Meet Jon Gamél

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jon Gamél.

Jon, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
As a child of six, I was captivated by the way my mother could transform blank canvases into stunning works of art. Watching her use oil paints to create vibrant images filled me with amazement. Although she did not pursue a career in the arts, it still had an incredible impact on me. During my teenage years, I began sketching airplanes, landscapes and other subject matter. This further developed my appreciation, perspective and all its potential.

I continued to maintain an active interest in the arts and continued to develop my technical skills. However, as I grew older, I realized that my sexual orientation was at odds with what had been instilled in me from childhood. This caused me considerable distress, resulting in feelings of depression and introversion. Consequently, this period of turmoil did not leave much space for expressing emotion through art. Eventually, I moved to New York City to prove that I could be successful despite all of this. My personal artistic pursuits became more intermittent during these years, lacking the passion which once characterized them. Despite my best efforts, it seemed impossible to express the emotions within me that ached for expression.

I experienced difficulty expressing myself artistically. This had a detrimental effect on my self-esteem. To gain the confidence I needed, I began taking jobs in interactive advertising that required precise execution of a task. After some time, however, I decided to return to art and express myself further. In the summer of 2016, I took a pilgrimage to Malta and Paris where I was inspired to start a new series exploring what it means to be gay.

This internal struggle helped me find contentment and stability, which enabled me to pour all of my energy into creating art. Unfortunately, shortly after this achievement, I was laid off from my job. During this period of unemployment, I gained insight about myself and realized what it takes to be truly content.

In order to survive, I then sought a job in San Diego. Although I enjoyed the work, it lacked the passionate quality that I desired for art. In 2020, with the onset of the pandemic, I rented an art studio in Northpark to pursue artistic endeavors and started working on a painting titled The Other Side. This piece proved to be prophetic. I decided to leave my job in tech by June of that year. By December, I moved to Palm Springs to focus exclusively on art.

By 2021, I had already begun painting wind turbines out in the desert by Palm Springs which fascinate me since childhood – these paintings were showcased in local galleries in Palm Springs.

2022 started with a difficult loss, as my mother passed away from Covid 19. In the midst of this sorrow, I found solace in my work and dedicated myself to it full-time. This helped me cope with the pain, yet when I paused to take a breath, anxiety would often set in again. This cycle of pain and purpose drove me throughout the entire year. The techniques and methods of painting that I inherited from my mother pervaded every piece of art I created, with her brushwork leading the way.

By August of 2022, I opened my own gallery.

My artworks are unique in their use of color, space and materials, drawing on influences from the Renaissance period as well as 60s Pop Art and 21st Century design. My works interact with the body to evoke an atmosphere of eternal search or hunger for meaning. Themes including expression, transformation and reactions to life experience are explored, telling a story of struggle and what it means to be human; a reflection upon beginning and end striving for self-alteration.

The stylistic elements in my artwork reflect my influences. I often work with hyperreal painting, combining colors to bring the subject forward and express its intended emotion. My sources of inspiration range from Ron English, Chuck Close, Andy Warhol to Caravaggio – illustrating that I do not restrict myself to a single era. By blending these disparate styles together, I create pieces that are unique and powerful.

I specialize in creating pieces that are both sculptural and painterly. To achieve this effect, I use a variety of materials such as acrylic, oil, steel, wood, transparent resin and Plexiglass to create an optical abstract vision that is often tied with photo-realism. By combining these materials into one work, I am able to form an immersive viewing experience for the viewer. Additionally, I strive to continuously challenge myself by placing myself into new contexts and developing my technique through learning more about different mediums. This allows me to develop my skills and expand my knowledge base in order to create unique experiences for viewers.

I aspire to expand my horizons, both intellectually and artistically. I strive to push past any personal boundaries that may hinder progress in the pursuit of creating a body of work that is both informed and individualized. My aim is to produce pieces that are distinctively my own, crafted from genuine expression, knowledge and experiences. As an artist, this is my intention.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. Initially, I was raised not to view my artistic skills as a valid career path. As a result, I spent over 20 years in a career field that I found less and less interesting. My passion was always in my painting. The pandemic opened up a door that I was more than happy to pass through to do my art full-time… Yet it was the pandemic that caused much family upheaval at the start of 2022 when my mother tragically passed away from covid. As a result of this experience, I have had to quickly learn how to emotionally survive on my own while trying to have my art career take off.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a passionate oil painter, blending popart, realism and surrealism in my vivid works. My latest endeavor has been to capture the beauty of the wind turbines that grace the skyline of Palm Springs. I find them captivating as they stand tall against the desert sky, symbolizing hope for renewable energy sources. The colors I use jump off the canvas to create a unique, eye-catching aesthetic. Each painting I make is its own celebration of this powerful technology.

I’m also passionate about painting figurative pieces that depict what it means to be gay in today’s world. Using realism, I strive to craft every detail of my work – from the fine hairs and muscle tones to even the light sources – with precision and care. It’s something I take great pride in.

I’m particularly proud of my piece “Gurl”. It features a blue bighorn sheep sipping on a martini and has become one of my most recognizable works. This painting stands out from others due to the unique combination of colors, details, and subject matter. It’s what sets my artwork apart from that of other artists

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
My career as an artist has been a journey of over 41 years, during which I have encountered both tragedy and triumph. My family experienced great loss in the midst of my artistic endeavors, yet this served only to motivate me further in establishing my own gallery and selling my work. This experience has shown me that life is fleeting, but also that I have the power to make use of my time on Earth and fulfill my destiny.

I am now 47 years old, and I firmly believe that if there is such a thing as luck in this world, I would love to find out where it lies. As such, I strive each and every day to create something meaningful with my art and make the most out of my time alive. Ultimately, I am determined to make a positive difference in this world through my artwork.

Pricing:

• Prices range from $600 to $12,500

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.jongamelart.com
• Instagram: @artdaddyjon
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artdaddyjon
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/gam%C3%A9l-art-palm-springs

Image Credits
All images and paintings are ©Jon Gamél