Featured Artist Jason Margolis

South African artist Jason Margolis is a prolific painter who creates portraits, landscapes and murals. Visit his website to see more of his work.

 

 

I had a great desire to paint from an early age; I spent hours of my youth drawing, painting and teaching myself. This adventure of creative discovery would become my career.

 

 

My studies included one year of graphic design followed by two years fine art at the Johannesburg Art Foundation. Thereafter, I packed my backpack and sketchbook and travelled the globe for two years. On my return home, I started painting murals.

 

 

I loved the fun of creating illusions, prompting people to question where reality stopped and the artwork started. Can I go up that stairway? Can I walk down that path into the garden?

 

 

I painted so prolifically that I could have covered several football fields with artwork. I painted walls, ceilings, rooms, factories, shops, gardens—everywhere imaginable.

 

 

This taught me not only immense patience and endurance, but how to problem solve, and quickly! I also learned the valuable lessons of being fearless and bold when painting, as well as applying varied techniques and approaches and how to utilise spaces appropriately.

 

 

These days, I prefer being in my studio. I enjoy working in many mediums:  the spontaneity of drawing in pencil, charcoal and pastel. Oil paint, with its freedom and richness, is my favourite medium.

 

 

I have developed my own techniques and I approach each painting differently, depending on the subject matter and the finish I would like to achieve. For the refined work of a portrait, I need to get the perfect likeness and character. For the freedom and forgiveness of a landscape I use flowing and broken brush strokes that somehow work together like alchemy to bring the work to life. I often hardly touch brush to canvas until the later stages of my artwork, using rollers, cloths, hands, splashes from a distance; whatever it takes to achieve spontaneity and life. Then I use a few subtle brushstrokes to finish!

 

 

I am very fortunate living in South Africa where I am surrounded by an abundance of inspiration. Our magnificent landscapes, colourful people and incredible wildlife is like no other place on earth!

 

 

I am not the kind of artist who likes to stick to one theme and style only. I am inspired by interesting faces and characters, landscapes and skies in different moods, how water moves and forms shapes and what it reflects.

 

 

I have endless ideas for humorous paintings, comments on life, business, technology, and more subtle matters like space and light, and how to portray spirit and spirituality. I believe that artwork can uplift the mind and soul of the viewer.

 

 

So much to paint, so little time….

 

Artist Jason Margolis invites you to follow him on Facebook.

 

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