 A lifelong student of art, Jonathan Thomas Marquardt began his Art Education in High School when awarded a scholarship to attend painting courses at the Art Institute of Chicago. The courses at the AIC focused Jonathan intently on oil and watercolor painting while teaching him many classic painting skills. After completing the demanding AIC program, Jonathan began to sell the first of his paintings and to receive paid commissions. Upon entering college at Montana State University in Bozeman, he promptly joined the Art School and continued his training. During his sophomore year, he was exhibited by the Waterstreet Gallery in Princeton, Wisconsin where he successfully sold a diversity of pieces. Building upon these early accomplishments, Jonathan graduated and opened his own art gallery in Princeton, exclusively showcasing his own compilations. Named "Elvin" after his maternal grandfather, the gallery garnered greater attention for Jonathan's work and brought him many new collectors. In late 2005 Jonathan moved with his wife Megan and their black lab Java to the Madison area where he currently maintains a home studio in Waunakee.
His most recent work, entitled the New Focus Series, is more aggressive than past exhibits. Inspired by graffiti art of the mid 1980's, Jonathan mixes vibrant color with eye catching composition. The pieces are meant to evoke free association and are collage-like in appearances. "I wanted to create something that flows; paint put to canvas without excessive planning," remarked Jonathan while reflecting upon his recent series. "My work emphasizes accessibility and is open to diverse interpretation. Oddly enough, mathematics is a real influence in my new work. It is something I have long disliked but have recently returned to in the hopes of exploring its hidden subjectivity." When delving into this diversity of complex and counter-intuitive themes, color is used often and captivatingly. Many viewers comment on the intense degree to which the art draws their focus and brings them into contact with the work on a truly reachable level.
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