Today we’d like to introduce you to Peter Jablokow.
Peter Jablokow (peterillustrator.com) was born and raised in LaGrange Park, Illinois. His mother, Alla Jablokow, was a professional artist, and he has fond memories of coming home from school to find her working away at the kitchen table. He enjoyed painting as a child but trained as an architect at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Jablokow worked for more than 20 years as an architectural illustrator in Chicago before the advent of computer rendering changed the nature of the business. Since 2010, he has been a full-time painter, teacher and workshop instructor. His work has earned many awards, including the National Watercolor Society (NWS) Masters Award in 2018, American Watercolor Society (AWS) Joan Ashley Rothermel Memorial Award in 2017, and the Transparent Watercolor Society of America (TWSA) Founders’ Award in 2012. He is a signature member of TWSA, AWS, and NWS.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I love complicated, weathered structures with a lot of size and mass. I’m always trying to express the looming size of them. There is history and wonder in older, worn down structures because they have chaos of light, shadow and texture, but also an underlying structure. My art is basically trying to express the excitement I have for these things, trying to get down on paper what the feeling of climbing around like a kid going “wow, look at that, that’s cool!” The Chicago area has plenty of industrial history to work with, such as train bridges in the near south side. They are airy and delicate but need the contrast of massive counterweights for contrast.
How do you think about success, as an artist, and what do quality do you feel is most helpful?
I see that artists who market well, who spend a lot of time on their business tend to be more successful. I’m just trying to follow what is exciting for me, which keeps me motivated. I use to do mostly architectural illustration, were the main motivation was a deadline.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
People can visit my website – peterillustrator.com, the Unicorn Cafe in Evanston (1723 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201), my home gallery by appointment, or the Paige Wiard Galley (https://paigewiardgallery.com/), which is way north in the upper peninsula of Michigan where I paint copper mining relics.
Contact Info:
- Website: Peterillustrator.com
- Email: peter@peterillistrator.com
- Instagram: @peter_jablokow
- Facebook: Peter jablokow
File_2144, 12/12/16, 4:35 PM, 8C, 8500×11180 (205+396), 150%, Custom, 1/20 s, R33.5, G6.8, B17.8
, 3/16/18, 5:00 PM, 8C, 8774×11306 (75+255), 150%, Custom, 1/20 s, R37.0, G9.7, B20.3
Image Credit:
Peter Jablokow
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