The moment you look at a Jon Ching painting, a feeling akin to magic overcomes you. And not just because of the wonders of nature he depicts, but the ways in which he uses his imagination to combine them-tropical birds with feathers of honeycomb and crests of vibrant blooms, jellyfish whose tendrils transform into hydrangeas, or a seahorse sprouting branches of newly budding leaves. In Ching's work, feathers become flower petals, tail fins become flames and fur becomes fungi.
Ching grew up on the island of O'ahu, Hawaii. Like most kids, he didn't fully grasp the innate beauty of his home growing up. Only after a perspective shift, moving to California for college, did he start to realize how special Hawaii was-and by extension, his love of the wider world of nature grew exponentially. "Leaving and learning more about Hawaii's nature as an adult helps me see things with fresh eyes. It makes me want to go back and explore, especially the outer islands where there's more preserved land. As kids, we don't have context," he reflects.
"When I first started diving into nature, it was totally new to me. Once I opened the door, I realized there were endless things to learn....I did my best to understand and teach myself biology as much as I could," says the artist. "These days, because I'm morphing [my subjects] a lot of the time, I'm not worried about getting all of the specific traits correct... But when I do endangered species, I really try to stay true to their biology. I look at their natural habitats, their diets, where they fit into their ecosystems."
Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av American Art Collector.
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Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av American Art Collector.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
FULL EXPOSURE
Photographer Conor Martin documents the present using photographic methods of the past.
Autumnal Light
The landscapes and nature scenes of painter Jennifer Sowders are irresistibly tactile, filled with varying textures that seem to leap off the canvas.
Art for All
Members of Art Dealers Association of America come together for a philanthropic affair.
Modern Marketplace
Redwood Art Group brings together the San Diego region for another class-act celebration of contemporary artwork.
An Enchanting Evening
Scottsdale Artists’ School knows how to throw an art party.
Timeless Tales
Soft, warm undertones underscore the mood of enchantment that runs through Nom Kinnear King’s paintings.
Next Exit New York
Coming off his series that focused on San Francisco and Los Angeles freeway signs, artist Eric Nash’s sights are now set on New York. Now on view at George Billis Gallery's Manhattan location are seven of Nash's new oil paintings and two drawings that explore the signage of New York City freeways. Although Nash's work is tightly rendered, he doesn’t consider himself a photorealist, but rather someone who utilizes those techniques to express ideas.
Monster Mash
Vampires, witches, ghouls and all things that go bump in the night are the theme of the exhibition Monster Mash, now at Abend Gallery.
Inside/Outside
Those familiar with Geoffrey Johnson's populated by inky figures and trailing shadows that bleed into the wet streets, and architectural elements obscured to varying degrees by the misty atmosphere.
Bold Figures; Bold Color
For Brooklyn based painter J Louis, it’s all about balance, which can mean many different things in a composition, but for Louis, it’s about balancing his female figures among a unique landscape of color.
