Jon Lezinsky Interview – 50 States (Connecticut)

Jon Lezinsky – “I think the history attached to Connecticut has had the biggest influence on my work”

Today we’re in Connecticut with artist Jon Lezinsky for the 7th edition of Creative Chair’s 50 States series.

Jon uses unusual methods in his work, which often features thought-provoking themes and dark undertones. We caught up with him to find out more.

You can see a lot more work from Jon Lezinsky on his website.

Tell us a little bit more about yourself and what you do

My name is Jon Lezinsky and I am a freelance illustrator and artist. I work in a mixed-media style where I combine traditional drawing and painting with collage and found objects, scraps and other discarded textures, together with digital techniques.

I have worked on all sorts of projects for various clients but still enjoy focusing on editorial illustration. I graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in illustration and since then I try to split my time between commercial commissions and personal projects.

How has your state influenced the work that you do?

I grew up in Connecticut, however, I spent a lot of time living in the midwest before recently returning back to New England. Connecticut is definitely a fast-paced environment that can at times feel overwhelming. However, the gorgeous rolling hills, the parks and hiking trails, the scenic rivers and the coastal little beach towns is the classic New England charm that will always feel like home.

Even though I am not a landscape artist, I somehow think the variety of the landscape has continued to inspire me to try different things and to experiment with new media. But more importantly, I think the history attached to Connecticut has had the biggest influence on my work. History has always played a major role in my work whether it has been an actual subject for an illustration or more abstract through the aged textures in my collages.

With Connecticut being so deeply tied into the early history of this country, living here it’s hard to avoid it and I think it has affected my work more than I know.

Of your own work, what is your favourite project and why?

One of my favourite projects was creating illustrations for a book project called “Boy of Bone: Twelve Stories Inspired By The Mütter Museum.” Author K. R. Sands wrote twelve stories, each inspired by an exhibit at the Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.

I was asked to create a visual narrative for each of these beautiful and haunting stories. I was given complete freedom to create an honest and personal interpretation with minimal art direction. Very few projects come along that allow you to work like this. The final book was very personal and truly a piece of art in every sense.

And finally, if you died and got reincarnated as a song, what would that song be?

“Ends Of The Earth” by Lord Huron