JOHN OBAFEMI JONES

I paint because painting is a medium of self-discovery and expression. For me painting arouses deep ambiguous feelings and generates a broad range of unique experiences. I am intrigued by art forms that extend the human ability to express thoughts and emotions and painting is a pathway for the exploration of concepts and thoughts related to that interest.

I frequently use jazz themes and icons because jazz and the blues are very much reflective of my environment, but more importantly because music as a whole has a complementary relationship with the visual arts. Improvisational aspects of jazz allow great freedom to the musician. Within the context of a free flowing improvisational solo there is structure. The improvisational solo has its own unique language, its own vocabulary and grammar. Yet the improvisational solo remains’ significantly connected the band, its music and its sound. No two solos are ever the same. It is within this context lies the aesthetic pulse of my works. In my work I stride for the same emotional, expressive and literal qualities that are found in jazz or the blues. It is this aspect of my work that gives it its voice and connects me to the work and makes it a part of me emotionally and spiritually.

My technique involves a variety of paint mediums as well as chalks, pastels and oil sticks. I like the concept of merging painting with drawing and enjoy mark making. The use of colorful free lines and marks are key visual elements in my work and provide avenues for expressionistic mix media paintings. From beginning to end, the process of bringing shapes, lines and colors together to the point where a work of art is born is quite challenging yet magical and mysterious.