Jonathan Weston • Artist

Artist Statement

The work that I am exposing represents my focus on the human experience and its travel through life. I am always inspired and drawn in by the moments and situations created among human beings. Quick moments of laughter or nervousness accompanied by soft aqua feathers in a photo transcends into a world of spirit and personality when I am painting. Some of the work here represents moments of spotlight and celebration while other pieces convey vulnerability or loneliness. Whether the mood be cheerful or grim, they evoke an emotion that is desiring to communicate with the viewer. I want the viewer to feel a sense of spirit when viewing each piece. Each piece hopes to ignite the viewer to feel as if they have just had a closed door conversation with someone they felt they have known, perhaps themselves.

I am constantly aware of human beings and their facial expressions and easily seduced by faces. Most of these pieces are direct portraiture focusing on the seduction of a gaze. Like so many artists, I am putting myself out on the table emotionally. Each one of these figures is me behind a mask. I am painting my vulnerability, my male and female side, all while peering through someone else's face. It is a code for me to communicate through painting grins and glares. I am itching to explore everything about humans and need paint to discover. These pieces represent characters on a stage in my mind. They are painted while my body is rushing with passions, hopes and anxieties. These feelings we all have come together to make a mirror for the viewer, hopefully a mirror in open light with clear reflection.

-Jonathan Weston

Collections

Richard Bland College, Petersburg, VA
Chuck Crutchfield, New York, New York
Leonard Richard, Richmond, VA
Randy Dean, Petersburg, VA
Joan Gaustad, Richmond, VA
Gerald Danato, Richmond, VA
Michelle and Rick Delano, Richmond, VA
Sheila Thomas, Richmond, VA
Kim Lubman, Richmond, VA
Susan Iverson, Richmond, VA
Barbara Tisserat, Richmond, VA
Jackson Slipek, Richmond, VA
Sally Bowring, Richmond, VA
Frank Stout, Richmond VA
Jay White, Richmond, VA
Tessa Moorehouse, Richmond, VA
Dr. Lee Weinstein, Norfolk, VA
Eddie Slipek, Richmond VA
Todd Grey, Richmond VA
Sheep Jones, VA
Ruth Bolduan, Richmond, VA
Betty Foglesong, Richmond, VA
Sherman Gifford, Richmond, VA
Ray Ashworth, Richmond, VA
Brian Winfield, Richmond, VA
Pat Harvey, Petersburg, VA
Stu Hollins, Province, RI
Carolyn Curtis, Manhattan, NY
Benjamin Harvey, Wilmington, NC
Toni Braxton, Atlanta, GA/Los Angeles, CA
Keri Lewis, Atlanta, GA/Los Angeles, CA
Teresa Barclay, Richmond, VA
David Freed, Richmond, VA
Morris Yarowsky, Richmond, VA
David Wryder, Richmond, VA
Dr. Anthony Peluso, Norfolk, VA
Toni Albanese, Disputanta, VA

Bio

Jonathan Weston is an artist residing in Richmond, Virginia specializing in portraits and currently accepting private commissions.

With paintings focusing on the human figure and exposing human emotion, Jonathan's work portrays the people he photographs himself. Influenced by a wide range of artists from Caravaggio to Gerhard Richter, his style remains dedicated in its form yet depicts a diverse range of human emotion and social situations. These situations are usually played out by the models he chooses to transform into characters. His staple medium is oil, however he also creates work in graphite, charcoal and mixed media.

Receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2004, Jonathan came to VCU from his studies under Michelle Delano at Richard Bland College and John Tyler Community College. During the Fall Semester of 2004, He was an adjunct instructor in the Department of Illustration at VCU teaching classes on figure drawing and color theory. As an undergraduate, Jonathan served as gallery assistant at the Anderson Gallery at VCU and was also a studio assistant at the art studio of Michelle Delano. In 2003, he was awarded a Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship.

Recently, Jonathan has had numerous exhibits across the central Virginia region. During 2006 and 2005, he exhibited his work at Gallery 5, Torman, Outre Gallery and the Petersburg Regional Art Center. In 2005, Jonathan took first place in the All Media Show at the Petersburg Regional Art Center.

