New member from Dallas, TX

Jonathan Hardesty · 05-23-2006, 05:49 PM

Hi Everyone,
I'm glad to be part of this forum and community. William Whitaker encouraged me to join the community here so I took his advice. I have gleaned so much information from just browsing through the threads here over the last year. It will be nice to be fully involved now.

I started drawing and painting about 3 1/2 years ago when I couldn't stand my office job any longer. I was trained in an atelier in South Dakota named Pantura Studios that has now closed down and moved to Sweden. The style of training was a modified version of Florence Academy of Art's program. I'm now in the process of building up my body of work to begin my professional career. I also currently teach a small number of dedicated students. You can view my website here if you are interested:

My Website

Also I attached a portrait I recently completed at one of Bill's (William Whitaker's) workshops.

Claudemir Bonfim · 05-23-2006, 08:03 PM

Welcome to the Forum Jonathan.

I was delighted to see your work on your website.

Marina Dieul · 05-23-2006, 09:39 PM

Hi Jonathan!
Beautiful and sensible portrait. I hope you will post some more...
Welcome to the forum.

Alexandra Tyng · 05-24-2006, 10:06 AM

Hi Jonathan, I'm glad you've joined the forum! I enjoyed seeing your work and I'm hoping you will be posting more of it.

Can you tell us a little more about the way you were trained, and how it was different from the Florence Academy? I notice you use a lot more color than the "typical" (if there is such a thing) F.A.-trained artist.

Casey Childs · 05-24-2006, 01:38 PM

Jon,
Great to see you on the forum! Everyone here will definitely benefit from your skill and artistic knowledge. You're work is truly amazing. I also look forward to seeing where your career takes you.

And not only is he a great artist, Jon is just the nicest guy you would ever meet. I think the guy could make friends with anyone.

Jon, when are we going to go to another Whitaker workshop?

Karine Monaco · 05-25-2006, 06:38 AM

Hello Jonathan,

Warm welcome to this forum! I hope this will not hurt anyone, but I must admit I am not very fond of still lives. Still, yours are just beautiful (this is a word I rarely use, and I mean by it that looking at them brings more than just an aesthetical pleasure to me, it also fills me with a warm contemplative feeling

Sharon Knettell · 08-08-2006, 05:04 PM

Jonathan,

Beautiful sensitive work, especially in one so young. Welcome.

I am also a devotee of painting from life.

I am glad to see someone of your ability participating on the Forum.

Donna Johnson · 09-08-2006, 10:15 AM

Hi Jonathan,

Your paintings and drawings are most inspiring. I read your "Journey" thread a few weeks ago. It was so fascinating, thanks for documenting and sharing your time in the atelier.

Donna