TESTIMONIALS
Jon- I cannot thank you enough for this extraordinary work. So elegant in its execution. A bit shocking in its accuracy at first glance.
I recognize Louie - that slight all-knowing mischievous curl of the mouth. The still fertile whimsy in his eyes…. His flight jacket is compelling, it rides high, makes me painfully aware of the deterioration of the human body. Time. But it also reveals the physical presence he once was…tells of history… and ultimately shows that the human spirit remains strong.
It’s in the eyes…
Brad Pitt (actor)
Dear Mr. Swihart,
Your portrait of me engenders a strong and hopefully forgivable wish that my parents might have been able to see it. I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to meet you and be made aware of your genius, and I hope that we may have a reason to meet again.
John Williams (composer)
Jon's skills at portraiture are masterful, fellow artists such as myself can especially appreciate his unique abilities.
I am truly honored to be included amongst the many great artists and other notable people he has painted.
Mark Ryden (artist)
Jon’s marvelous technique, his ability to render exquisite detail, and his ability to extend the portrait beyond the person to their environment and to capture the essence of his subjects, are all simply wonderful. It is a distinct honor to be the subject of one of his portraits.
Marion Peck (artist)
My decades long friendship with Jon was born out of a mutual love of art and of the exploration of everything it takes to make good, and hopefully meaningful, work over time.
His devotion to the process and his willingness to openly share the ups and downs of a life devoted to the pursuit has made for a vital and ongoing exchange of ideas that is always enlightening and one that has been exceptionally important to the development of my own work. Of our several collaborations, his double portrait, “Tenax Vitae” is one of my favorites. For me, it somehow manages to capture the mystery of the process of an artist’s often dreamlike state of intuitive self-examination, out of which, if we are fortunate, art sometimes flows.
John Frame (sculptor)
Jon Swihart surprised me with this amazing tribute to my beautiful companion and dog, Lenny; A handsome, gentle soul, Lenny always had a mischievous side and a flair for the dramatic. Every time I went anywhere without him, the normally obedient Lenny would sprawl on the back of my couch, like Francois Boucher's The Odalisque. After Lenny passed in 2018, it was a tremendous joy to receive this masterful painting by Jon that so wonderfully captures the essence
naughtiness of my guy. I will forever be grateful and comforted to have this incredible piece in my home. To my great friend and neighbor, thank you for your artistry and friendship!
Jean Black (film makeup artist)
Jon, You’re f - - king great!
Gore Verbinski (director of Mouse Hunt and the Pirates of the Caribbean film series)
Dear Jon,
Many, many thanks for your wonderful portrait. It means a great deal to us and our family.
David McCullough (historian and author)
Dear Jon, What profoundly zany, positively inspiring adventures come to mind when I see this painting. Prior to meeting you guys, I had spent almost two decades as an outlaw, making glass pipes, trying hard not to call myself an artist. It was quite the surprise to find myself in your backyard one evening, among such a wonderful group of creative people, showing my work, speaking about my craft, and starting to see it as art for the first time. to have my own likeness represented so tenderly touches my heart in a way that I would suppose only someone who has gazed into their own eyes, rendered by the master strokes of your own paintbrush, could ever fully appreciate. Bless you and your family, and thank you for sharing your etheric, visionary gifts!
Matthew Stroven “Banjo” (glass artist)
Dear Jon,
The words “thank you” seem so inadequate to try to express my appreciation for the wonderful portrait of me that you painted. I am overwhelmed!
You have been entrusted with a tremendous gift, and I count it an honor and a privilege to have had you put me on canvas.
Reverend Billy Graham
My father built by hand-over 40 years ago-the beautiful harpsichord that I am so privileged to play. Before he passed away in 2018 he was thrilled that I was able to commission Jon to create the painting for the inside of the lid of the instrument at long last. When open this focal artwork is meant to inspire admiration by the audience and draw them into the instrument while listening to the music being played. What Jon created in the end is an awe-inspiring central masterpiece for our contemporary open living space. We discovered that the painting in effect has a life of its own. As the sunlight moves across it during the day different figures and pieces of landscape come alive while the trees interact with the mature Ficus outside the large windows nearby. As the daylight fades outside the painting seems to emanate its own light of early evening, still visible even as it is cast in deeper shadow. And last, and perhaps most importantly, what a feeling as a musician to sit at the keyboard and gaze through the landscape as a foreground to the musical environment.
