"Afternoon Light"
9" x 16" Oil
"Beets"
9" x 16" Oil
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Jonathan
Hardesty
"Born in Dallas, TX in 1980, Jonathan’s first artistic endeavor
began at the University of Pennsylvania where he started basic
drawing and figure drawing courses. At the age of 23, his drive
for more rigorous and traditional training led him to apply to
the classical realist atelier, Pantura Studios, to study under
masters Hans-Peter Szameit and Sanna Tomac. After studying for
nearly three years, Jonathan and his wife moved to Texas where
he began building his body of work and honing his skills. In
addition, he is teaching traditional atelier methods to a small
group of committed and talented students in his private studio."
I can add a bit more to this story as well. I was working a
boring office job at University of Pennsylvania in the medical
center. I mostly filed all day and was not allowed to exhibit
one ounce of creativity while at work. One day at my desk I
tried to determine what would be my dream job. What would be a
job I would want to get up and do even if I had a million
dollars? I knew I wanted to do something creative and I also
knew I wanted to work for myself (not have a direct boss). I
thought about it for a while and then I realized that there were
artists who studied beauty all day and painted it...and they did
that for a living! That was when something clicked inside of me.
I went home and started drawing right away that night. That was
about four and a half years ago. The first drawing was a
self-portrait.
The amazing thing is that I showed it to my wife when she got
home and she really encouraged me! She told me I could do it.
She believed in me. So I started taking classes at the
University of Pennsylvania Master of Fine Art program, because
they were available to me for free (since I worked there). I
dropped the introductory drawing class after a week. I wanted to
learn to draw and paint properly and the instructor was telling
me to "express myself" and "fill up the whole page". I'm still
not sure what filling up the whole page meant. So it took me a
couple months to find out that there were schools called
"ateliers" where I could learn in the same manner that the old
masters did. I found one in South Dakota named Pantura Studios.
Hans-Peter Szameit and Sanna Tomac were my teachers. They both
attended Florence Academy of Art and also studied under Odd
Nerdrum for a short period of time. Hans also taught at Florence
for a few years. They moved their school to Sweden just as I was
getting to the painting portion of my training. My wife and I
decided to move to Texas where I began painting 24/7. Since then
I have been building my body of work. And now I'm really looking
forward to working with all of you.
ARTIST COMMENTS:
The natural, birds eye view of this piece appealed to me as a
composition, and fitting for this subject. It has great abstract
quality, even though it is painted in a realistic manner. And I
appreciated the artist's ability to place the center of interest
very near the center of the canvas, yet design the space around
it so it seemed neither symmetrical nor static.
-"Judge's Comments" made about
“The Forgotten Nest” by
Johnnie Liliedahl
You've had excellent training. You've learned to have patience.
You've learned how to see. You've learned how to draw correct
form and to see and understand values. You are doing wonderfully
well. I'm very impressed.
- William Whitaker
You do incredible work!!!
- Daniel Gerhartz
I just wanted to drop you a line and tell you that I am most
impressed by not only the quality of what you are doing but
probably more than anything, your sheer determination and focus
on your goal. My hat is off to you. I wish that I had one
student with half your desire and determination. - Don
Seegmiller
What can be said that hasn't been said already? I'm going to
keep my eye on you because I'm sure you're going to do great
things. I think this should show everyone what is possible if
you focus on what it is you want to do and then go for it.
- Carl Dobsky
Scottsdale Artist School - Full tuition scholarship to advanced
professional juried workshop (given by William Whitaker)
Art Renewal Center 2007 Salon Finalist - Top 100 of “Still Life”
category.
1st place at the 13th Annual Gulf Coast National Exhibit -
juror: Johnnie Lilledahl
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