Bio
The minister stops in the middle of his sermon and says to the small, blond boy who is zealously sketching on a piece of paper in the second pew, “You need to pay attention.” Jon Wildman sets the drawing on the pew and sits up, but he will take out the pencil and paper again as soon as the pastor isn’t watching.
Jon Wildman was born in 1963 in Sterling, Illinois. Because of his childhood speech problems, he latched onto art as a means of self-expression. His parents recognized his abilities, nurtured his art interest in school, took him to shows on the weekends, and registered him for private art lessons. As he matured, the speech problems disappeared, and his interest in school and learning grew. Once he entered High School, an inspirational art teacher, Mrs. Helen, challenged and encouraged him to study art in college. Jon graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1989 with a BFA in ceramics, while experimenting with two-dimensional arts. After graduation, he worked with ceramics and also developed a photography portfolio.
Meanwhile, the road of life took an unexpected turn, and he found himself work for the well-known Midwest sculptor, Jeff Adams. Drawing from his experience with clay sculpture, high temperature ceramic processes/equipment, painting and welding, Jon gained experience with figurative sculpture. He recognized how the smallest gesture, line and form can trigger subtle responses. Applying patinas to textured sculptures, he developed a sense of how the surface interacts with color and experimented with different application techniques.
Since 2009, Jon Wildman has been combining his unique experiences with photography, sculpture, and painting to explore how mediums interact with textured surfaces using alternative application techniques.
Artist Statement
Constructing a painting allows for an entity that extends beyond itself. The interplay of the image and substance expresses my sense of how the idealistic image is less than the imagination. What lies below the surface of façade often bleeds through, exposing the flawed interior; yet still possesses an overall aesthetic quality that supports the concept. Objects evoke a response.
Graffiti on a city wall, thinly brushed patina on a sculpture, primal punk music, peering into grimy storefront windows, faded photographs, painting a bathroom, a torn piece of paper—all influences my work in a journey of discovery, observation, and growth.
The understated passion some artists leave on a canvas, sculpture or simple line sketch has always intrigued me. Why do some people paint pictures and others leave a part of their soul on a canvas? I believe that creativity emerges from the primal part of the artist; the core of one’s being where hunger, sexuality, and even the instinctive sense of the supernatural originate.
I ask myself, “What can paint do?”. I often apply paint with my fingers so that I can enjoy the feeling of the surface against them. I’ve abandoned canvas and panels for paper. After years of painting the figure, the textures, lines and forms have taken over the images, honoring intuition over reasoning. My intent is to convey subtle emotions and leave each piece with a unique presence.