JONATHAN ROWE

ARTIST BIO:

Jon Rowe’s artistic journey began in Washington, D.C. where he completed one year at the Corcoran School of Art (late 1970’s) and classes at the Washington Studio School (mid-1980’s) where he painted still lifes and landscapes in oil.

In 1989, Jon moved to Brooklyn and studied drawing at the National Academy of Design and the Art Students League. Later, he met Lennart Anderson, a figurative painter at Brooklyn College who allowed Jon to attend his painting class. Two years later Brooklyn College accepted him into its MFA program which he declined. Instead, Jon got another advanced degree and worked in NYC hospitals for over 20 years.

When he retired in late 2021, Jon began to draw with charcoal. Months later he switched to painting his drawings using acrylics on canvas. He soon realized that he could:  1) return to painting from life; 2) paint the drawings; or 3) be an abstract painter.

Jon decided on option three, which led him to The Crit Lab for its community, critiques, and exposure to contemporary art and eventually, to Art Lives Here.