Jonathan Frazier, Oil Paintings, Pen & Inks and Music

Artist's Statement

My paintings make use of vibrant color to convey my filtered impressions of suburban landscapes. My subjects are familiar to me, even if I experience them only in passing.

I’m attracted to elements in the works of Van Gogh, John Singer Sargent, and Edward Hopper. I admire Van Gogh for his expressive use of color and impasto texture, Sargent for confident juxtaposition of classical realism alongside passages of loose, painterly brushwork , and Hopper for imbuing his American landscapes with a sense of warmth and melancholy. My work draws inspiration from all three artists.

My painting is also influenced by my experience as a performing musician. Both art and music contain structural elements merged with parts which are improvised on the spot. Both have underlying rhythms to convey movement. They rely on the almost magical ability of color and tone to bring a composition to life. I approach both with the extemporaneous mindset of a performer.