.

 

10) Any parting advice for budding artists?

Be ambitious but a nice person.  I feel that a career in the arts involves more people than the one person in the studio.  I owe a lot to the people that were kind enough to support me financially and mentally.

 

 

 

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