Education

2000-2004
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond,VA
Painting and Printmaking Department
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, May 2004
Major: Painting and Printmaking

1999-2000
Richard Bland College, Petersburg, VA
Fine Arts Program
Studied under Professor Michelle Delano

1998-1999
John Tyler Community College, Chester, VA
Fine Arts Program
Studied under Professor Michelle Delano

Experience

2005 - Present
Professional Artist
Completing commissions out of studio
Painting portraits for offices
Private commissions
Exhibition work

2004
Adjunct Instructor
Department of Illustration/James Miller, chairman
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Teaching Figure Drawing and Color Theory
Fall Semester

2001-2004
Gallery Assistant
Anderson Gallery of Art
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Installing exhibitions
Preparing gallery receptions
Front Desk

1998-2000
Studio Assistant:
Art Studio/Michelle Delano,
Professor, Richard Bland College and John Tyler Community Colleges
Organized studio
Designed plans for studio reconstruction
Organizing slides for lesson plans
Ordered equipment for studio

Awards and Distinctions

2005
First Place in March All Media Show
Petersburg Regional Art Center, Michelle Delano, Juror
Professor of Art at Richard Bland College

2004
VCU School of the Arts Painting and Printmaking Award
Anderson Gallery, "Annual Fine Arts Exhibition"
Ashley Kistler,Juror, curator of Hand Workshop, Richmond, VA

2003
Virginia Museum Fellowship
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts 2003-2004
Undergraduate Painting.

2003
Outstanding Senior Award 2003
Richard Roth and Painting and Printmaking Department
Virginia Commonwealth University.

2003
VCU School of the Arts Painting and Printmaking Award
Anderson Gallery, "Annual Fine Arts Exhibition"
Sarah Finlay, juror, Fuse Box Gallery, Washington D.C.

