Spotlight Artist

Jonathon Downing

Midwest
Artist profile photo

Opposites Attract

Man resting head on woman's lap, both wearing colorful varsity jackets.

oil on cotton canvas

Prizefighter

Young person with red boxing gloves sitting among colorful jackets with bold designs.

oil on cotton canvas

Courtside Seats

Two people and a black dog sit on a plastic-covered sofa, bold artwork hangs on the wall behind them.

oil on cotton canvas

Featured in New American Paintings1 / 3

Artist Statement

 My portraits aim to be comprehensive representations of a singular character through the use of visual multiplicity. My process employs digital and physical processes as I utilize images from fashion lookbooks to create compositions in Photoshop, then render them in oil paint to depict the complexities of each subject.

Themes of my work include the juxtaposition of internal emotion and external image, the way that fashion and popular culture contribute to this dichotomy, measurements of success, idolization, and the idea of celebrity, wrapped up in layers of color and gloss varnish. I utilize my own personal experiences and interests, most prominently my love for Basketball. The themes in my work are shown through the lens of the Basketball fan, exploring their relationship to the athletes who become icons that are worshiped by millions of people. The characters I paint inhabit a unique world, where six eyes are something one is born with and the cracks in the mask they wear are as prominent as the beautiful image they show to the public.

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