“Still Life With Its Own Secret”
acrylic latex, charcoal on sailcloth
36” x 50”
May 28, 1994
In mid 1994, while I was busy working on my line abstracts series, I got some books on Matisse and Gauguin. This led me to became interested in doing interiors and still life paintings. I launched into experimenting with my own take on interiors and still life paintings that late Spring. [Read More]
“Passover”
acrylic latex, charcoal on sailcloth
32” x 25”
July 9, 1994
This is the supper of liberation, and it was the last supper of Jesus. This event had profound significance in both the Old and New Testament of the Bible. Having been influenced by Christianity since I was a child the themes deeply familiar to me sometimes came across in my work, and this is one of those times. [Read More]
“Green Interior”
acrylic latex on sailcloth
32” x 24”
1998
When I was a child I loved the book “Harold and the Purple Crayon”. I still have a copy of the book. [Read More]
“Grace That Begins The Day”
31.5” x 23.5”
acrylic latex on sailcloth
1997
In the mid 90s I got very fascinated with doing straight-up abstracts which is much more difficult than I imagined. I was attempting non-representational abstracts- not for the faint of heart. I sketched out a lot of ideas in my notebooks and prepared maquettes but kept coming back to variations on this same shape, which I began to call my Grace Series. [Read More]
“Grace For The Blue Heron”
acrylic latex on sailcloth
44” x 38”
1997
Tania and I have a certain appreciation for cranes and herons. We used to see several during our commute from our home in Long Beach to our work in Irvine. Sighting one of these majestic birds always brightened our drive. [Read More]
“Grace For The Night Orchid”
acrylic latex on sailcloth
44” x 38”
1997
In 1997 I was exploring the world of non-representational abstracts, which is way harder than it sounds. Making a successful painting that just expresses an idea or feeling is tough work and my hat is off (as they say) to the abstract expressionists. Even though this painting isn’t about anything but the pleasure of creating it still ended up looking like a flower to me. A night orchid to be specific. [Read More]
“American Dream #1”
acrylic latex, pencil, photocopies on sailcloth
50” x 36”
June 1998
On one Sunday morning in the late 1990s I ran across the street to the liquor store to buy a copy of the Sunday Los Angeles Times – the big paper stuffed with ads and an extra large classified section. This was before the days when reading the news everyday on the internet was a common thing, and the Sunday paper was really something. [Read More]
“American Dream #4 – View 2 On A Lot Monterey Park”
acrylic latex, pencil, colored pencil, glass beads, photocopies on sailcloth
40.5” x 50.5”
5.19.1999
This is one of my top five favorite pieces I’ve ever created. Everything came together for me on this one – the outline of the two houses, the pencil marks, the lettering, the drips, the bold and generous paint strokes, the blue sky… and it’s handwritten title, now faded – “American Dream #4” [Read More]
“American Dream #5 – Mrs. Clean Lives Here!”
acrylic latex, photocopies, colored pencils on sailcloth
44” x 38”
1999
The Fossen Collection
After painting the previous American Dream piece, with its loose style, drips and whatnot, I turned around and began to paint this tighter and more controlled painting. After all, Mrs. Clean lives here – gotta keep it neat. [Read More]
“American Dream #8 – Great Location And Value”
acrylic latex, photocopies on canvas
36” x 24”
Early 2000s (estimated)
The Bentley-Smith Collection
Today concludes this retrospective of my work. I call the last month of postings “Jon Christopher – The First Ten Years of Painting”. Thank you for strolling through these pieces with me! Now here’s today’s painting…
The traveling preacher man is sharing his wares while standing in the street. [Read More]