2001
Peachtree Award
Painting and Printmaking Department
Virginia Commonwealth University

2000
Commissioned Portrait
Painted portrait of the President of Richard Bland College
Commissioned by Richard Reynolds

1999
JTCC Fine Arts Award
Fine Arts Program, John Tyler Community College
Chester, VA

1998
Best in Show
Fine Arts Show, John Tyler Community College
Chester, VA

1998
Best in Drawing
Fine Arts Show, John Tyler Community College
Chester, VA


Artist Statement The work that I am exposing represents my focus on the human experience and its travel through life. I am always inspired and drawn in by the moments and situations created among human beings. Quick moments of laughter or nervousness accompanied by soft aqua feathers in a photo transcends into a world of spirit and personality when I am painting. Some of the work here represents moments of spotlight and celebration while other pieces convey vulnerability or loneliness. Whether the mood be cheerful or grim, they evoke an emotion that is desiring to communicate with the viewer. I want the viewer to feel a sense of spirit when viewing each piece. Each piece hopes to ignite the viewer to feel as if they have just had a closed door conversation with someone they felt they have known, perhaps themselves. I am constantly aware of human beings and their facial expressions and easily seduced by faces. Most of these pieces are direct portraiture focusing on the seduction of a gaze. Like so many artists, I am putting myself out on the table emotionally. Each one of these figures is me behind a mask. I am painting my vulnerability, my male and female side, all while peering through someone else's face. It is a code for me to communicate through painting grins and glares. I am itching to explore everything about humans and need paint to discover. These pieces represent characters on a stage in my mind. They are painted while my body is rushing with passions, hopes and anxieties. These feelings we all have come together to make a mirror for the viewer, hopefully a mirror in open light with clear reflection. -Jonathan Weston Collections Richard Bland College, Petersburg, VA Chuck Crutchfield, New York, New York Leonard Richard, Richmond, VA Randy Dean, Petersburg, VA Joan Gaustad, Richmond, VA Gerald Danato, Richmond, VA Michelle and Rick Delano, Richmond, VA Sheila Thomas, Richmond, VA Kim Lubman, Richmond, VA Susan Iverson, Richmond, VA Barbara Tisserat, Richmond, VA Jackson Slipek, Richmond, VA Sally Bowring, Richmond, VA Frank Stout, Richmond VA Jay White, Richmond, VA Tessa Moorehouse, Richmond, VA Dr. Lee Weinstein, Norfolk, VA Eddie Slipek, Richmond VA Todd Grey, Richmond VA Sheep Jones, VA Ruth Bolduan, Richmond, VA Betty Foglesong, Richmond, VA Sherman Gifford, Richmond, VA Ray Ashworth, Richmond, VA Brian Winfield, Richmond, VA Pat Harvey, Petersburg, VA Stu Hollins, Province, RI Carolyn Curtis, Manhattan, NY Benjamin Harvey, Wilmington, NC Toni Braxton, Atlanta, GA/Los Angeles, CA Keri Lewis, Atlanta, GA/Los Angeles, CA Teresa Barclay, Richmond, VA David Freed, Richmond, VA Morris Yarowsky, Richmond, VA David Wryder, Richmond, VA Dr. Anthony Peluso, Norfolk, VA Toni Albanese, Disputanta, VA	Bio Jonathan Weston is an artist residing in Richmond, Virginia specializing in portraits and currently accepting private commissions. With paintings focusing on the human figure and exposing human emotion, Jonathan's work portrays the people he photographs himself. Influenced by a wide range of artists from Caravaggio to Gerhard Richter, his style remains dedicated in its form yet depicts a diverse range of human emotion and social situations. These situations are usually played out by the models he chooses to transform into characters. His staple medium is oil, however he also creates work in graphite, charcoal and mixed media. Receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2004, Jonathan came to VCU from his studies under Michelle Delano at Richard Bland College and John Tyler Community College. During the Fall Semester of 2004, He was an adjunct instructor in the Department of Illustration at VCU teaching classes on figure drawing and color theory. As an undergraduate, Jonathan served as gallery assistant at the Anderson Gallery at VCU and was also a studio assistant at the art studio of Michelle Delano. In 2003, he was awarded a Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship. Recently, Jonathan has had numerous exhibits across the central Virginia region. During 2006 and 2005, he exhibited his work at Gallery 5, Torman, Outre Gallery and the Petersburg Regional Art Center. In 2005, Jonathan took first place in the All Media Show at the Petersburg Regional Art Center. Education 2000-2004 Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond,VA Painting and Printmaking Department Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, May 2004 Major: Painting and Printmaking 1999-2000 Richard Bland College, Petersburg, VA Fine Arts Program Studied under Professor Michelle Delano 1998-1999 John Tyler Community College, Chester, VA Fine Arts Program Studied under Professor Michelle Delano Experience 2005 - Present Professional Artist Completing commissions out of studio Painting portraits for offices Private commissions Exhibition work 2004 Adjunct Instructor Department of Illustration/James Miller, chairman Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA Teaching Figure Drawing and Color Theory Fall Semester 2001-2004 Gallery Assistant Anderson Gallery of Art Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA Installing exhibitions Preparing gallery receptions Front Desk 1998-2000 Studio Assistant: Art Studio/Michelle Delano, Professor, Richard Bland College and John Tyler Community Colleges Organized studio Designed plans for studio reconstruction Organizing slides for lesson plans Ordered equipment for studio Awards and Distinctions 2005 First Place in March All Media Show Petersburg Regional Art Center, Michelle Delano, Juror Professor of Art at Richard Bland College 2004 VCU School of the Arts Painting and Printmaking Award Anderson Gallery, "Annual Fine Arts Exhibition" Ashley Kistler,Juror, curator of Hand Workshop, Richmond, VA 2003 Virginia Museum Fellowship Virginia Museum of Fine Arts 2003-2004 Undergraduate Painting. 2003 Outstanding Senior Award 2003 Richard Roth and Painting and Printmaking Department Virginia Commonwealth University. 2003 VCU School of the Arts Painting and Printmaking Award Anderson Gallery, "Annual Fine Arts Exhibition" Sarah Finlay, juror, Fuse Box Gallery, Washington D.C. 2001 Peachtree Award Painting and Printmaking Department Virginia Commonwealth University 2000 Commissioned Portrait Painted portrait of the President of Richard Bland College Commissioned by Richard Reynolds 1999 JTCC Fine Arts Award Fine Arts Program, John Tyler Community College Chester, VA 1998 Best in Show Fine Arts Show, John Tyler Community College Chester, VA 1998 Best in Drawing Fine Arts Show, John Tyler Community College Chester, VA
Paintings Drawings Exhibits Bio Resources Home Jonathan Weston - Artist oil. grahpite, charcoal & mixed media jonathan@jonathanwestonart.com © Jonathan Weston 2008, All Rights Reserved