Jonathan Wilhelm of South Hadley started painting seriously in his late teens — and at the ripe age of 27, he figures he’s produced “several hundred oil paintings” as well as plenty of woodcuts, myriad drawings and a bit of animation. He says he gets most of his inspiration from the “elegance of nature and creation itself. I am attracted to people, places, and things; the rare, the odd, the beautiful. I love painting landscapes and portraits, capturing the essence of a place or a person’s soul in oil paint.”
With that work he’s also nurtured a sense of responsibility, wondering how society might benefit more from the arts. Artists, he says, “need to recognize the power that visual messaging has. With such power comes a responsibility to promote good ideas and themes … Artists are accountable for the images we put out in the world, and we should build bridges, not burn them.”
Steve Pfarrer: What is your creative process like?
Jonathan Wilhelm: I try to keep my eyes open and follow the truth and the beauty that’s out there. I always start with a small thumbnail sketch to flesh out ideas. I think of myself as an architect; my drawings are the blueprints for what I need to create. Then painting is simply arranging the big shapes in the right location with the right values and colors.
S.F.: Does is start with a “Eureka!” moment?
J.W.: I usually have a vision of what I’m after and sometimes it’s like catching lightning in a bottle. Other times it takes a lot of work and refinement to achieve the goal. Then there are those serendipitous accidents that just seem like a gift from God. But all of it is a gift and a privilege — to be able to have creative ability and the opportunity to put it to good use.
S.F.: How do you know you’re on the right track?
J.W.: I don’t always know that, but sometimes you just need to have faith. If you have a good idea, then stick with it. You may not get it the first time, and sometimes you have to correct things as you go. That’s called life, I think.
S.F.: What do you do when you get stuck?
J.W.: Take a break and go for a walk. I think it’s important to do something different if you get stuck. Go out and experience something new to reinvigorate the creativity of your mind.
S.F.: How do you know when the work is done?
J.W.: When it all flows together and all the fundamentals are on point. When there’s not one thing I could change, or would want to change; when the shapes, light, color, edges, and rhythm are all accurate and work together. Then it’s done. Then you put a frame on it and hang it in the museum.
S.F.: What did you do recently that relates to your art?
J.W.: I try to always keep drawing no matter how busy I get because the drawn line is at the absolute heart of the visual art language. Practice is essential. I also love to scour artist books or the internet for things I haven’t seen yet.
Selected oil paintings by Jonathan Wilhelm are on display at the Mosaic Café, 78 Masonic Street, Northampton through February. His work is also being exhibited at the Thirsty Mind Café, 23 College Street in South Hadley, February through March.
There will be an opening reception for the South Hadley exhibit and the artist at the Thirsty Mind Café on Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m.; light hors d’oeuvres will be served. The event is free and open to the public.