Elizabeth Burke-Kahn (Classicist/Archaeologist, Getty Museum and The ONWARD Project)
Jon Swihart is a magnificent painter. His technique, attention to detail and ability to capture a person’s essence is incredible. As a fellow painter, I know how difficult this is.
On top of that, he is such a humble and sweet man! I am incredibly honored to have been painted by him. Thanks, Jon!
Natalia Fabia (artist)
I met Jon Swihart because of a shared interest in Jean-Léon Gérôme, and when I saw his art, Gérôme was there again. Jon’s paintings are inspired by every facet of this artist, yet never feel imitative or thoughtlessly derived. They are the distillation of a genius’s creative arc, and an education in using inspiration to find a new voice all one’s own. Indeed, I believe that the true talent of Jon’s art is not its embrace of Gérôme; it is its ability to ultimately let this master go.
Emily M. Weeks, Ph.D. (author of The New Gérôme: A Revision of the Artist’s Catalogue Raisonne, currently in progress October
2020)
What makes Jon's portraits different from every other that I have seen is that he paints beyond the surface.
His portraits tell their stories through the atmosphere around them and the sense of soul that they emit.
I usually don’t enjoy having myself photographed or seeing myself as the subject of a work of art. But when I saw Jon's portrait,
I was amazed. It was the first time I could look at my image without insecurity, because he captured the very essence that is me.
That is his talent, and that is his unique sensibility.
Kazu Hiro (hyper-realist sculptor and special make-up effects artist)
In the case of artist Jon Swihart, for him no detail too irrelevant, no portraiture too facile, and no classic style too passé. He's a good friend who dares to see a diamond as more than just a rock.
Robt. Williams (artist)
Dear Jon,
I first saw jon Swihart's portrait of myself on a gallery wall flanked by three other portraits all lined up in a row - I was immediately struck by how real we all looked - for a moment it actually felt like I was seeing a reflection of myself!
Suzanne Williams (artist)
For me, this portrait of my brother perfectly epitomizes the peak of his influence and acceptance in the art world, which meant so much to him. Greg would have said something like, “you can’t just go out on top, someone has to paint the picture at the right time.”
Joe Escalante (Executive Producer, Monsters Across America)
I was familiar with Jon’s work so my expectations were high for the portraits of my children, I didn’t think he could exceed those expectations but without a doubt he did, we couldn’t be happier.
Carey Haskell (Feldenkrais Teacher)
We are privileged to have Jon’s “In Memoriam Gerald M. Ackerman 1928-2016.”
The propped-up classic shrine set in a foggy grove houses my brother’s spirit. The waves generated below the surface of the pond carry ancient mysteries into the present. Thanks Jon.
Alois and Rosario Ackerman
This is absolutely stunning and exactly what I pictured in my head but better! You’ve really grasped the character and depicted him incredibly well, you’ve done a outstanding job Jon and I cannot thank you enough. The detailing is so intricate and precise, it’s beautiful and definitely one of a kind.
I was not expecting the colour of the sky to be that light but seeing it now it looks magnificent. The sky colours compliment him so well and contrast beautifully. I can’t contain my excitement and I am super happy with it!!!
Kate Parker
The portrait captures the essence of General McGee, his perceptive gaze, compelling smile, and commanding demeanor. The attention to detail approaches perfection, right down to the aerial contrails reminiscent of the fighter combat dogfights of WWII. The overall impact is breathtaking, a wonderful rendering that will reveal the inspiring character and esteemed stature of our father for decades to come. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
The McGee Children
When Jon notified me that my portrait was completed, I arrived at his home with feelings of excitement and some nervousness. When the painting was unveiled, I was speechless. Jon had nailed it! Jon’s painting is one of the most cherished things I own.
Stephen Reip