Meet Jason
Forty-five years ago, a young boy watched his Native American grandmother design, assemble and sew his family’s quilts. This led to a lifelong artistic interest in geometric abstraction and color juxtaposition. Within my style, I work hard to maintain clean lines and perfectly flat expanses of paint, without creating texture or depth, so that the viewer's focus is on the dynamic interplay of color and form. Even within a restricted set of artistic parameters, I continue to experiment with new styles.
My designs are about building the painting as much as painting the painting - involving hours of construction. I want to provoke a reaction from the viewer. It is interesting to me what people see and how often people see something different from another person. I have learned to let each painting stand on its own because sometimes people see in them something much better than I planned.
The Process
I start by developing my paintings on grid paper to scale. After I have the concept on the grid paper, I draw it on the canvas using precise measurements and rulers. After the drawing is finished, I use a masking technique that took me years to perfect. I use acrylic paint, but I have a formula combining heavy body acrylics with student grade acrylics. I do this to obtain an ultra-smooth finish, I try to eliminate distractions that might distract viewers. My desire is for my paintings to be so technically flawless and precise that they are stunning.
How did you get your start as an artist?
My first gallery was SOFA Art Gallery in McAlester, OK. It was important because it gave me the confidence that people wanted to see my creations. After showing at SOFA, I reached out to Our Favorite Place in Eufaula, OK. This was the first gallery where I had to be curated and then invited to show. My acceptance into Our Favorite Place really boosted my confidence! With this new confidence, I decided I was ready to really test the waters.
Before attempting to enter the art scene in OKC and Tulsa, I figured I better educate myself on the particulars of the art world. After some research, I discovered OVAC (Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition). OVAC helps artists realize their potential through education, exposure and funding. I attended every class they offered and OVAC proved very beneficial to my art career. After gaining new insights through OVAC and having several of my paintings professionally photographed at one of their workshops, I was ready to build a website and get serious.
Can you talk about some of the planning (if any) that goes into choosing the colors for your pieces? To me color is the most important element of my work. Sometimes I draw out my designs directly on the canvas and hen spend days thinking about the colors I will use. I see them in my mind and I play around with them in my visualizations. I even dream about them. Often the colors in my dreams are the ones I use. To me, it’s all about color and how colors interact and play with each other.
Last question. Growing up, what things really interested you, and how did you end up becoming passionate about art?
Building things...anything...all things, I liked to build dams out of rocks in the streams on my parents land. I liked to build models and bridges. As a child, I learned how to complete grid drawings. I loved the process of building the drawing. My mom was an artist, so I always had that positive influence concerning art. I took art classes in Junior High and High School and always seemed to be the teacher’s favorite. During my 11th Grade year, my art teacher challenged me to complete a painting, this was not something I wanted to do as I just liked to draw. However, she insisted and my painting took 1st Place at the State Fair. I was hooked. Art has always been a part of my life. I completed Oklahoma Baptist University with an Art Education degree so that I could teach art and I have been teaching for 25 years in Oklahoma (16 years at Seminole and I’m in my 9th year at Hartshorne). I cannot remember a time in my life, when art was not a passion. It’s just part of who I am and I enjoy it immensely.
Get in touch with Jason
Instagram: @artbyjasonwilson
Facebook: Jason Wilson
Website: artbyjasonwilson.com/about
Email: artbyjasonwilson@yahoo.com
If you are a local artist/crafter/maker/indie business owner and would like to be featured on our blog, please fill out this form or contact Ashley at ashley@westandmainhomes.com with questions...we can't wait to learn all about you!
