Jonathan McPhillips

Artful Painter Podcast

Apr 20

Written By Carl Olson

Capturing the Presence of Man

Episode 29

Episode length: 1 hour, 31 minutes

Jonathan McPhillips’ paintings shimmer with atmosphere and sparkle with light. Each painting he creates he views as a welcome problem to solve, a delightful puzzle to piece together, and a celebration of his surroundings. Working equally in the studio and on location, his work includes the harbors, beaches, vessels, and architecture of the coastal marine environment of New England including his home in Rhode Island. Chasing the ever changing light and air drives Jonathan to paint. The perception of atmosphere viewers sense in his paintings is the result of his impressionistic style, tempered by a touch of realism and draftsmanship. Whether he paints indoors or outdoors his method of painting is similar.

In this edition of the Artful Painter, Jonathan shares his multifaceted approach to painting. He relates how his early art education that focused on modern art influenced his work in a positive way. Jonathan encourages artists to take advantage of technology to promote their work. He candidly talks about working with galleries and that he views his relationship with galleries as a partnership. Jonathan teaches a number of workshops and explains his approach to teaching and how artists can best benefit from the experience. When faced with a myriad of choices in painting, Jonathan reveals he is drawn to scenes that show man’s intervention in the landscape. Indeed, as you peer into Jonathan McPhillips’ paintings, you see a story only partially shown, perhaps suggesting a mystery, and capturing the presence of man.