Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Machen.
Jonathan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am an artist, age 56, living in the outskirts of Boulder, CO with my wife and two kids, ages 12 and 14. I have been pursuing art as my passion and inspiration for many years; I grew up in New Mexico and was inspired at an early age, around 16, to interpret the landscape through drawing. I also discovered an interest in portraiture. Additionally, I have been studying music for many years, studying the violin in grade school and attending music camps, and currently am focusing on the Classical Guitar, but I also play the banjo. I graduated with a BFA degree in Art and Art History from the University of Colorado in 1987 and ended up staying in Colorado. Today I am making my living with landscape and portraiture, and I am working out of The Eldorado Springs Art Center. My art Archive, showing much material is at jonathanmachen.com and my website advertising portraits is at jonsportraits.com.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have not always been able to make a living with art, and have not had great success in galleries, and I have always had to have some other job and work on my art on the side. Wherever I have been in my life, I have drawn to express my love of nature and people, so that has not been hard, but being well-paid for what I have worked on for so long has been elusive. Some disappointments: I painted a series of murals in Boulder in Restaurants that got painted over as the businesses changed (Harvest Restaurant, Creative Cafe) I also had a mural I was quite proud of at the University of Colorado at Boulder in Hallett Hall (a mural reflecting a vision of multi-culturalism, commissioned by the multicultural department at the university) get destroyed, after the building got remodeled: https://jonathanmachen.com/hallett-hall-mural-1993-2/.
Additionally, a project I did for the university involving the architecture and historical persons (examples can be seen on this page https://jonathanmachen.com/university-of-colorado-pen-and-ink-drawings/) has disappeared. But I am lucky that I have kept at my craft for as long as I have since I am still feeling inspired by drawing and expressing myself that way, and finding more business opportunities as I continue to work at portraiture. Having a studio to work out of has been fantastic as I am around more artists as well as the general public. And, I continue to find a lot of inspiration in music and how that relates to visual art.
Please tell us more about your art.
Right now, I am specializing in chalk pastel portraits; Usually I work from pictures people have given me. In some cases, I also do the framing myself. I also still do landscape commissions and works with a social/political bent.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Persistence and good health, love from my family.
Pricing:
- Chalk pastel portraits from one of your photos – $170
- Framed chalk pastel portrait from one of your photos – $370
Contact Info:
- Address: 821 Fourmile Canyon Dr.
- Website: jonsportraits.com
- Phone: 303-818-9532
- Email: jonathanmachen@mac.com
- Instagram: @jonathanmachen
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildmachen
- Twitter: @boulderdrawings
- Other: jonathanmachen.com
Image Credit:
All images by me – Jonathan Machen
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