Check out Jon Luce’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jon Luce.

Jon, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
As a young boy, I would constantly draw, but never took my passion for art seriously. About 7 years ago I met my beautiful wife, Denise. She encouraged me to follow my instincts and chase my dreams. I finally took my talent seriously and enrolled in art classes. I then took an apprenticeship at Inkling Tattoo Gallery under Nate Marlowe. He encouraged me to take numerous classes, from life drawing to oil painting. I began taking classes in every medium, and in every style. I love customizing tattoos on a human canvas, illustrating books and albums in ink, painting landscapes in gouache or even drawing portraits in pastels. My favorite thing to do is create creatures or works of art from imagination. Things that no one has ever seen or thought of before. A (very) few of the artists who inspire such creations are Justin Sweet, Zdzisław Beksiński, Bernie Wrightson, Peter Mohrbacher and Vance Kovacs. With no intention of slowing down. Every subject interests me, and every medium is a new way to express these interests. I will never stop learning or exploring new options. I have even dedicated this year to using digital arts and seeing what directions these new and exciting avenues can lead to. Who knows what will come this year, or the next for that matter!

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I like to make people think, no matter what the subject matter is. Your first glance is one feeling, while deeper thought may trigger a secondary response. Take my line of Suicidal Vegetables for example. When first looking upon them, you may notice the bright colors, or the cartoonish characters made from recognizable vegetables. Then one begins to notice the area around the vegetable, and how run down or destroyed the scenes are. Upon further inspection, the viewer will notice that the actions of the vegetable are not so bright and cartoonish. They are permanently frozen in the decision they have made to end their lives. Although this subject matter is harsh, it is not talked about by many, and is turned away from in most situations, making it taboo. By drawing the viewer in first, they are curious as to why this is happening now, bringing thought to the topic and hopefully new members to the conversation.

What do you think it takes to be successful as an artist?
Art is subjective, just as the desired outcome of each individual’s artistic journey is subjective. One artist could consider “successful” to be creating immaculate images as a hobby at home, solely for themselves. Another artist flings paint at the canvas and must sell millions of dollars’ worth of art to consider themselves “successful”. I myself am not happy until I have learned so much about the arts that the knowledge cannot help but spill over and out into those around me. This way, everyone is touched by art, and maybe even inspired to create their own art. This is why I am so willing to teach all different types of classes. From youth organizations such as Young Champions of America, to Galleries and even private Wine and Paint parties. Everyone can be an artist, if they are willing to take the time to learn!

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
Currently most of my work is online at JonLuceArt.com or one of the social networks listed below. If anyone is interested in commissions they can also contact me directly by email.

Contact Info:

• Website: JonLuceArt.com
• Email: JonLuceArt@gmail.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/jonluce
• Facebook: Facebook.com/jonjluce
• Twitter: Twitter.com/jonluceart

Image Credit:
Denise Luce

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