Jason E. Collinge

Visual Art

Jason E. Collinge's Inspirations

Jason's art has been influenced by the renditions of many other artists, and while he makes no claim to be the equal of any of them, some mention of their work here might serve to promote a better understanding of his artwork.  So, with that in mind we briefly touch upon some of the more notable artists and their unintentional influences on the imaginings of Jason E. Collinge.

Many of Jason's etchings are evocative of the later works of Fancisco Jose de Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828).  De Goya's early works are full of rococo decorativeness, but after an illness in the 1790s, which deafened him, his style underwent a change.  It became more concentrated with strange and imaginative scenes containing overtones of terror and menace (Ex: "The Sleep of Reason", pictured right).  Although De Goya's illustrations and Jason's are both etchings, and they have both chosen to use the etching needle more as a pen, making scratchy uncomfortable marks to suit their fantastic or uncomfortable subjects, Jason attempts to use a strong contrast between light and dark to evoke a macabre nature in many of his etchings.  Jean-Honore Fragonard (1732-1806) painted in a light-hearted manner using broad, though well-controlled brushstrokes, to give an impression of spontaneity and movement.  Other painters, like Vincent van Gogh (1853-90) used strong energetic brush-strokes to depict the forces at work in nature (Ex: "Landscape With Cypress").  "Macbeth" and "Mifune" are examples of Jason's attempts to capture such feelings of spontaneity, movement, and emotional power.

Contemporary artists, both individually and collectively, have also had significant impact on Jason and his art.  The fantasy art of such well known painters as the Brothers Hildebrandt (Greg & Tim) is among Jason's greatest influences.  Some lesser known, but equally talented artists like Andii Adamick, an international motor-sport artist, and Sattar Saberi, a cartoonist and caricaturist, have also influenced Jason's work and opened up new vistas in the art world for him to explore.