Get to Know: Jason Mowry

In anticipation of our first release this week with acclaimed artist Jason Mowry, we sat down with the Ohio-based fine artist to learn about his life and his work.  Take a look below:

Where were you born and where are you now?

I was born in Ohio and I currently live in Ohio.

What are your first artistic memories?

One of my earliest memories would be as a kid, my brother and I trading stories late at night in our bunk beds. Those stories would eventually get turned into drawings or comics. 

How has your style evolved from over the years to now? 

I'm letting the initial eruptive ideation hold an increasingly important role. It's gratifying to see the raw material of the semi-conscious imagination take the substance. The technical significance of the paintings is constantly evolving willfully and organically as a result of consistent work.

Have you always dealt with the same themes?

The illustrative figure and the symbolic web of fantastical elements seem to hold my interest indefinitely and continue to challenge me artistically. 

Could you tell us a bit about your work and this week's release with us, "Blessings from the Maw?"

"Blessing from the Maw" is perhaps best described as an emotional cipher.  In one instance, it attracts, and in another, entangles. 

It contains elements of mythology and a dramatic decorative palette that is simultaneously inviting and strange.  I hope it hangs on someone's wall, catches the eye one day, and resonates with an emotional space.  

What is a normal day like in the studio for you?

I typically get to the studio in the afternoon and work continuously for the first five hours, then break around dinner. The first half of the day is when I organize new work and drink coffee. I’ll spend that time drawing and refining existing drawings. From 6-9, I typically will have a meal, take a hike, and take care of any outstanding emails or errands. 

I return to the easel around nine and work till the early morning. 

What is the hardest part of creating a work?

A painting has its highs, lows, and moments of exhaustion. Navigating those ups and downs over an intense creative season is part of a painter's life, and I'm reminding myself of that constantly. 

And what is the most rewarding part?

When the painting starts to have a strange beauty, and the vision is tuned in, it’s giddy excitement. 

I get up and walk around, unable to sit still. It’s a thrilling time. 

When you're not working in the studio, what are you up to?

I have family and friends I try not to lose track of during my creative life. I teach a drawing class part-time at my local art college. I hike in the nature preserve not far from where I live a couple of times a week; a great place to restore and reflect. 

What can we look forward to from you for the rest of 2022?

I have a book project and a few new pieces I've finished this month that will emerge next year. In addition, I'm in a couple of group shows starting next month through October. I will also have a new body of work going to a solo show in early 2023. 

I post on IG semi-frequently, and I have a newsletter on my website (jasonmowryart.com) that will keep you updated with my work and future projects.

"Blessing from the Maw" will be available beginning at 1PM Pacific on Thursday, July 28th, 2022 in our shop.