Jonathan Queen

Antiques, vintage objects, wooden boxes, and photos are the props I use to set the stage of my narrative paintings. Toys in the right setting become complex characters with a deeper story to tell. My influences come from classical painting, nature, literature, my family and my faith.

I grew up in Lexington, KY and started my art education at Eastern Kentucky University. After marrying an Ohio native I transferred to the University of Cincinnati's college of DAAP. There I tried many forms of art but always felt drawn to painting in a realistic style.

After earning my BFA I...

Antiques, vintage objects, wooden boxes, and photos are the props I use to set the stage of my narrative paintings. Toys in the right setting become complex characters with a deeper story to tell. My influences come from classical painting, nature, literature, my family and my faith.

I grew up in Lexington, KY and started my art education at Eastern Kentucky University. After marrying an Ohio native I transferred to the University of Cincinnati's college of DAAP. There I tried many forms of art but always felt drawn to painting in a realistic style.

After earning my BFA I worked in illustration, portraiture, and mural painting. In 2003 I began to concentrate primarily on still life paintings, exhibiting professionally through Miller Gallery in Cincinnati. The decision to paint a Big Boy bank started me on the path to making toy narrative still life my focus. More recently, I have started creating one of a kind characters by swapping heads, sculpting new features and assembling unique props. This is opening the doors to a new stage in my storytelling process. Only time will tell what is over the horizon.