john jason phillips - fine art and design

WELCOME! 

Thank you for visiting my art site. As an artist and an author I am keenly aware of what images, both written and painted can contribute. I'm fortunate in that I can and do contribute images both in the written word and visual images. For more information about my writing please go to my other website: www.authorjohnjasonphillips.com

I believe that viewing a painting, or other work of art is humanity's direct access to magic. The painter is granted the privilege of releasing his inner being with each stroke, while the viewer is granted access to a separate reality not normally experienced. Georgia O'Keefe called this "making your unknown known" and I have spent a great number of years searching and and attempting to reveal my inner self. In a similar way  the author has the ability to paint and lead the reader to a different world. 

Much of my professional life has been spent as a theatrical scenic painter and theatrical set designer, enjoying the privilege of painting for such world-renowned companies such as the Metropolitan and San Francisco Operas, American Ballet Theatre, and painting and designing for Broadway. Over the course of those years, I have been privileged to paint (on a much larger scale) the work of many – both famous designers as well as world renowned artists from the Renaissance to modern artists. 

What, you might ask, has that done to influence my efforts on canvas? It has allowed me to choose – to study and learn from others, then to express on my own canvases.  From that experience, in addition to developing my own techniques and style I have formed my main principle – for a painting to be successful, it must be more than pigment on a surface.  Through the artist’s ability it must transcend the surface and pull the viewer into the intended reality.  This is not to say that this is only done through imagery – quite the contrary. Whether it be color, design, imagery or intent, the viewer cannot be allowed to stay on the surface. A similar effect happens with a book - through skillful manipulation of words and images the author leads his readers to a different existence.